I hate doilies and tableclothes. I don't want tools or refinishing.
June 29, 2024 8:06 AM Subscribe
My end table veneer is peeled off. It looks terrible. I don't want to put doily or table cloth of any sort on it. I don't have to tools or the will to refinish or make and finish a new table top to put on top. I realize that this is basically "help me learn to swim, but I can't get wet" but what are my options here. What can I buy for not to much money and just stick on top somehow that will look nice.
I was thinking a Billy book shelf might be the right size but the problem is the edge needs to be finished all four sides or at least one short side and the two long sides.
I was thinking a Billy book shelf might be the right size but the problem is the edge needs to be finished all four sides or at least one short side and the two long sides.
Can you get a piece of acrylic cut to size and stick that on top?
posted by btfreek at 8:13 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
posted by btfreek at 8:13 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
Peel and stick wall paper or contact paper?
posted by sulaine at 8:15 AM on June 29 [12 favorites]
posted by sulaine at 8:15 AM on June 29 [12 favorites]
Yeah if the rest of it it'll come off (so it's flatter), contact paper is great these days. One could also Modge Podge something, if arts & crafts are more accessible to you than woodworking. Or, anything you might choose that's dark and reasonably thin could have its unfinished edges colored in with permanent marker and it'd probably be unnoticeable for practical purposes.
posted by teremala at 8:33 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
posted by teremala at 8:33 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
The veneer is lifting off. Use a chisel to peel off the rest. The part underneath looks like plywood? Cover it with a coat of dark paint.
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:59 AM on June 29 [13 favorites]
posted by dum spiro spero at 8:59 AM on June 29 [13 favorites]
What can I buy for not to much money
TBH I'd first look at what people are selling secondhand or giving away in my area, because there's likely to be a nice piece of furniture for cheap or free that will work as a replacement. And then I'd give away this one for free.
But if not: Besides the suggestions above maybe you could glue/epoxy/otherwise adhere a layer of something interesting on top, like a jigsaw puzzle or pieces thereof, coins, decoupage, etc. Thicker items like coins or puzzle pieces would need some work and something like epoxy to fill in the spaces between them.
However I remember you were making quilts a while ago, and maybe a quilt you made yourself would be less annoying than a regular tablecloth? And if fabric per se isn't annoying, just the thought of it dangling down the edges or sliding around, then maybe you could cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the table, fold some fabric (plain? pieced? patterned?) around it and adhere it to the bottom, and place that on top of the table as a DIY table pad.
posted by trig at 9:08 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
TBH I'd first look at what people are selling secondhand or giving away in my area, because there's likely to be a nice piece of furniture for cheap or free that will work as a replacement. And then I'd give away this one for free.
But if not: Besides the suggestions above maybe you could glue/epoxy/otherwise adhere a layer of something interesting on top, like a jigsaw puzzle or pieces thereof, coins, decoupage, etc. Thicker items like coins or puzzle pieces would need some work and something like epoxy to fill in the spaces between them.
However I remember you were making quilts a while ago, and maybe a quilt you made yourself would be less annoying than a regular tablecloth? And if fabric per se isn't annoying, just the thought of it dangling down the edges or sliding around, then maybe you could cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the table, fold some fabric (plain? pieced? patterned?) around it and adhere it to the bottom, and place that on top of the table as a DIY table pad.
posted by trig at 9:08 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
Agreed that for best results you need to remove the rest of the veneer, which honestly shouldn't be terrible, just kind of messy. After that its up to you. You could just paint the top black. You could put something over the top (table pad, contact paper, even peel and stick wallpaper). I know you don't want to get deeply into DIY, but Peel and Stick Veneer is totally a thing, so if you wanted to top to still have woodgrain you could do that.
What I would do is peel off the rest of the veneer, then lightly sand the top (just with sandpaper is fine) and paint it black.
posted by anastasiav at 9:09 AM on June 29 [8 favorites]
What I would do is peel off the rest of the veneer, then lightly sand the top (just with sandpaper is fine) and paint it black.
posted by anastasiav at 9:09 AM on June 29 [8 favorites]
Would you be open to using a big tray to cover the peeled off part? Something like a cafeteria tray (link goes to a selection of orange trays at Walmart because going super bright might be fun)? Or depending on your aesthetic preference, a large flat basket or a round metal serving platter?
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:16 AM on June 29 [2 favorites]
posted by spamandkimchi at 9:16 AM on June 29 [2 favorites]
The cheapest easiest fastest thing is a $2 tube of matte black paint from Dollarama and a $2 pack of paint brushes, and just paint the damaged areas. It won't look GOOD ... but it will look about 30% better, and it will only cost $5 and the errand + the painting together will be totally done in under an hour. Bonus points, while you're at Dollarama, also get a small faux plant for $5 and put that on the table so your eye will notice the plant instead of the damaged tabletop.
A bit more intensive & expensive would be to get a low planter with faux plants inside to cover the big damaged area. Planters are a bit expensive but I'd just bite the bullet and expect to pay around $50. Winners / HomeSense / Marshalls / Dollarama / Ikea might have some options too, especially if you get the planter and the faux plants separately. Then use a $2 tube of matte black paint from Dollarama to paint the small chip on the end (And paint the big chip too so you don't see the bare wood when the planter gets jostled and shifts position a bit).
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:31 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
A bit more intensive & expensive would be to get a low planter with faux plants inside to cover the big damaged area. Planters are a bit expensive but I'd just bite the bullet and expect to pay around $50. Winners / HomeSense / Marshalls / Dollarama / Ikea might have some options too, especially if you get the planter and the faux plants separately. Then use a $2 tube of matte black paint from Dollarama to paint the small chip on the end (And paint the big chip too so you don't see the bare wood when the planter gets jostled and shifts position a bit).
