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Advice Needed for Redoing Table

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So the other day someone posted a question on my Facebook fan page asking about what route to take when refinishing a dining room table. I am definitely not an expert in that arena and was trying to think who to ask, then it dawned on me! There are so many of you out there that have the furniture refinishing talent, so I thought I would bring the question to you.

So here it is below, would love to hear your feedback in the comments, thanks!

Hi Amanda. I bought a dining room table and chair that has been shabbied up. They didn’t sand the varnish before they painted it. Now it is chipping. What do you think, sand off all the paint then repaint and sand? It will be a pita to do all of that but I don’t think sanding the chips will do it. Too much varnish on the table. The table top is the biggest challenge. The chairs are ok no huge chips. Or sand it more for a really shabby look then poly the heck out of it. Ideas please! Thanks..

Comments

  2. I’d give it a good sanding, then water down some paint, and then dry-brush it on, using a thick house-paint brush. Make your strokes big, going with the grain, and lift the brush for randomness. And as you’re doing this, have a rag in your other hand, and wipe off randomly as well. You should end up with layered paint. If it’s still not what you want, after it’s dry, repeat, but with a much darker (or lighter) diluted paint color. Giving it layers adds to the look of age and the detail, creating an heirloom-like piece of furniture.

  3. To do it right you will need to completely strip paint and varnish. Then paint layers, sanding before painting each layer. You can paint the furniture all one color; then shabby it up by sanding selectively in areas where wear would be expected: edges, outer curves, etc. Or….choose 3 different colors, e.g.: first layer in sage, second in rose, top layer white. Then sand. The sanding will reveal small amounts of sage and rose layers. Many combos are possible, such as, pine and lilac or sapphire and lemon with white top, cantaloupe
    and lime with cream top coat. Lastly, protect with poly top coat. What ever you do, take time to do it right. You will be glad you did.

  4. I understand that the “Antique look” is back in vogue, so the above posts are appropriate.

Have you read?

DIY Giant Eyeball Lanterns – Creepy Halloween Decoration

When it comes to Halloween, bigger is always better—and these giant eyeball lanterns prove it! With nothing more than plain white paper lanterns, a little paint, and some imagination, you can create huge, spooky eyes that look like they’ve popped right out of a monster movie.

They’re perfect for hanging from ceilings, displaying on porches, or grouping together in a corner for an eerie effect. Best of all, paper lanterns are super inexpensive (you can grab them on eBay, Amazon, or even your local dollar store), which makes this a great budget-friendly craft for big impact Halloween décor.

Supplies You’ll Need

  • Large round white paper lanterns (various sizes look best) 
  • Acrylic paints or craft paints in black, brown, green, red, orange, or blue (for irises) 
  • Wide paintbrush for background color 
  • Small paintbrush for details 
  • Black construction paper or cardstock (optional for spiky “lashes” or accents) 
  • Hot glue gun or strong craft glue 
  • String or fishing line (if you want to hang them) 

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Prep the Lanterns

  1. Assemble your white paper lanterns according to the package directions. 
  2. Make sure they’re fully open and the wire insert is in place so the surface is taut for painting. 

Step 2: Paint the Iris

  1. Using a wide brush, paint a large circle in the center of the lantern to create the iris. 
  2. Choose spooky colors—green, red, orange, or blue work wonderfully. 
  3. Don’t worry about making it perfectly smooth; streaks and uneven textures add to the eerie, organic look. 

Step 3: Add the Pupil

  1. Once the iris paint is dry, use black paint to fill in the pupil at the very center. 
  2. Make it large enough to stand out against the iris. 

Step 4: Detail the Eye

  • Use a smaller brush to add darker or lighter streaks in the iris for a more realistic effect. 
  • You can even add thin vein lines in red around the iris to give it that bloodshot look. 

Step 5: Optional Spiky Lashes

  1. Cut long triangles from black construction paper or cardstock. 
  2. Glue them around one side of the lantern so they stick out like sharp monster eyelashes. 
  3. This makes the eyeballs look even more monstrous and stylized. 

Step 6: Display Your Giant Eyeballs

  • Hanging: Use string or fishing line to suspend them from ceilings, trees, or porch rafters so they look like floating eyeballs. 
  • Stacked: Place them in corners, along stairs, or even grouped on your lawn for a spooky display. 
  • Tabletop: Use them as oversized Halloween party props. 

Tips & Variations

  • Glowing Eyes: Insert battery-powered LED lights into the lanterns so they glow from the inside. 
  • Rainbow Eyes: Mix up the colors and make a whole rainbow of creepy eyes. 
  • Monster Cluster: Group multiple eyeballs together in different sizes for a scarier effect. 

This DIY Giant Eyeball Lantern craft is quick, cheap, and gives you maximum Halloween spook factor with minimal effort. Whether you make one or a whole creepy collection, your haunted house setup will definitely be eye-catching!