How to Refinish a Vanity Dressing Table

Refinishing furniture isn’t a simple job, but it also isn’t as hard as you might think. Most homeowners have many of the required tools. If you don’t, the necessary tools are very useful for general home maintenance in addition to refinishing projects.

Find a Vanity Dressing Table

If you don’t already have a vanity table or dressing table, you can often find them at garage sales, flea markets, and online used goods sites. They’re also commonly seen in antique shops but may be higher priced.

When shopping for a table you intend to refinish, focus on the “bones” of the table rather than its visual appeal. Make sure the drawers slide smoothly and the legs don’t wobble (or can be easily repaired if they do.) Look for major cracks and damage or missing pieces. Most people are swayed by the finish rather than the underlying structure, so you can get a great deal on a solid piece in need of TLC.

Refinishing Instructions

Before you start refinishing your vanity dressing table, you’ll need to collect these supplies:

• Tarp or other groundcover
• Dust mask
• Safety glasses or goggles
• Work gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Belt or disk sander
• “No clean-up” or “wash-away” stripping chemicals
• Plastic spatulas
• Plastic scrapers
• Grain filler
• Wood stain
• Sanding sealer
• Tack cloth
• Varnish or lacquer
• Sponge brush or varnish brush
• Screwdriver

1. Lay out the tarp outside, and then put the table on top of it. Remove the frame from the mirror and put the glass somewhere safe. Also break the table down as much as possible to make it easier to strip.

2. The type of stripper you need depends on whether the piece is stained or painted. Ask for help choosing the right stripper at your hardware store. Wearing rubber gloves, the mask, and safety glasses, apply the stripping chemicals with the spatula. Wait the amount of time required on the package, and then remove it as instructed. Avoid using water as the final rinse because it can swell the grain.

3. If necessary, reapply the stripper or use a belt sender to remove any remaining finish. If sanding, start with a rough grain, then switch to a lighter grain. Ask the employees at the hardware store to recommend sandpaper appropriate for your type of wood.

4. Repair any nicks, cracks, or damage to the wood.

5. If the wood has an open grain, like oak, then apply grain filler with a plastic spatula. If you’d like the finish to be close to the natural wood color, use a natural-colored filler. If you’re aiming for a darker finish, use a filler closer to the final color. Once it’s dried, scrape off the excess filler.

6. Reassemble the table and all its parts.

7. Apply the new stain, let it set the recommended time, then remove the excess, and allow the table to dry.

8. If you’re using a non-polyurethane finish, apply a sanding sealer and allow it to dry. Vacuum the piece to remove dust, then rub with tack cloth.

9. Apply the varnish or coating and allow it to dry overnight.

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