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You are here: Home / Craft Basics / How To Refinish a Table With Fabric and Resin

September 21, 2013 · 52 Comments

How To Refinish a Table With Fabric and Resin

Craft Basics· Home Decor

This is definitely not your normal “How to refinish a table” tutorial! Follow along as I show you how I put a fun and unique spin on this DIY project.
How-to-refinish-a-table-Crafts-Unleashed
If you have a table you want to update, or if you’re just bored with your dining room and are ready for a new look, here’s an easy way to revamp your table – with no painting required!
Resin on Table DIY
Fabric is a fun way to bring color and pattern to your furniture, and epoxy gives it a polished, professional finish.  My sister was looking for a fun way to refinish her dining room table, and she was nice enough to let me try this technique out on her furniture.  We’re both thrilled with the end result! Today, I’ll show you how to refinish a table with fabric and resin.

Resin TableHow to refinish a table with fabric and resin supplies:supply2

  • Fabric
  • Gloss Mod Podge
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Epoxy Resin
  • Brayer
  • Heat tool

Step 1:  Prepare the table surface.  If your table is in good shape, you don’t need to do much.  This one was chipped and peeling in the corners, so we removed the laminate.

Table step 1Step 2:  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 2Step 3:  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 3Step 4:  Trim off the excess fabric.  This table had a plastic edge to it, so we tucked the fabric edges under the plastic.

tucked edgesStep 5:  Put painter’s tape around the edge of the table to prevent drips.

pour resinStep 6:  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.

How-to-refinish-a-table-Crafts-Unleashed-2The 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 ‘how to refinish a table’ technique to update a coffee table, end table, or even a serving tray.

Table MakeoverI hope you enjoyed my version of how to refinish a table and will give it a try yourself. Have fun crafting and creating!

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Morena

Morena Hockley is the crafty mind behind the tutorials at morenascorner.com. Morena is a stay at home mom to four young children, and crafting is what helps her maintain her sanity. It’s a wonderful outlet and it’s how she gets her “me” time. In a past life, Morena was an elementary school teacher and an assistant principal. She misses teaching, so her blog is in a sense a virtual classroom. Swing by and check out Morena’s Corner!

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Comments

  1. Rosemarie Switniak says

    May 24, 2019 at 4:48 pm

    Can I use it on a wood table if I just take off the shine and leave the small dents would i have to fill them in or would the mod fill it in or could i just use the resin please help thank you

    Reply
  2. Brigitte says

    May 27, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    Sounds so easy! Would you think it works for outside furniture, exposée to rain, etc?

    Reply
    • jojo pindatz says

      November 11, 2018 at 12:57 am

      It’d likely be fine for rain. It is waterproof when done. However, even the highest grade epoxy will discolor and “yellow” after long-term exposure to UV light. For that reason, I wouldn’t suggest this for outside furniture.

      Reply
  3. Joe Camino says

    April 17, 2018 at 1:44 pm

    Hi. Just found this post. It’s a great idea, and your table looks fantastic. My question is about how the fabric is bonded to the table. I have a lot of experience with epoxy, but none with Mod Podge. Is the Mod Podge strong enough to permanently bond the fabric to the table so that it won’t have a tendency to peel up over time? From what I can tell the epoxy in this project is just a protective coating over the top of the sealed fabric.

    Thanks very much.

    Reply
  4. Janell Kay says

    October 9, 2016 at 10:54 am

    This looks like a great alternative to a laminate sheet. Is the end surface smooth enough for writing, or can the fabric grain be felt? I RELLY want to try this for my craft tables and desk but I am nervous about bubbles and uneven coating etc.

    Reply
    • Janell Kay says

      October 9, 2016 at 10:56 am

      Oh silly me… ** REALLY !

      Reply
  5. Kimberly says

    June 22, 2016 at 8:15 pm

    Hi! I’m an editor for Remodelaholic.com and am writing to request permission to use one of your table photos in an upcoming post. We would like to feature this in a round up and would include a backlink and clear credit to you.

    Additionally, we routinely publish round-up style posts on our site and if you’re willing to allow us to use one photo from other posts you’ve done, we would love to add you to our directory of sites to feature. As a bonus, your site would then be on our radar for possible Facebook shares as well.

    Please let me know if this would work for you. Thanks for your consideration!
    Kimberly

    Reply
  6. Kim says

    April 27, 2016 at 9:21 am

    Well, this was my very first craft project ever, and I botched it. My table still is not dry after 96 hours. I assume I will have to scrape it off and start over. I must not have mixed the epoxy correctly….. Live and learn 🙁

    Reply
  7. Kirsten Reed says

    April 24, 2016 at 3:45 pm

    Awesome project. I love it.

