How To Refinish And Stain A Coffee Table

A coffee table is a versatile piece of furniture that can serve many purposes in a living room. It can be used for serving drinks, storing magazines, or simply displaying decorative items. Over time, a coffee table can become scratched, dented, or faded, but refinishing and staining it is a relatively easy way to give it a new look.

Materials you'll need:

To refinish and stain a coffee table, you'll need the following materials:

Sandpaper in various grits (80-, 120-, and 220-grit)
Tack cloth
Pre-stain wood conditioner
Wood stain
Polyurethane finish
Paintbrush or foam brush
Sanding block or orbital sander

Instructions:

Once you have all of your materials, you can begin refinishing and staining your coffee table:

Sand the table. Start by sanding the table with 80-grit sandpaper to remove any old finish or paint. Once you've sanded the entire table, switch to 120-grit sandpaper and sand again to smooth out the surface. Finally, sand the table one last time with 220-grit sandpaper to create a smooth, even finish.
Wipe down the table with a tack cloth. This will remove any dust or sanding residue from the table.
Apply pre-stain wood conditioner. Pre-stain wood conditioner will help the stain to penetrate the wood evenly and prevent blotching. Apply the conditioner to the table with a paintbrush or foam brush, and allow it to dry completely.
Apply wood stain. Once the pre-stain wood conditioner has dried, you can apply the wood stain. Apply the stain to the table with a paintbrush or foam brush, and work it into the wood in the direction of the grain. Allow the stain to dry completely.
Apply polyurethane finish. Polyurethane finish will protect the stain and give the table a durable finish. Apply the polyurethane finish to the table with a paintbrush or foam brush, and allow it to dry completely. You may need to apply multiple coats of polyurethane finish to achieve the desired level of protection.

Once the polyurethane finish has dried completely, your coffee table will be refinished and stained. Enjoy your new-looking coffee table!