Caxton magazines staffCarine Goss of Durban refurbishing business Dodo shows you how to turn an old coffee table into a prettily patterned focal point
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Sandpaper, paint brushes, universal undercoat, paint in the colour of your choice, a piece of lace (find one that’s larger than the surface of your tabletop as it’ll be easier to work with), masking tape, white spray paint and clear sealer.
PAINTING YOUR COFFEE TABLE:
- Sand the table thoroughly and wipe away any dust.
- Apply a universal undercoat; if you’re working with dark wood, two coats are best. Once dry, smooth out any blobs with fine sandpaper.
- Give the table two coats of paint in your chosen colour. I used a soft duck egg blue. Allow to dry.
- Position your piece of lace on the tabletop, securing it on the sides with masking tape. It’s very important that the lace doesn’t move and it’s flat against the tabletop.
- Spray the first coat of spray paint directly down onto the table from a height of about 1m. Allow to dry for 15 minutes. (This first coat hardens the lace and helps it to remain in place.)
- Apply another three coats of spray paint; spraying both horizontally and vertically to ensure you apply an even coat of paint. Allow the paint to dry for at least five minutes between each coat as you don’t want the lace to become saturated with paint or for the paint to bleed through the fabric. It’s very important not to move the lace at any point during the spray-painting.
- Allow the paint to dry completely and peel off the lace to reveal the pattern.
- Seal the coffee table with two coats of clear sealer to protect it from wear and tear.