    I’m so glad I found this post. I’ve been researching ways to redo our kitchen with a retro twist (they just don’t make fun counter top designs anymore!)…so it’s D.I.Y. and resin time. 🙂

    P.S. Isn’t Mod Podge the best?

    Reply
    • Lisa Prom says

      December 28, 2017 at 7:11 pm

      Did you do counter tops? If so I’d LOVE to see!

      Reply
  8. Dan says

    November 4, 2015 at 4:41 pm

    Awesome table. I’m going to resurface a formica table for table top games.

    How much Mod Podge did you use on the table surface and on the fabric?

    Reply
    • Morena says

      November 5, 2015 at 1:37 pm

      I used about 1 1/2 bottles of Mod Podge on this project. Good luck with your project!

      Reply
  9. Suzanne says

    October 23, 2015 at 10:09 am

    HI .. where can we get the resin ? and is this available in jars or gallons ? and what will be the cost of the final project .. thank you for your help !!!

    Reply
    • Sarah {Crafts Unleashed Editor} says

      October 23, 2015 at 10:54 am

      Hi Suzanne, you can purchase the resin here: https://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/jewelry-signed-sealed-and-remembered-line/en33008a

      Just click the links in the supply list and it will take you directly to the product used.
      The final cost will depend on how big your piece is and what fabric you choose.

      Reply
  10. laiah says

    October 12, 2015 at 11:58 pm

    Hi there! I appreciate how easy-to-folllow your instructions are. I am wanting to paint my laminate kitchen countertop. (I live in a small space so my countertop is roughly the size of your average coffee table, would I just need 8 oz package of EasyCast). How has the table aged, would mine hold up if Im putting dirty dishes and water on it all the time- but no cutting of course. And if Im wanting to just add a bright color paint would i still need to cure the color with a gloss, is the resin stain a light caramel otherwise?

    Reply
    • Morena says

      October 13, 2015 at 3:14 pm

      I would get two boxes to be on the safe side! The table has held up well, the only thing to watch for is don’t place very hot items on the resin until it has cured completely. The resin is completely clear (unless you use an old box….don’t store it too long because over time it does yellow). So if you want to paint a bright color you should be able to just pour the resin on top of it. Good luck!

      Reply
  11. Katie says

    April 12, 2015 at 10:40 pm

    Hi! I’m new to upcycling, and I know this post is old, but how did you remove the laminate without damaging the plastic edge?
    This is such an amazing idea, and it turned out beautifully! I can’t wait to upcycle my table 🙂

    Reply
    • Morena says

      April 13, 2015 at 10:40 am

      The laminate was already peeling, but we also heated it with a hair dry to loosen the adhesive. I hope that helps!

      Reply
  12. Shyeeta says

    January 17, 2015 at 12:05 pm

    Hey i see that this is old but i’m hoping that someone email me back….. My daughter has a Minnie mouse table that’s be ruin and I wanted to redo it. i wanted to change it to the Frozen theme, will this work for any fabric

    Reply
    • Morena says

      April 13, 2015 at 10:40 am

      Any fabric will work.

      Reply
  13. Amy Renea says

    November 5, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Hi Morena! This may be a stupid question 🙂 When you use the resin/epoxy does the painter’s tape “hold it in” at all or is it just to protect the edge? In other words, if I use it on a flat surface without tape, will it “roll off” the edges? Thanks! 😉

    Reply
    • Morena says

      November 6, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Hi Amy! The resin will “dome” as long as you don’t over pour it! On a large surface like this one I used tape to make sure there were no drips, but on smaller projects (like pendants) I just pour a small amount of resin and it domes nicely. You just have to be sure it stays flat and isn’t moved while it cures!

      Reply
  14. Virginia says

    September 30, 2014 at 12:56 am

    This is soooo cool but where did you get the plastic for the edge

    Reply
  15. Deb says

    July 22, 2014 at 6:45 pm

    This looks fantastic! Really a great diy period piece from the 50’s. I can almost remember table tops that had a similar design! My question, maybe a dumb one, how safe and how durable is resin? or Mod Podge? I’d like to do this to my kitchen island which will obviously have contact with food and see heavy use. Somewhere I also read that Mod Podge should not be used with edibles. Thanks! Great job!

