Make And Do the Design*Sponge way: Sara's Table

08-09-2011
Make And Do the Design*Sponge way: Sara's Table

We love this zesty lime tabletop and the contrast with the wood grain beneath. Who knew setting the table could be this much fun?

Image: K.C. Giessen

Designer: Sara Giessen

Cost: About €15

Time: 8 hours

Difficulty: 

What You’ll Need

  • Any quality salvaged wooden table 
  • A can of brightly coloured gloss spray paint – your choice!
  • Fine grade sandpaper
  • Wood varnish/Wood stain
  • Heavy grade paper for your design template
  • Weighty objects for creating your templates e.g. cutlery and plates. Use objects you don’t mind ruining with spray paint!
  • Scissors 
  • Stanley knife

How To

  1. Start by washing down the table. Dry thoroughly and sand it down to achieve an even finish. if the table has dullened or has watermarks, sand more vigorously and apply a fresh coat of wood varnish or stain. Allow to dry.
  2. On the heavy duty paper, carefully draw your chosen designs. if you wish to go for the plate/cutler combo seen here, use a large plate and real knives, forks and spoons as a template for tracing out your design. 
  3. Carefully cut out your templates. Move the table to a large, well-ventilated area, avoiding areas where there are flies, insects or other particles that will stick to your tabletop when it has been sprayed.
  4. Position your templates on the tabletop. For the spray effect to be perfect, your paper template must be flush with the table surface. Do this by placing the objects you used for the templates – knife, fork, spoon and plate, on top of their corresponding shapes. Alternatively, you can stick the paper templates down with a fine layer of Pritt Stick, but remember you’ll have to carefully clean this off the table once you’ve peeled the paper away.
  5. Begin to spray the entire tabletop. Never spray at an angle near your object templates, or the pain will flow beneath them – spray from the top in light coats, returning after a few mints for a second coat. Leave everything in place to dry for at least eight hours. If you wish, you can finish with a coat of varnish for an even glossier effect and to prevent scuffing.

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