DIY Table Top Makeover: Budget-Friendly Furniture Fixes


A small white round side table with three legs stands on the wooden floor next to a window with patterned gray and white curtains. Sunlight streams through the window, casting shadows on the floor.

// White side table // A more affordable option //

I’ve never met a design challenge I didn’t like.

ever.

When I was first married, we lived in student housing with brick walls that we weren’t allowed to put anything in. Walls and walls and brick walls without a single place to hang a picture. Some people may have shrugged at those walls. Some would have thrown up their hands and rolled their eyes, resigning themselves to being pictureless.

me?

I stood up, squared my shoulders, and reached for a pencil. It turns out that the space between the bricks was the perfect size to hold a pencil. I stuck pencils in the space and then nailed the pencils and hung the pictures.

Necessity is the mother of design invention.

Same as this table.

It looks beautiful from this angle, but when you get closer, you’ll notice that the top has nicks and scratches.

So I gave it a makeover (not what you think).

The easiest solution ever.

A close-up of the edge of a round white table with a small chipped area, exposing the contents below, and a dark brown wooden floor in the background.

Close-up of a round white table edge, with a small scratch and small chip, set against a dark background.

Here’s a close-up of the table edges.

This table has seen a lot of parties and a lot of fun, and somewhere along the way, it got a little extra character.

No worries.

It was just a quick fix needed.

I could have painted it, but I had another idea instead.

are you ready

Two rolls of blue and white patterned wrapping paper lie on a white surface next to a pair of large gold scissors standing upright on a circular gold base. Curtains with blue abstract designs are in the background.

// Blue and white grasscloth wallpaper //Patterned wallpaper //

I used this.

Bark-and-wood wallpaper.

It’s like 2026 contact paper, except better because it’s thicker, cheaper (under $7) and comes in great patterns.

I bought two for this project to test, and I ended up loving the grasscloth wallpaper.

you You can see it here.

It comes in many other colors (incl The prettiest neutral khaki), and it measures: 15.7″ x 118.1″ so it was perfect for this project (Tons left for a few picture frames I want to make.)

So I cover the top and then?

A round, textured gray table with a white bowl, containing decorative white and blue patterned balls, is placed on a black and white patterned rug.

A white porcelain ball with an intricate blue floral pattern rests on a textured surface, while similarly patterned balls sit in a decorative bowl in the background.

Literally a roll of peel-and-stick wallpaper and 10 minutes later?

Hello, beautiful.

Such a simple solution to a boring white table with chips on top.

Now there’s kind of a learning curve (and I’ve taught myself some tips along the way), but it’s the easiest solution for a table (and easier than painting).

Here’s the how-to for my DIY table top makeover.

Close-up of a textured fabric surface with a repeating, zigzag herringbone pattern in shades of blue and white. The pattern appears to stretch into the distance, creating a sense of depth and perspective.

DIY table top makeover

Supplies:

table

Blue and white grasscloth wallpaper

A close-up of a blue-gray upholstered seat with a subtle herringbone pattern on a white wooden chair. The background is softly blurred, showing the carpet and some blurred objects.

Close-up of graph paper with light green grid lines and visible creases running vertically through the sheet.

1. Measure the wallpaper

In surprising news? Similar to contact paper, wallpaper has a few lines on the back of the paper, making it easy to measure.

I think the project was easier on this table because it didn’t have a beveled edge, just a plain edge that was easy to wrap the paper around.

Measure your table top and cut a piece of contact paper into a circle with an extra 3″ around the edge of the circle.

One hand holds a McKinney Public Library system card with colorful icons and text on a gray and white patterned fabric background.

2. Apply wallpaper and score

Peel off one side of the wallpaper and press it onto the table.

Take your time.

Do not rush this process.

If you peel it off too quickly, the paper will have a few bubbles (you may hear a pop when you press it).

Gently peel off the paper and then score with a sharp edge. I used my library card, and it worked perfectly.

If you see bubbles after you press down on the paper, use a card (Or whatever sharp edges you have) to push it off the side of the paper.

A pair of gold scissors cutting through patterned white and blue paper wrapped around a circular white object on a white surface.

Close-up of chair seat covered in textured, gray and white herringbone fabric with scalloped edge. A patterned rug with a blue and cream design is visible on the floor below.

3. Cut the edges of the wallpaper into strips

After you’ve pressed the wallpaper in place, flip the table over so you’re working on the underside.

If you just press the edges down, they’ll be all mushy and uneven.

So I found a solution.

Cut the edges of the paper into small strips.

You want to cut them all the way to the edge of the tabletop as shown.

A roll of patterned tape with a black and white herringbone design, partially unrolled, rests against a large, white cylindrical object on a white surface.

Close-up of a textured, woven, gray and white patterned fabric drawn on the edge of a smooth, white circular surface.

4. Wrap around the edge of the table top

Now, start from the center strip and wrap it.

Then, take the next strip and place it slightly over the strip you pressed down. There will be a slight slant on the strip that allows the edge of the table to be smooth.

Keep pressing until you have all the strips wrapped around the edge of the table top.

Score the edges with your library card (Or whatever sharp edges you have) to make sure everything is stuck.

Close-up of gray and white fabric with herringbone pattern, drawn on surface. A textured, light-colored background with subtle blue shapes partially visible in the corners.

5. Cut the pieces to fit the edges

I was left with a small sliver of a section of the table because the wallpaper wasn’t wide enough.

I just matched the pattern (like you would when wallpapering a wall) and repeated step 4.

You can’t really tell anymore where one part stops and another begins.

A bright living room with a beige sofa and blue patterned rugs, a glass coffee table with blue decorative bowls, a blue and white rug, striped armchairs and abstract art above the fireplace.

A white bowl filled with decorative blue and white porcelain balls sits on a textured, pale blue tablecloth; A patterned ball rests on the table outside the bowl.

That’s it.

And here’s another look at the finished table.

Here are some quick tips if you want to tackle this project:

  • Make sure the table is clean before you start ((Captain obvious, but worth mentioning)
  • Remember to peel back only a few inches of the backing at a time as you work
  • Work from the center outwards for the smoothest finish
  • If the pattern becomes crooked, reposition immediately (don’t let the paper set too long).
  • Smooth edges after you turn the table back
  • Seal the tabletop with a clear protective topcoat if the surface will be used heavily
  • Allow the wallpaper to fully adhere for 24 hours before you use it
  • Save leftover scraps for future touch-ups or repairs

A round, textured gray table with a white bowl, containing decorative white and blue patterned balls, is placed on a black and white patterned rug.

So thank you for those brick walls from long ago. They taught me a lot about design challenges.

They taught me to think outside the box.

They taught me to recognize that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make it look good.

They taught me to shop curbside and break for yard sales and always make time for ice cream (How ice cream came into this conversation).

Okay – maybe the ice cream part was just me.

But they “schooled” me in the rest. 🙂

A white bowl filled with blue and white decorative balls sits on a textured, light blue tabletop. The image is labeled "DIY table top makeover" And the website shows thistlewoodfarms.com.

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Date Posted: June 9, 2026

Written by: KariAnne Wood





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