aesthetic on a budget

This $30 Hack Transforms a “Plain” Coffee Table into a Statement Piece (It’s Brilliant!)

Yanel Siqueiros
Yanel Siqueiros
Yanel Siqueiros is a 19-year-old student journalist at New York University, where she writes and reports on the culture of a bustling city right in the heart of Manhattan. When she’s not studying English literature or broadcast journalism in NYC, she can be spotted at a sunny…read more
published Jun 27, 2025
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Wiping down coffee table with dusting cloth

Hand-me-down or thrifted furniture is a great way to fill up your space on a dime, but let’s face it, sometimes these pieces can be a little plain to look at. Still, if you’re trying to spice up your place without spending loads of money, then this hack is the perfect way for you to turn almost any secondhand item into a serious statement piece. 

In a TikTok video, creator Tina Le Mac (@tinalemac) uses contact paper to give her Facebook Marketplace coffee table a complete transformation in just three steps. “My main goal is to achieve this $300 look for under $30,” Tina says in the video. 

In order to achieve this look, the only products you need are:

Supplies:

Tina tells viewers to begin by cutting the contact paper into squares using either a paper trimmer or a ruler and an X-Acto knife. Once all of the squares are ready, stick them onto the table to create a mixed checkered pattern. While doing this, make sure to use either your hands or the scraper to smooth out any air bubbles that pop up. When the top of the table is covered, use the scraper to press the leftover contact paper down on the edges of the table, pulling off any excess for a clean edge. 

While Tina doesn’t seal the table with anything at the end of the video, some comments on the video suggest doing so. This can help it resist general wear over time and hold up to any cleaning supplies used. For a perfect finish, brush a layer of water-based polycrylic or polyurethane to give your table that smooth, glossy marble look.

For just $30, the result is pretty darn impressive. 

This post was a collaboration between Dorm Therapy and Apartment Therapy and originally appeared on Apartment Therapy. See it there: This $30 Hack Transforms a “Plain” Coffee Table into a Statement Piece (It’s Brilliant!)

Yanel Siqueiros

Contributor

Yanel Siqueiros is a 19-year-old student journalist at New York University, where she writes and reports on the culture of a bustling city right in the heart of Manhattan. When she’s not studying English literature or broadcast journalism in NYC, she can be spotted at a sunny beach in her home in San Diego, California. Yanel’s bicoastal perspective on life gives her a grasp on all of the trendy subjects going around the different sides of the U.S. She loves keeping up with pop culture and fashion, and using her skills as a writer to inform others about what is relevant in the zeitgeist.

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SchoolNew York University '27
MajorJournalism and English
FavesThrifting, oat milk matcha lattes, Jellycats, and Charli xcx
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