Decoupage the kitchen table with your own hands

Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever under the moon, and your favorite home furnishings lose their original luster over time. But what if you really don't want to part with the table or chairs? Is it possible to somehow "breathe" a second life into them?

Features of decoupage technique

The main advantage is that with minimal financial costs, you get a unique piece of furniture. This way of updating furniture consists in choosing a pattern of a certain orientation and decorating the table surface with it. After that, the table top is varnished and thoroughly dried.

In addition to uniqueness, the advantages of technology include:

• Ease of the process;
• Use of inexpensive materials and improvised means;
• Possibility to significantly extend the service life of "old age" furniture.

This technique has several varieties:

1. Direct decoupage. In this case, the image is glued to the surface (glass, wood or some other, it does not matter);
2. Back. With this technique, the images are glued from the back to a glass tabletop.
3. Volume. Beads, textiles, shells, small stones, etc. are used as materials for this technique.
4. Art. A very interesting option, as a result of which the line between the pattern and the applique is erased. The image turns out to be harmonious, executed in the same style.
5. Decopatch. The technique of execution is as follows: pieces of paper are glued to the surface, imitating various surfaces: wood, stone, textiles. In this case, you can work both with ordinary napkins and with special decoupage cards.

In addition, decoupage technique is subdivided according to stylistic directions. In particular, the most popular are:

• Provence. Originating in the French province, this trend is considered a reflection of rustic simplicity and romanticism. A light tone is used as a base, on which scenes from village life and a variety of floral prints are applied. The technique of artificial aging is often used to emphasize the antiquity and value of a thing.
• Ethnic. A distinctive feature of this trend is the abundance of bright colors in elements belonging to a particular culture.
• Simple City. The most affordable style. Old newspapers and magazines are used to decorate the table. In general, whatever is at hand will do.
• Shabby chic. Another interesting design solution for decorating a table using decoupage technique. This design is an imitation of antiquity in light colors and with slightly blurred image contours.
• Printroom. Old photographs in black and white on a light background. This finish looks very impressive.
• Victorian style. This design concept owes its origin to Queen Victoria.Luxury is indispensable here, a kind of mix of exquisite details of palace life with timeless classical elements.

Interesting fact: decoupage technique originates in China in the XII century. This, if one may say so, art (then it was not considered as such), was the lot of the peasants. In order to somehow diversify the interior and everyday objects, the peasants cut out drawings from paper and pasted them on various surfaces. Several centuries later, in the 15th century, decoupage as an art was already mentioned in Germany. And in the 17th century, this type of decoration reaches Venice, where it is actively used to decorate objects in the Chinese and Japanese styles. Since the 19th century, decoupage has been used in many countries, and in Russia it has gained the greatest popularity since the beginning of the 21st century.

Table decoration depending on the purpose

Before embarking on the revival of the table, you should clearly define its future purpose. Depending on the options for using the interior item, the finishing option is also selected.

1. Kitchen work table. It is clear that this piece of furniture will carry a serious daily load. Therefore, materials of increased strength and durability are selected. In addition, the surface must be easy to clean and resistant to aggressive environments.
2. Dining. In this case, the color scheme and design style deserve special attention. Since the table will be served with dishes of different colors and different stylistic concepts, the table decoration should harmoniously complement the picture. It is better to give preference to discreet neutral colors.
3. Desk. Since the countertop should help maintain functionality, it is important that the finish is not too bright and does not distract from work or study. Avoid a lot of decorative items. Be careful with the gloss if there is a computer on the table, because due to the reflection of the rays, working at such a table will be uncomfortable, and sometimes even harmful to the eyes.
4. Dressing table. The main task of this piece of furniture is to please its owner. Therefore, it can be decorated in any technique and color scheme. The main thing is not too colorful.
5. Magazine. The purpose of such a table is mainly "decorative". It is thanks to this that ample opportunities open up for experimenting with color and texture. If at least deep down you are a creative person, decorating a coffee table will be a great opportunity to realize your hidden talents.
6. A table for a summer residence. The best palette for decorating garden furniture is pastel. Choose floral motifs and prints as an ornament.

And remember, in order for the interior to look stylish and harmonious, the finishing of each item must correspond to the overall design concept. Otherwise, even a very expensive and beautiful thing in itself will look like a "black sheep".

Decoration Materials

Many people love the decoupage technique because the implementation of stylish and unique ideas requires a minimum of costs. And the materials are literally always at hand.