    Reply
    • Morena says

      July 23, 2014 at 5:09 pm

      Thanks, Deb! Neither Mod Podge nor the type of resin I used are food safe, so you would have to use a mat or plate with food items. The resin is durable but it will show scratches if you are using it as a cutting surface. It holds up well to heavy use, just be sure to apply several small layers and let them cure completely before applying the next layer, otherwise it will take some time for it to set completely.

      Reply
  16. Cindy Faras says

    May 9, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Could this work on a resin Home Depot picnic table?

    Reply
  17. Tasha says

    March 6, 2014 at 5:43 pm

    Love this idea but question: have you tried this with the original laminate surface on the table? You are applying ModPodge to a more porous surface than laminate during your tutorial. Will the fabric stick as well to laminate?

    Thanks.

    Reply
    • Morena says

      March 7, 2014 at 12:07 pm

      Yes, it will!

      Reply
  18. Linda Maggs says

    February 28, 2014 at 4:01 pm

    I am following Mod Podge Rocks and I landed up here…. what a fantastic table and I love the record placemats! I have never used resin before, but know I feel encouraged to give it a try! I am also a Pinterest addict so I will go check out your boards too 🙂

    Reply
  19. Sarah Tremblay says

    September 25, 2013 at 3:00 am

    Nice job!! The table looks amazing. You have done a great job with the table. It really looks awesome. I would love to try this on one of my old tables.

    Reply
  20. Cathy says

    September 24, 2013 at 2:17 pm

    Hi,
    Love what you did! Have been on the look-out for an old 50s style table and chair set for years and am still waiting. I really shouldn’t refer to the 50s as “old” as I was born in the mid-50s but I’m getting really tired of the over-used terms vintage, antique and retro! 🙂
    When you refer to a “heat tool” are you referring to a blow dryer or something else?
    Many thanks,
    Cathy

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 24, 2013 at 4:48 pm

      Hi Cathy! The link to the tool I used is in the supplies list….just click on the words! It’s the kind of item you use for heat embossing.

      Reply
  21. Raphaele says

    September 24, 2013 at 3:36 am

    Perfect, I was looking for a way to update my craft table top. Using some fabric will be just perfect! A question though: how resistant is the resin once dry?

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 24, 2013 at 11:55 am

      The resin is waterproof and does not scratch too easily. You will need to let it cure for several days for it to fully set.

      Reply
  22. carol says

    September 23, 2013 at 6:22 pm

    do you use a cotton fabric? or a heavier weight fabric? Love this

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 24, 2013 at 11:54 am

      Thanks, Carol. The fabric is cotton. It’s Michael Miller’s “Mid Century Modern” fabric.

      Reply
  23. Donne Roma says

    September 23, 2013 at 3:48 am

    Great tips, thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  24. Ruth Loughlin says

    September 22, 2013 at 3:37 pm

    Thank you for getting back to me. As I also have a 50’s kitchenette set. With the four chairs to match…

    Reply
  25. JaneEllen says

    September 22, 2013 at 1:30 am

    Awesome is too simple a word to describe that table. Where did you get that fabric, goes perfectly with the table. Great vintage table also. Those old babies just don’t wear out. Love the style so much. Great project also. Must have taken a lot of work but worth it. Looks fantastic. The records on top are a hoot. Happy weekend

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 22, 2013 at 10:32 pm

      The fabric is Michael Miller’s “Mid century modern”.

      Thanks for the lovely compliment!!

      Reply
  26. tammy says

    September 21, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    What brand of resin did you use and where is the best place to get it. I bought a thrift store table some months ago and still trying to figure out what to do with it.

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 22, 2013 at 10:30 pm

      Tammy, the links to the products are in the supply list. Here’s the resin I used: http://www.consumercrafts.com/store/details/catalog/jewelry-signed-sealed-and-remembered-line/en33008a

      Good luck with your project!

      Reply
  27. Bonnie says

    September 21, 2013 at 3:33 pm

    That fabric is fabulous. You did an amazing job!. Makes me want to go find a table to redo

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 21, 2013 at 4:52 pm

      Thank you! Try it on a side table or tray. 🙂

      Reply
  28. Patricia Routt says

    September 21, 2013 at 3:00 pm

    I love this, it is beautiful and I have a table in my basement from the 50’s with chrome trim and chrome legs and this would be perfect, I just wish I had those chairs, LOL. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 21, 2013 at 4:53 pm

      You’re so lucky to have an authentic 50s table! The chairs are from Target. 🙂

      Reply
  29. Ruth Loughlin says

    September 21, 2013 at 10:42 am

    How much resin did you use?

    Reply
    • Morena says

      September 21, 2013 at 10:47 am

      Ruth, I used 3 boxes for this table.

      Reply

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