How to Marbleize a Table Top

A marbleized tabletop can add glamour and style to an old table that needs refinishing. Retro-style tables with solid structure can often be found at thrift shops, and a marbleized faux paint treatment will make them look fresh and new. Before painting the tabletop, practice the marbleizing paint treatment on scrap wood to perfect your technique after studying pictures of authentic marble. If the table legs are in need of refinishing, a simple black matte paint applied over a primer will highlight the marbleized tabletop. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Sand the tabletop thoroughly with the sandpaper. Remove all sandpaper grit with the tack cloth.

2

Paint the tabletop with the primer paint, using the paintbrush. Let the primer dry for three hours.

3

Pour an ounce of each of the three colors of paint on the paper plate. Dip the sea sponge in one color and press the sponge to the table top. Repeat, covering the entire table with the three colors of paint, alternating the colors in a random pattern. Let the sponged paint dry for three hours.

4

Pour an ounce of white paint on another paper plate. Dip the tip of the fine artist brush in the white paint. Pull the brush across the sponged paint to create marble veins. Let the white paint marble veins dry for three hours.

5

Apply three coats of clear polyurethane paint over the marbleized tabletop with a paintbrush, letting each coat dry for three hours. Sand between each coat with sandpaper and remove the grit with the tack cloth.