How to revive a coffee table

Rediscover the original beauty of mid-century furniture! – by Better Homes and Gardens

Nothing beats filling your home with vintage pieces and secondhand finds that you can treasure for years to come. 

While there are some things you should never buy second-hand, picking up furniture finds will save on money and reduce waste. 

If you’ve found the mid-century furniture item of your retro dreams, then rediscover the original beauty of the piece with this simple revamp.

Tip! If your piece is coated in a layer of grime, you may wish to rub over the piece with fine steel wool drenched with methylated spirits. When you’re done, immediately wipe away excess metho with a clean dry cloth. Let dry before continuing.

Before: The surface of the table is dull, marked and scratches, Chris Jones

After: The timeless lines of a Parker furniture coffee table – beautifully restored by you – are at home with contemporary furnishings and artwork, Chris Jones

Gather your supplies

• Coffee table of mid‑century design (here, made by Parker Furniture)
• 400-grit sandpaper
• 00 fine-grade steel wool
• Danish oil (try Feast Watson Scandinavian Oil)

You’ll also need

Drop sheet; clean dry cloths (2); screwdriver; cork sanding block; flat stirrer

Here’s how

Step 1

Lay out drop sheet in your work area. Place table upside-down on drop sheet. Using screwdriver, unscrew tabletop from leg frame. Place screws (and any extra fittings) in a safe spot for later.

Chris Jones

Step 2

Fold and tear a strip of sandpaper to suit width of sanding block. Wrap paper around block.

Chris Jones

Step 3

Lightly rub over surfaces of tabletop with sandpaper using long even strokes. Make sure you rub in direction of grain (never rub across grain) and take care not to dig into the veneer. Brush away dust.

Chris Jones

Step 4

Using steel wool, rub over leg frame of table. Again, rub in direction of grain. Brush away dust.

Chris Jones

Step 5

Reattach tabletop to leg frame, using screws (and any extra fittings) reserved in Step 1.

Chris Jones

Step 6

Stir oil with flat stirrer. To apply oil to timber, dampen a fresh piece of steel wool with oil and work it into underside of tabletop and leg frame. Rub oil in direction of grain. Turn table over and apply oil to tabletop.

Chris Jones

Step 7

Allow oil to penetrate timber for 30 minutes. When surface gets tacky, remove excess oil with clean dry cloth.

Chris Jones

Step 8

After 8 hours, apply a second coat of oil. For a satin lustre and durable protection, apply 3 or 4 coats. Additional coats will increase the sheen.

After: The surface of the table is richly-coloured and rejuvenated

Source: 

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