The Prettiest Hack For Hiding Water Marks On Wood Furniture

You know that sinking feeling when you discover water rings on your favorite wood coffee table? Maybe your guest accidentally got a little clumsy with their drink. Or, maybe you were too lazy to grab a coaster after sitting down with your sweaty glass (no judgment here!). Whatever the case and whoever is to blame, the bottom line is that water stains are unsightly. While your first reaction might be to whip out your baking soda, toothpaste, and mayonnaise to remove the water stains from the wood, dare we suggest a hack using stencils for a prettier, more artistic fix?

Floral, damask, checkerboard, or mandala-style, stencils do a pretty stellar job of hiding imperfections on wooden surfaces. Not only that, but these patterned templates can take any piece of furniture from blah to ooh la la. This could be a dining table, dresser, nightstand, or even chair seat. The best part? You don't need to be a DIY pro to stylishly restore your water-stained furniture.

All you need is a stencil design, plus chalk paste for a raised effect. You can use colorful chalk paste, or opt for a classic, chalky white, such as the Prima Marketing Redesign Chalk Paste. However, if paint is all you have, use that — just make sure it's ideal for wood. Finish off the to-buy list with a good top coat.

First, decide whether you want to paint your wood furniture a new color or leave the wood as-is. In the tutorial above, DIY-er @click2restore painted her table a light gray hue before stenciling the top. Next, plan the stencil's placement. Depending on the affected area (and your bravery, of course), you could cover the entire tabletop and frame or only stencil the corners or center. Either way, don't forget to secure the stencil with tape before grabbing your other supplies.

Now onto stenciling. If you're going the chalk paste route, use a taping knife or spatula to smooth it across the stencil. Prefer paint? Grab a stencil brush, such as the Plaid Stencil Brush Set, and dab the paint to give it a little extra texture. Remove the stencil, let it completely dry, then seal the surface with a clear coat for added protection and longevity.

If you want to take your wooden piece up a notch, consider adding gold leaf along the trim for a luxe touch — just like @click2restore did in her tutorial. You can also paint the trim or framework the same color as the stencil so everything looks cohesive. Better yet, choose a tile design, like the Neglex 16-Pack Spanish Tile Stencil Set, and paint each block a different color to give the furniture you already have a completely new look.