DIY Stencil Table

Preparing the Table

• Stencil an existing table or make your own. To make your own table, purchase a set of tapered wooden table legs from a hardware or home improvement store. These come in various lengths, from coffee table to dining table height. Go to a lumber supply house to have a piece of plywood cut for your table top. Attach the legs to the top using the hardware included with the legs. Paint the table and legs with two coats of latex paint or spray paint.

Design

• Before you start painting, take time to plan your table design. Consider the purpose of the room, your color scheme and whether you want an all-over patten or a single motif. For a kitchen table, food shapes and food-related words would work well. For a living room coffee table or side table, choose a decorative pattern in a style that reflects the room's decor. For a child's table, nursery images or animals are always fun.

Stencils

• Buy pre-cut stencils from a craft store. If you've never done stenciling, stick to simple motifs. You can also make your own stencils out of Mylar sheets. If you're not adept at drawing, make stencil shapes by tracing images from magazines and books. Place a Mylar sheet over your traced image and draw over the image with a fine-tipped permanent marker. If you are making an all-over stencil pattern, make four registration X-marks on each corner of the sheet. These marks will make it easy to evenly space your stencils. Mylar can be cut with a craft knife or with a heat pen designed for stencils. If you use a heat pen, cut the stencil on top of a piece of glass. Cut the registration marks with a paper hole punch.

  For a quick stencil alternative, use patterned household items such as paper doilies or bits of lace.

Painting

• Place the stencil on the table, using an adhesive repositioning spray to hold it in place. You could also temporarily adhere the stencil with painter's tape. Lightly pencil in the registration marks if you are using them.

  The easiest way to paint stenciled motifs on a table is with spray paint. Other paint options include acrylic, latex or water-based stencil paints. Use a paper plate as a palette to hold a small amount of paint. Paint with a dry stencil brush. Apply the paint sparingly, holding the brush perpendicular to the table. Dip the brush tip into the paint and tap off any excess paint on the plate. Gently tap the bristles over the stenciled areas. These paints dry very quickly. Always test your paint and stencils on a piece of scrap paper before painting the table.

Finishing

• Protect tables that get a lot of wear and tear, such as kitchen tables, with coating of acrylic polyurethane.