DIY Faux Marble Top Table

Get a chic marble table look for less with this easy DIY Faux Marble Table Top tutorial!

 This marble top table makes me smile every time I walk past – especially when I think back to what it looked like when I first purchased it at a thrift store for $6. I love how smart it is now with its clean, sophisticated, and modern lines.

Orignially this Saarinen-Style Tulip Table was a poorly painted piece that was scratched up and in dire need of a good cleaning. It was a hot mess. But it had the great lines of a classic mid-century piece, so I bought it on the chance that there was a treasure hiding underneath. And after a day spent stripping away layers of paint, I was rewarded with this:

A much faded walnut laminate top. (Womp.) That’s not exactly what I was hoping for.

But thankfully I had heard about this marble contact paper and knew it was the perfect solution for bringing this classic piece back to life.

Are you surpirised that its contact paper? I was too. I was also unsure of its durability. But I’m happy to say this contact paper is amazingly realistic and far superior than anything you’ll find in the big box stores. It’s thick, heavy, and has a vinyl coating that is perfect for an application such as this one. And although it’s a special order, it’s totally worth the wait. The beautiful veining and natural sheen looks just like the real deal. And even better, this paper is much easier to manage than having a piece of marble cut to fit.

It was exactly what I was looking for.

To create the look, I began by adding a fresh coat of paint to the base of my table. I then applied metallic gold paint to the rim of the table’s top for a bit of glam. Next, I simply traced the contact paper around the table’s original top and carefully cut it to fit. As a last detail, I trimmed away any excess paper from around the table’s edge with an Exact-o knife (and a brand new blade) to give it a nicely finished look.

Perfection! It turned out beautifully. I love the transformation this little side table received with just a bit of paint to the base and the addition of this marble paper. While nothing can match the look and feel of real marble, this contact paper is a fantastic alternative when real stone isn’t an option.

Do you have an unused piece of furniture that’s ready for a makeover? If so, then try this simple designer diy to add a fresh look to your tired piece.

If you’d like to see this table in its “as found” condition and see how I restored it, follow this link to my Saarinen Style Tulip Table.