Kids can be hard on their playthings, but when you give your kids’ table a makeover with this DIY furniture trick, turning your trashed furnishings back into treasures is not only affordable but fun to do.
Learn how to Mod Podge furniture and transform your kids’ play table into upcycled playroom decor.
Supplies:
- Wooden play table
- Paper map of your choice
- Mod Podge or other decoupage paste
- Foam brush
- Scissors
- Clear acrylic spray paint
Learn how to make a DIY collapsible cardboard playhouse >>
Directions:
Remove the table legs
Before you Mod Podge furniture, remove the legs and any original plastic or foam covering from your play table and make sure the table’s surface is clean and dry. Then, flip the tabletop face down with the map underneath and trim off any excess. However, remember to leave a little extra to fold over the edge and under the surface of your table for a more finished look.
Apply the Mod Podge
Next, turn your tabletop face up and paint a thin layer of Mod Podge on one strip of your table’s surface to adhere your paper. Working in small strips at a time will help minimize the wrinkles and bubbles your finished surface will have.
Pay attention to the edges
Now, before it dries, carefully smooth your map out onto the Mod Podged surface a little bit at a time to limit wrinkles. Just remember to coat and cover the sides of your table and wrap your map slightly underneath as well.
Add a thin layer over the map
After allowing about 30 minutes of drying time (to reduce the likelihood of bubbles and wrinkles), add a thin layer of Mod Podge over the entire face and sides of your map to seal in the paper, brushing it on in a horizontal direction. Resist the urge to slop a ton of decoupage paste on at a time — getting your paper too wet will make a ton of bubbles and wrinkles. Allow 30 minutes for drying time, then brush on an additional layer in a vertical direction.
Allow to dry thoroughly
Finally, after allowing your Mod Podge to dry for 24 hours, give your table top 2 coats of clear acrylic spray paint according to the drying time directions on the can. This will help prevent small amounts of moisture from ruining your table makeover when your youngsters bring cups, water paint and more to your easy DIY furniture renovation.
Image credit: Michelle Maffei
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