Refinishing your Side Table

Although you can replace a side table that has seen better days at quite a reasonable price nowadays, it is worth considering refinishing a side table as an even cheaper option. This may not be for everyone but it only requires very basic DIY skills to reinvigorate an aging side table and make it look like its’ former self, it doesn’t cost too much and it is also very rewarding to know that you have recycled a piece of furniture yourself.
The first thing that has to be done is to give the side table a good clean and then you will know exactly what you are up against, secondly the current finish of the table must be completely removed and the best option for this is to rub it down with paint thinner. Once the old finish is completely removed and you are down to the natural wood it is important to have a good look at the table for any damage that is not aesthetic, for example loose screws that may need tightening up to make your side table as solid as it was when you first bought it.
After you have made any structural repairs to your side table it is important to ensure that you have a nice even surface on which to paint, so take a look at the surfaces and identify any irregularities and simply sand them down until smooth.
Once you are happy with the surfaces it is time to refinish the table, paint one layer of stain or paint on and it is very important to let it completely dry before adding another, this may take some time but it will definitely be worth it in the end when you have a perfect finish, another reason for this is that some stains actually dry a shade lighter or darker so you will be able to make sure that you are happy with the shade of the finish.
This isn’t for everyone and it will only really be worth doing if the table is only damaged aesthetically, otherwise it may be worth purchasing a side table that you are happy with and you will be able to use the process in a few years to extend the life of it.