If you have a table you want to update, here’s an easy way to revamp your table, with no painting required! Fabric is a fun way to bring color and pattern to your furniture, and epoxy gives it a polished, professional finish.
This post first appeared at Crafts Unleashed, where I am a member of the Design Team.
Supplies (click on the link to purchase):
- Fabric
- Mod Podge
- Painters tape
- Craft Casting Epoxy, Clear
- Brayer
- Multi-Purpose Heat Tool
Step one: Prepare the table surface. This table was chipped and peeling in the corners, so we removed the laminate.
Step two: Paint a layer of Mod Podge on the table, and lay the fabric on top. Smooth out any wrinkles or air bubbles with the brayer.
Step three: Seal the fabric with Mod Podge. When it has dried, seal it a second time. This is critical because the resin will stain the fabric if it isn’t sealed. We decided to paint the fabric with Mod Podge a third time to be on the safe side.
Step four: Trim off the excess fabric. This table had a plastic edge to it, so we tucked the fabric edges under the plastic.
Step five: Put painters tape around the edge of the table to prevent drips.
Step six: Mix the resin according to the package instructions. Pour it onto the table surface and spread it out to form a thin layer. Use the heat tool to pop any bubbles that may appear. Just blast them briefly and they will pop to the surface.
Allow the resin to cure for 48 hours, then remove the tape. Sand the edges if they are rough or uneven.
The cured resin looks amazingly like glass. It has an incredible shine to it! If you don’t need to revamp your dining table, you could always use this technique to update a coffee table, end table, or even a serving tray. Have fun crafting and creating!
Very cool!! Love that fabric, is that repro? If so, where from?
The fabric is by Michael Miller! I’ll see if I can find the name of it.
Thanks so much for this information–it looks great! Quick question: how much epoxy did you need to cover this table? Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it! We used 3 boxes of the epoxy that I linked to in the tutorial. Hope that helps!
This turned out gorgeous! LOVE the whole vintage vibe of your finished table and dining area. Two thumbs up for creativity and style.
Thank you!
That turned out so nice. Is the resin difficult to control? I would like to use it on a side table I decopaged.
The resin “domes” and won’t run off the project as long as you don’t over pour it and work on a very level surface. I recommend starting with some smaller projects, like jewelry pendants or trays, to get used to resin first. I hope that helps!
Love it and your whole cozy diner look ! Can I order a cheese burger and fries with a nice thick strawberry shake please?!? I will be doing this to some old TV trays I have. Thanks for sharing.
Come on over! 🙂 Thanks for the nice compliment!
If your table doesn’t have a rim around the perimeter, how would you finish off the fabric?
I would cut it slightly larger than the table and Mod Podge the fabric to make it stiff. Then trim the excess fabric off before you pour the resin. The Mod Podged fabric cuts more cleanly and should give you a crisp edge.
Did you have to take the plastic edge off the table to tuck the fabric under?
I didn’t. We used a flat head screwdriver to nudge the fabric into the slight gap that was left after we lifted the original top off.
This is something I never believed I’d see, but it is so absolutely wonderful!!! I think the old diner-style table is so cool. I wish I had thought of using fabric myself. Now I am going to search for a table I can love!
Do you think a polyurethane would also work in place of the resin?
Yes, that should work! You won’t have a surface that is as rigid or smooth as you would with resin, but it would be an effective way to seal the fabric surface so you can wipe it clean.
Hi Morena,
Just wondering, how far did 1 small pot of mod podge get you? I’m about to do my first project project want to know if I should buy more first?
Thanks
Are you doing a whole table? If I remember correctly we used several containers, maybe 4? One would be enough for a smaller project like a tray. Good luck!
I have looked for a dinet set for some time now but, to no avail.
I love, love, love what you did with the table.
Thank you for posting.
Thank you very much! I believe this set was from Target. Hope you find one soon!
Is there types of fabric this won’t work with? Thinking of using vintage kimono silk. Thank you!
I would test it with a small swatch to make sure it doesn’t still look wet when the Mod Podge dries.
I wonder if a spray adhesive and spray poly would work on the fabric to stick and seal, prior to the resin.
I’m an art teacher and would love to do this to our tables:) Only one way to find out!! Thanks for a brilliant alternative! Cathy
That is a fantastic idea and I bet it would work! I’d love to see how it turns out!
Do you think this would work over laminate on a table? We want to do this on RV table & it’s been suggested to remove it but the laminate isn’t already peeling off and wonder how necessary that may be.
I think that would work! Mod Podge is great at adhering things to slick surfaces, like glass, so laminate should be fine.
I am interested in trying a project like this but my idea is to use a round table and a tablecloth that drapes over the sides and hangs down. Do you think it would be possible to stiffen the whole “tablecloth” with mod podge and then do a resin pour down over the sides and possibly brush it down so the whole table cloth gets covered and hardens? My thought would be to lightly sand the cloth edges for a fine finish after it has dried and cured. How long do you think it would take to get fully cured to be able to sand with a super fine paper and do you think this crazy idea might actually work? Thank you for your thoughts.
I’m intrigued by your idea! I think it could work. You’d want to cover up the legs and protect your floors since the resin will drip everywhere. You’ll also have to keep coming back and cleaning up the edges of the fabric as the resin cures, or you’ll end up with clear droplets of resin hanging off the edge of the fabric. You can sand it and then paint a light layer of resin over the sanded portions to restore the shine. If I were you I’d test your project out on something smaller, like a cake stand or side table, to work out the kinks before trying it on a full size table. The hanging part of the fabric should be cured enough after 24 hours to sand. Please keep me posted! I’d love to hear how it turns out! Good luck!
Bonjour 🙂 !
Je suis tellement fascinée par votre création :)) Merci vraiment de l’avoir partagé car c’est exactement l’inspiration que je cherchais 🙂
J’ai une table de jardin rectangulaire en métal (exactement de la taille que la votre), j’aimerais savoir si d’après vous ce serait possible de le réaliser sur une surface en métal, coller du papier peint avec une colle appropriée et mettre la résine….
Qu’en pensez vous s’il vous plait?
Merci beaucoup 🙂
Ciao, hello! Yes, this should work on a metal surface! But you might need to sand it to prep it first. Good luck!
I was wondering if you mixed all of the boxes of resin at one time before you poured it on or do you have time to mix one and adhere, then mix another one etc…..would it show or would it self level?
We mixed more than one box at a time since it was such a large area!