Ideas to Paint a Small Table Victorian Style

Victorian style resulted from a hodge-podge of historical periods as the world opened up: Trade from distant lands became commonplace; quality wood furniture was factory-made, not hand-made; and all sorts of influences were reflected in the furniture. A few common elements of Victorian style include dark rich woods; marble-topped tables; beaded edging; and floral carvings and fabrics. Use any of these ideas to inspire your own small, painted table in Victorian style. Does this Spark an idea?

Marble-topped Table

Victorian tables often featured marble tops; paint a small end table or bedside table to mimic the stone. Strip the wood pedestal or legs if they have been painted or are darkened and worn. Refinish the bottom of the table in rosewood stain or a darker wood like mahogany---both popular during Victorian times. Using a marbling craft kit, paint the entire top of the table, surface and underside, to resemble marble. Victorian marble was sometimes red, pink or warm yellow tones, not just typical gray, so you can use whatever shade of marble appeals to you or goes with the rest of the colors in the room. To help preserve your work and protect it from spills and scratches, clear coat the "marble" top with lacquer finish before using the table.

Flowery, Leafy Victorian

A twist on classic Victorian furniture style means using the motifs and getting creative with the color. A small table for a hallway or a guest room may need a lighter touch to go with your dcor. Paint the whole table a creamy, faded rose or a pale mint green. Then use hobby paints to add a winding vine of green leaves up one side or leg and a border of acanthus leaves--a favorite Victorian carved motif--around the top edge. Distress the table gently when you are finished by sanding the corners and ends where an old table might have had heavy use. Take it outside and spray a coat of clear sealer lightly over the whole thing---but don't worry about perfect coverage. Once the table is dry, set a fringed lamp or an old porcelain pitcher full of heritage roses on it.

Wicker Accent Table

Wicker tables perfectly accent the generous porches of Victorian homes. Even if your small table came from a tag sale with dubious provenance, you can make it look as Victorian as the painted porch. Choose one of the deep colors beloved to Victorian interior designers---burgundy, dark blue or hunter green. Spray-paint the table in the yard or garage on a protective covering of old newspapers. If you work indoors, adequately ventilate the space. Give the piece two coats if the first one doesn't completely cover it. Now have some fun with the table---tack a border of hanging beaded fringe around the top and glue embroidered, flowered ribbon over the tacked edge of the fringe. Spray the ribbon with clear lacquer to spill-proof it from summer lemonades. Make a few flowered cushions that pick up the color of your Victorian accent table to toss on the rest of the traditional white wicker on your porch.