How to Varnish a Table

Be sure to test-run your wood varnish before applying it to the table.

A quick DIY Tip for you today readers - how to varnish a table. If you have a coffee table, bedside table or even a kitchen table that can be varnished, just give it quick inspection now. Does it look like it needs a bit of care? Are there any deep scratches visible on the surface? Is there any varnish peeling off?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, its probably time to get the tin of varnish out and get to work. The job itself is relatively easy, but a poorly varnished piece of furniture can look rather cheap, so make sure you take your time and follow a few of these DIY tips.

1. First up is preparation. Scan the table both underneath, the legs tops and sides to see which areas are in need to varnish. You don’t want to miss any spots - so be thorough on this part. If you are going for a fresh varnish, you will need to gently sand the table down in preparation for the varnish to be applied. Be careful on delicate tables and furnishings and select a fine grade of sandpaper for the more intricate furnishings.

NB: Some varnishings will just require a ‘top-up’ of varnish. In this instance it would not be neccesary to sand the entire table.

2. For more rustic tables you can leave out any holes and knots in the wood, this often adds to the effect. For more delicate furniture any deep scratches may need to be retored by a professional woodworker before applying a new coat of varnish.

3. Dust off the table and ensure no debris is present. Should this be varnished over, it would be time consuming to remove and would ruin the look of the table somewhat. I recommend a combination of a vacuum cleaner combined with a old rag to wipe any remaining dust off. You can also pick up tack cloths, which have sticky surfaces to collect the dirt.

4. Always test the varnish colour on a test piece of wood and allow it to dry for a few hours. This gives a true indicaiton of the colour of the varnish and will ensure you choose the correct shade of varnish for your table.

5. Choose a small paint brush or similar for applying the varnish to the table and be consitent in your painting method to avoid streaking or irregular patterning in the wood. I prefer to varnish width-ways in long steady strokes on conventional shaped tables - just so my hand is steadier as i go along the table.

6. Give the table a good few hours to dry and avoid touching! I would recommend 24 hours just to be safe - a ventilated room is best. When the varnish is tacky, it is very easy to leave finger prints, hairs and scuff marks into the surface,  so leave the table alone for an hour or two while drying.

7. Check back on your work the following day. Some highly absorbant woods required multiple coats, so check this manually and make a decision based on appearance - if you want a darker varnish look try applying one more coat and then re-evaluate.