Napkins

For decorative decoration of furniture using decoupage technique, both ordinary napkins and special three-layer napkins are used. In the process of work, the pictures are carefully cut out and laid out on the surface in such a way that the desired pattern is obtained.

Moreover, today this "finishing material" is available in different thematic versions.

Textile

For a stylish result, it is best to use large enough pieces of fabric.Give up tiny patches! Designers note that curtain fabrics look very good as a "consumable" material for decorating a table using decoupage technique. The main thing is texture, the material should be thin and light.

Paper

This is where fantasy roams. For decoupage a wooden table, you can use the remnants of wallpaper, and old newspapers and magazines. Moreover, if you prefer wallpaper, then you can place them in a large piece on the surface, or recreate the desired picture, as they say, in parts.

In general, what only your imagination is enough for.

Guipure

An interesting and unusual way of decorating a table using decoupage technique. At first glance, this is an attempt to combine the incongruous, but believe me, the result will definitely please you. A large piece of cloth covers the entire surface of the table, gently straightens it so that even small folds do not remain, and then the table top is covered with spray paint.

Eggshell

Before you start working with this "material", you need to prepare it. To do this, break the shell into small pieces with your fingers. Then they are laid out on the surface in an even layer. Use tweezers or a toothpick to move the pieces.

The decor turns out to be quite voluminous, so it is often used as a kind of accent, framing a picture or table borders. To achieve a greater effect, the shell is painted in different colors, mother-of-pearl, for example.

Dry leaves

It turns out that you can collect a herbarium not only for school activities, but also to create a spectacular interior. For decoupage using leaves, special skeletonized ones are used, purchased in stores.

You can also use those that you collected yourself in the forest or park, just before starting work, you need to iron the leaves with an iron.

Aging

Aging is considered one of the most creative ways to refresh the table. There are several ways of artificial aging: using a regular paraffin candle, dry brushing, spraying, as well as craquelure and patina.

Tools and supplies

In addition to the surface intended for decoration (wood, glass or other) and finishing elements, the following consumables will be required:

• Primer. Essential for surfaces that do not absorb paint.
• Glue. It is needed to glue the finishing elements to the surface.
• Paints. They are not often required, but in a situation where you need to finish drawing elements you cannot do without them.
• Varnish. They cover the surface so that the image lasts a long time and is effective.
• Sandpaper. Uneven surfaces are cleaned.
• Brushes. Do not limit yourself to one: you need to finish painting the elements and varnish the surface at the finishing stage.
• Shading sponge.
• Pencil. Required at the preparatory stage, for tracing pictures before cutting.
• A container of water and soap to clean the surface.
• A container with water for placing pictures there before applying to the surface.

A frequent “guest” in decoupage technique is craquelure varnish. After applying it to the surface, it gives the impression of an aged piece of furniture. The one-step craquelure resembles a layer of cracked paint. Two-step craquelure is able to create an "antique" mesh on the surface of an existing pattern.

Decoupage paper: step by step instructions

To begin with, the surface is prepared. Remnants of the previous finish (varnish or paint) are peeled off from the wooden countertop. Then the product is covered with acrylic varnish on all sides.After that, the surface should be primed - apply a uniform layer of white acrylic paint, and only after the above procedures, the tabletop is covered with paint of the tone you need.

Now you can start preparing the material for decoupage. The fragments you need are cut out of napkins (newspapers, wallpaper). The next stage is the formation of the composition. The cut fragments are laid out on the table in a certain order.

The outline of each paper element is outlined with a pencil. Then the paper parts are placed in water for a few seconds, removed, laid out on the fabric with the wrong side up and varnished.

Everything is now ready for the final stages. The lacquered fragments are laid out on the surface in a certain order (for this it was necessary to trace with a pencil), and are rolled with a rubber roller.

Make sure that there is no air under the pieces of paper. And leave the composition to dry completely.

If you want to give the table an antique "touch", artificially age, take sandpaper and wipe off the top coat of paint. To shade the overall image, use dry pastels of different shades.

It is better to grind near the elements of the composition. For the final finishing, acrylic varnish is used in a spray can. They evenly cover the entire surface.

The table is considered completely ready for use after the final drying of the final coat of varnish. And in order for the whole table to look harmonious, do not stop at the decoration of the table top, try at least to paint the legs to match it.

Decoupage technique is a fun way to give old furniture a new life. Although, in fairness, it is worth noting that newly acquired interior items are often decorated in this way.

Looking for opportunities to create a unique design? Gravitate towards stylish and effective gizmos? Then why don't you try yourself in decoupage technique.

Video: decoupage of the kitchen table

Decoupage the table in the photo