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:31 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
If you don't want to replace the whole thing then I would go with glueing down the broken edges of the veneer and painting the entire top with black paint (so it will all match).
It depends on your personal aesthetic but if you are comfortable with used furniture it will look fine.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:01 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
It depends on your personal aesthetic but if you are comfortable with used furniture it will look fine.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:01 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
I’d go with just the black paint. If the chip is deep enough to make things you put on the end table unstable, then pry off the rest of the veneer (or get a little tube of wood-filler and a plastic spatula and fill in the gap flattish, if that feels less hassle.)
posted by clew at 10:04 AM on June 29
posted by clew at 10:04 AM on June 29
How's he top attached to the rest of the table?
If it’s brackets and screws I’d be tempted to flip the top and deal with the flat, at least, underside.
If you’re lucky enough that it’s also veneer you could deal with the little screw holes pretty easily in a variety of ways then wax for a shiny surface.
If not, you’ll have a flat surface to treat as others have suggested (I’d look into interesting linoleum patterns) without worrying about unsightly depressions.
posted by jamjam at 10:27 AM on June 29
If it’s brackets and screws I’d be tempted to flip the top and deal with the flat, at least, underside.
If you’re lucky enough that it’s also veneer you could deal with the little screw holes pretty easily in a variety of ways then wax for a shiny surface.
If not, you’ll have a flat surface to treat as others have suggested (I’d look into interesting linoleum patterns) without worrying about unsightly depressions.
posted by jamjam at 10:27 AM on June 29
Peel and stick pvc or vinyl tiles would be what I’d go with. Thick enough to cover the unevenness and available in lots of sizes. You could try to find ones that are about the size of the edge of your table and put them all around the edge for a really finished look. These days they are available in a plethora of colors, shapes, and patterns. If you want solid black something like fake black subway tile, and if you want to mix it up there’s different sorts of mosaic peel and stick tiles, faux marble, or tin tiles.
posted by Mizu at 11:23 AM on June 29 [3 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 11:23 AM on June 29 [3 favorites]
Are peel-and-stick vinyl floor tiles an option? If they're stiff enough they'll bridge the gap in the veneer and you won't even see it. If not, you could get something the right thickness (card stock maybe?) and use a strip of that to even things out and the tiles will do the rest.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:23 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:23 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
How about peel and stick drawer liner? You could cover the whole thing or just the peeled off part. Or those "paint touch up" pens could be pretty good too.
posted by bluesky78987 at 11:30 AM on June 29
posted by bluesky78987 at 11:30 AM on June 29
Fill in the missing veneer with Bondo or similar, then paint. But yeah it's probably easier to find a new-used coffee table in better condition than it is to fix this one.
posted by mskyle at 1:03 PM on June 29 [3 favorites]
posted by mskyle at 1:03 PM on June 29 [3 favorites]
Tips on removing damaged veneer (hot-towel method; hairdryer assist), before paint, decoupage (maps, magazine or old book pages), stencil, peel & stick vinyl squares, contact paper, etc. Re-purposing an old wall poster (laminated, or seal after applied to top) might work, too? Also check leftover materials from previous DIYs (flooring, wallpaper, paint, tiles, etc.). Fabric decoupage on wood furniture tutorial.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:43 PM on June 29 [3 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:43 PM on June 29 [3 favorites]
Am I eponysterically required to weigh in? If so, I’d definitely try decoupaging with something that fit my aesthetic. So many choices: 2nd-ing maps, also sheet music, sewing pattern paper, rice papers, other ephemera.
posted by veneer at 6:15 PM on June 29 [6 favorites]
posted by veneer at 6:15 PM on June 29 [6 favorites]
Peel and stick pvc or vinyl tiles would be what I’d go with. Thick enough to cover the unevenness and available in lots of sizes.
This. The only tool you would need would be a snap knife or utility knife.
If the surface is uneven some spackle could be used to level it out.
posted by Mitheral at 9:18 PM on June 29
This. The only tool you would need would be a snap knife or utility knife.
If the surface is uneven some spackle could be used to level it out.
posted by Mitheral at 9:18 PM on June 29
I'd go to Home Depot and have them cut a piece of 1/2 inch plywood the size of the end table top, and then I'd paint it to match the table or in a color that complements the table color, and I'd just set it on top of the table. I might or might not consider also gluing it, nailing it, or screwing it to the table.
posted by SageTrail at 10:44 PM on June 29
posted by SageTrail at 10:44 PM on June 29
Right now, there is a draft stopper in the form of a dog on one of our end tables. Somewhat like this one.
posted by SemiSalt at 4:57 AM on June 30
posted by SemiSalt at 4:57 AM on June 30
Get a tray roughly the size of the table. done.
posted by theora55 at 10:32 AM on June 30 [1 favorite]
posted by theora55 at 10:32 AM on June 30 [1 favorite]
As an outside-the-box thought, a countertop place near my house used to let me go through their giant pile of off cuts and take anything I wanted. (I was making bases for some glass sculptures). There were some surprisingly-large pieces of nice marble and other stuff. You might find something that was the right size to sit on your end table. Of course, stone is heavy and it might be too much table to support, but free is free.
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 10:36 AM on June 30
posted by Gilgamesh's Chauffeur at 10:36 AM on June 30
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posted by If only I had a penguin... at 8:07 AM on June 29