How to Paint and Decoupage Leather Top Tables!

Ever stumbled upon an old leather-top side table at a thrift store and wondered how to give it a fresh, new look? Instead of trying to paint over the leather, why not think outside the box with a fabric makeover? Here’s how you can decoupage leather top tables and transform that dated piece into a stunning addition to your home decor with some fabric, furniture paint, and a bit of creativity!

 These end tables were in pretty bad shape and had a lot of cracking and small chunks of leather missing from the leather inlay tops.  I have used furniture chalk paint over the leather top tables in the past, but these side tables needed more help than what a coat of paint could do.  

Gather Your Supplies

Before you start your leather furniture makeover, make sure you have the following supplies:

• Fabric of your choice
• Furniture paint
• Decoupage medium
• Scissors or Fabric cutting wheel
• Quality Paintbrushes (1 of my favorite brands)
• Sandpaper
• Clear sealant for Fabric
• Top coat of choice for painted furniture
• Primer (May be needed)

this project

How to Paint Leather Top Tables

Properly prepping any piece of furniture is important. You should not just wipe down the furniture and paint. You need to inspect the whole table or furniture piece to see what needs to be fixed or prepared before painting.

I have 2 FREE guides for those who need help with properly prepping furniture and also a beginner furniture painting guide.

• FREE How to prep furniture properly
• FREE Furniture Paint Guide

The steps to properly paint any furniture piece are:

• Inspect the furniture to see what needs to be done to the furniture.
• Repair any damages. Don’t forget to check the drawers
• Prep the furniture after all repairs are complete. Prep may include removing old finishes, sanding, and priming the furniture.

If you are painting the leather table top, make sure to lightly sand the surface and I would also recommend applying a primer. The primer will help with adhesion and also prevent any cracking of the paint due to furniture polish build-up.

My leather top tables needed slightly sanded down to smooth out some slight dings. And since I was using fabric on the leather inlays, I did not need to prep the whole thing.

Lesson: Whenever painting mahogany tables, use an oil-based primer BEFORE painting and sealing. I did apply a primer before painting, however it was water-based, so I had that little thing called bleed-through. Since I used water-based, I had to go back and spray on an oil-based primer in all the areas that had bleed through, and repaint the table. I also decide to seal the side tables with wax. Furniture is an oil-based product that also helps to minimize paint bleed-through. Typically I like to spray on my favorite top coat, but sometimes a water-based sealer can also cause paint bleed through.

Make sure you check out my post on How to Prevent Paint Bleed Through.

I used Country Chic Paint in the color, Elegance.  This color is stunning, it is a perfect balance of a blue-green color!  

Watch this video on using the same decoupage method with napkins.

How to Decoupage Leather Top Tables with Fabric

Start by measuring and cutting the fabric slightly larger than the tabletop insets.

 I applied Wunda Size as my adhesive.  I really like this stuff over using Mod Podge because it is thin and easier to use. Allow the Wunda Size to tack up before applying the fabric or decoupage medium. You could use Mod Podge for the adhesive part, but I prefer the Wunda Size.  

Once the Wunda Size has dried completely and the fabric is secure, begin trimming the extra fabric. If you try to trim while the fabric is not set, you could shift the fabric and make incorrect cuts.

Typically I seal my entire painted furniture pieces with my favorite sealer. However since I was having paint bleed-through issues, I sealed the paint with clear wax and sprayed on a polyacrylic sealer over the fabric.

Check out these other great decoupage furniture makeovers

• How to Easily Decoupage Furniture
• Decoupage with Wrapping Paper
• Wallpaper Decoupage Dresser Makeover
• Tissue Paper Decoupage Chair
• Using Napkins for Decoupage on Furniture
• Aluminum Foil Decopage Desk Makeover

Added Touches to Painted Furniture

Sometimes furniture pieces need extra added details like painted drawers and definitely updating the original hardware.

I painted the original hardware and leg caps using matte black spray paint. My favorite is this 2 in 1 primer and paint. I sealed the hardware with a clear matte spray sealer.

I also used “Liquorice” (black paint) for the sides of the drawers.  It is the small details that I like to add to my pieces and sometimes painting the inside of drawers gives the furniture so much more character.  

Yes, one last detail, fabric on the bottom of the drawers.  It’s all about the details!  

These tables made a major transformation and are now worthy to be placed in a living room or used as bedside tables.

Upcycling furniture is not only eco-friendly but also a great way to create custom decor that reflects your personal style. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and experiment with different materials like fabric to breathe new life into old pieces.

Do you have any questions or want to share your own furniture makeovers? Drop a comment below and join the DIY Furniture Painting Community!

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By following these steps, you can effortlessly transform a leather-top side table into a stunning piece that fits seamlessly into your home decor. Happy upcycling!

DeDe Bailey

DeDe Bailey is the artistic mastermind behind Designed Décor and The Puzzle Table.  With a rich background in home décor retail, she has transformed her website into a platform driven by a profound passion for helping individuals craft spaces they adore. As a self-taught furniture painting artist and thrift decorator, she loves sharing her knowledge and empowering others to beautify their homes through furniture painting and thrifting. When she isn’t sharing her wisdom on the Designed Décor blog, DeDe is occupied with showcasing her ingenious jigsaw puzzle table design and expanding her short-term rental located in NE Ohio.

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