Decoupage on Old Furniture

How to Decoupage an Old Kitchen Table

Hello

I have a kitchen table that is about 10 years old and is scratched in places.

I don't know what the finish is on it. It was shiny at one time but is getting very dull.

I would like to do some sort of decoupage in the center of it around the place where the leaf gets put in.

What should I do first?

Shilah

The first step would be to strip the furniture completely of its old finish. Otherwise, you will not be sure if the decoupage will adhere correctly.

You could do it yourself by sanding or take it to a furniture stripper. If you use chemical means, still sand the table top, not only to remove chemicals still sticking to the wood, but also to get rid of the nicks and scratches.

Next read Wood Finishes for Decoupage which deals with the many variables to be considered when decoupaging on wood.

Once you have a clean surface to work with, you should not have any problems applying the decoupage. Also read our article about heavy duty epoxy finishes for decoupage which might be more appropriate for the heavy use a kitchen table will get.

If you still have questions, please write again. And be as specific as possible. The more info I have, the more helpful I can be.

For more on decoupage, visit The Decoupage Index Page.