JoeSoCookbook: Decoupage Lack Table with National Geographic Collage

Attractive, practical finished product

I wanted to inject some color into my brown living room, so I took one of these cheap, classic Ikea Lack tables and decoupaged an orange color themed National Geographic collage.

I coated it with a polyurethane finish to make it shiny and waterproof and use as a coffee table. I might still need to paint or do something with the legs to finish it off.

First I cut out images and pages from my Nat Geo magazines. I cut out all sorts of different pictures before deciding on this theme. I laid out the final design and then cut out enough yellow strips to use as a border and fill in any uncovered areas.

In a bit of minor prep work, I used my multitool to sand the table. Then I used Modpodge decoupage glue and foam brushes to apply the collage. First I did strips of yellow along the top and bottom edges, so they would show through as a "Nat Geo yellow" color base beneath the images I applied over top. I also applied the yellow strips underneath where there would be frayed edges or gaps between the main collage images.

Next I did the bulk of the decoupage work, applying the main images on the top and sides of the table. I ended up getting a lot of air bubbles underneath my paper, which kind of sucks. Nevertheless I think it turned out well. I coated it first with a polycrylic (water soluble) finish, but that wouldn't work well with drinking glasses and other every day usage. I wanted a shiny, sort of thick, protective coat. So I lightly sanded it and used a polyurethane finish, which worked perfectly.