How to Refinish a Wood Table in Less Than 1 Hour

Do you have a wood table that you’d like to refinish? Don’t put it off any longer! Get this handsome refinished look in less than 1 hour. “Restore it, Don’t Strip it”!

A Vintage Wood Table

I found This Favorite Second-Hand Table while out “Thrifting with the Gals” last summer. The size was just perfect for our long narrow front porch.

And the character of it, well it’s just adorable! I highly recommend old wallpaper tables if you have a small narrow area you want to work within.

They’re great as outdoor dining tables, workbenches, craft benches, buffet tables, display tables, flea market tables, picnic tables, etc… And they fold up for easy transport and storage too!

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But after a year of this wood table being exposed to the elements on our covered front porch along with Vermont’s harsh winter weather, it was in desperate need of restoration and refinishing.

A project I was really dreading! Do you know that feeling?

Here is this wallpaper table before the refinishing.

You can see all the markings, wallpaper paste, and how dry the wood has become.

What is the best way to refinish a table top in under 1 hour?

If you are like me, you get extremely impatient when working on DIY projects.

I don’t want to take a full day or more to sand a wooden table or furniture piece to get it looking just right. I am totally guilty of wanting instant satisfaction…

*I am not an expert in refinishing furniture. These are simply my experiences and I hope you find these methods useful!

Restor-A-Finish | A One Step Refinisher

So my GO-TO for refinishing a wood table affordably and quickly is to use Restor – A – Finish! It’s so easy with amazing results!

How do you refinish wood furniture?

Restore it, Don’t Strip it!

1. Choose the finish from Restor-A-Finish you want to work with. There are 5 finishes available. Choose the finish that matches the color of your wood, as well as the color you are striving for with your wood table.

Today I’ll be using Restor-A-Finish’s Mahogany, which is a rich brownish-red color. I want it to match the flooring on our covered front porch, which is where this table will reside.

2. Shop the supplies you will need here:

3. Prepare your workspace.

I use old bedsheets that I have collected over the years to protect our garage floor surface.

You could also use drop cloths, cardboard, etc…

4. Wipe off any dust or dirt that is on the wood furniture.

5. Using the fine steel wool, rub out any imperfections you would like gone. I used the steel wool on this wallpaper table to remove the old wallpaper paste that was still lingering on the surface.

6. Once the surface is cleared off apply the Restor-A-Finish.

You can use a brush or a rag. I used a rag, as I just find it easier to smooth on.

Be sure to read the safety and directions on the back of the can too!

Simply pour the solution onto the rag, not onto the table directly, and apply evenly with the grain.

This table was so dry, it was literally drinking up the solution. I applied it very generously, as I was going for a really dark and rich finish.

All in all, I applied about 3 – 4 coats, one right after the other, as it dried that quickly.

7. Let your wood table sit and dry for 30 minutes.

Here is my wooden table finished with Restor-A-Finish in less than 1 hour’s time. You can see there are still a few markings.

These markings could have been removed with a good sanding.

But we’re not done yet!

8. Now apply Howard’s Feed-N-Wax.

First, read the safety and directions that are on the bottle.

This is a conditioning oil that “feeds” the wood and helps keep it from drying and fading. And boy is it beautiful! Use a clean rag to spread it onto the table. Once again, I used a generous amount, almost half a bottle on this table. Refer to the video to see more.

9. Let your wood table now dry for 24 hours to be sure that it is completely dry before using. Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog practices her patience along with us too…

You may appreciate How to Paint Wicker Furniture Shabby Chic Style like the one here that Ella is sitting in:)

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Refinished Wood Table

Here she is…

Isn’t the color spectacular? What a difference.

Here is the Before and After

The stains and markings in the middle of this table did not completely disappear.

But honestly, I feel imperfections like this add to the charm of vintage collections, like this old wallpaper table.

And we were able to refinish this old wood table in under an hour’s time.

I can’t wait to decorate it with the first spring table setting of the year!

I’m envisioning a table full of mixed green and white vintage dishes paired with my favorite green champagne flutes shown here.

You may also appreciate A Vintage Haul for The Porch.

See you in the spring!

I’m so glad you dropped by, and if you are new to my blog, welcome! I hope you enjoyed your visit with us here today at our Home in Vermont.

Be sure to also check out our Home in Coastal Maine where we spend summers and weekends when we are craving a walk on the beach or a visit with old friends.

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