Sprucing up an IKEA table

[Trickydecision]

We have had one of these in our conservatory for about 13 years, but the top is getting very scruffy. I wondered about painting the top with one of the paints designed for kitchen cabinets. But which one? There seem to be many. Any recommendations please?

Hi if you want a shabby look, you could use annie sloan/rustoleum chalk paints, no need to use undercoat/primers, but need to put a wax finish, to proctect the surface, I painted my kitchen table with eggshell paint, wipes clean easily, has lasted well, maybe depends on what finish/use as to what will be the best option.

Thanks, dontcall. Bearing in mind that the table needs sprucing largely because of grandchildren's activities on it, I think durable trumps shabby chic. I was wondering about eggshell, but started googling kitchen door paints but found the range rather overwhelming. All methods seemed to have merits and demerits. Eggshell seems the simplest. Pleased to know it worked for you.

You could sand it smooth again, with a black and decker mouse sander.

Since it is a solid wood table, I would sand off the varnish and apply 2-3 coats of Osmo Top oil (clear or natural). It will be as good as new.

Calendula, I sm not sure a coat of Osmo would work. The extension panel which has been used much less, still retains a sandable varnish and is much darker. But the utilitarian part which has been exposed to sun and is paler also has white patches which I assume is some sort of IKEA filler which only energes after long use. I hope this is apparent from the photo.

Tricky: on my phone, so can't see the pic. We have just sanded down a solid birch IKEA table that was about 10 years old. In the most worn patches there were the white spots you mention. They were not filler, but degenerated varnish. Once the table had been sanded (you need an electric sander) the surface was perfect again, no white patches. After oiling with Osmo it is better than new, I prefer an oiled surface to varnish. If you do the leaf and the table you will get down to the same colour once the varnish is off and you are sanding the wood.

I have had a look at sanders; Argos have a Black and Decker mouse sander for about £20: Belle, is that the sort of thing you referred to? From what you and Calendula say, regardless of how we finish it, we will not get by without sanding, but I don't want to spend a fortune. Thank you both.

Amazingly, DH has just said a sander would come in useful, I was expecting him to say just get a new table. We have different views on that sort of thing.