A glass-topped dining table is a fantastic way to create a sense of lightness and space in a dining room. As an antidote to ultra-minimal living, using splashes of pattern and color will create interest and prevent a room from looking bland. Getting Started
Time taken: 4 hours
You will need:
- Dining table with removable glass top
- Wallpaper sample (one repeat is enough)
- Masking tape
- Scrap paper or newspaper
- Glass spray paint
Tools:
- Scalpel blade or craft knife
- Cutting mat
- Tape measure
Step One
Using a scalpel blade or craft knife, carefully cut out your chosen wallpaper motif ‑- remember that you are using what's left of the paper as the stencil, not what you're cutting out. A cutting mat is essential to protect your working surface, prevent slippage and avoid blunting your cutting blade.
Step Two
Assess whether your table has a "right" or "wrong" side. Clean the underside of the table really well to ensure that it is free from dirt and grease marks. Using a tape measure, find the center of the table and mark with a tiny piece of masking tape. Position your first stencil to the edge of the table and in line with the center mark. Mask off the surrounding area well, using scrap paper or newspaper secured with masking tape.
Step Three
Carefully spray on the glass paint. To ensure a good finish, start and finish each spray on the masking paper, not on the glass surface.
Step Four
Peel off the stencil carefully to reveal the design. Continue building up your design, allowing each motif to dry before progressing to the next. How you position the motifs is up to you ‑- it could be a random pattern or lined up in runs, as on a roll of wallpaper. When replacing the tabletop, it is essential to position it sprayed-side down ‑- otherwise your design will wear off over time.
Like this idea? Get more incredible dining room decorating ideas!
Excerpted from Weekend Furniture Facelifts by Helen Carey. Photography by Frazer Cunningham. © 2005. Hamlyn, publisher. Used with permission.
