Remake a worn dresser or table with a painting technique that mimics the look of marble. Often the top of an old piece of furniture is damaged, but the sides and legs are in fairly good shape. DIY Decorating & Design host Nancy Golden uses acrylic paints to make a worn tabletop look like aged green marble. Materials:
Old table or dresser
Medium-grade sandpaper
Tack cloth
Latex primer
Black latex paint for base coat
Paintbrushes
Acrylic craft paints in white and three shades of green
Plastic plate
Sea sponge
Paper towel
Fine artist's brush
High-gloss polyurethane
- Sand the tabletop to smooth any damaged areas, and wipe clean with a tack cloth. If the tabletop is beyond repair, replace it with a new pine top cut to size.
- Prime the tabletop. When dry, apply a base coat of black latex paint and let it dry.
- Squirt a blob of each shade of green paint on a plastic plate. Dip the sea sponge into all three colors at once (figure A), and dab the sponge lightly on the tabletop. Dab and smear the paint to create the look of marble (figure B). For a lighter look, sponge off excess paint on a paper towel as you work.
- When the paint is dry, add marble veining. Dip a detail brush in diluted white (or very light green) paint, and add fine lines to simulate veins (figure C). Remember to paint the veins over the edge of the tabletop as well.
- If desired, sponge on lighter shades of green to soften the tabletop and add more depth to the surface.
- When the tabletop is dry, apply a coat of high-gloss polyurethane to protect the surface and give it the shine of marble.
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