Painting the reverse side of a glass tabletop gives it an interesting translucent effect. Search a crafts store for paints suited for use on glass. To leave a clear glass border, trace the shape of the glass top on paper and make a border stencil composed of pieces. Use stencil adhesive to adhere the border stencils to the outer edge of the underside of the clean tabletop.

Apply several light coats of spray paint to the exposed underside of the tabletop, letting the paint dry after each coat. Remember that the first color painted will be the most visible. Use a metallic paint pen to add a border and row of dots as accents along the painted edge; let dry. If you want light to filter through, seal the painted surface with two light coats of polyurethane. If you want to keep the light from filtering through, add a final coat of solid black paint, let dry, then seal with two light coats of polyurethane. Let the finish cure (this may take a week or more, depending on the humidity levels) before setting the painted tabletop on the base.

Tip: Factor in the green tint of glass. If you’re not sure what color to use, pick a hue and try it in a small area of the glass to see how it looks through the green tint. Use a straightedge to remove your trial spot.

Next: Stencil the Back of a Chair