We are about to move into a new house and are on a budget. Buying a new dining room set is first priority so my Target kitchen table from my single days is going to have to do for the time being.
Problem is, it is very much scratched and there are marks from hot mugs. Again, this is not the highest quality table.
I'd love to know what I can do to "spruce it up" without throwing a table cloth on it. If I want to paint it, etc., how do I go about doing so?
I've attached a link to the table that is still sold at Target so you can see what it's made of, etc.
I appreciate anyone's help. I am brand new here.

http://www.target.com/p/Americ...e-Black/-/A-10100200

Without actually seeing the table it is hard to render any suggestions. In reading the discription I would say that your best bet would be to just sand the top and refinish with paint. The body is hardwood "but" the top is wood compostion meaning it is not solid wood. I doubt that you could finish it to resemble wood. You can however paint it either in part or as a whole a different color. I would put at least two coats of an oil based paint sanding lightly between coats. Then after it has dried for some time put a clear waterproof sealer to protect it from water marks. Sorry I wasn't more encouraging.

there are ways to finish a table that you have,but the bad news is that it is too involved to describe here.the good news is you can google "faux finishes " and get several ways to make it look like wood

Absolutely agree with Nona. Google is your best friend. You can find many how to's and some videos if you search properly

if it's anything like the "3 tables for $200" set I got at a furniture store, the wood is whatever was lying around, possibly including MDF, and the top is whatever looked like wood. probably a softwood or alder veneer.

that's going to refinish as well as a manure pile.

a light sanding to get the glaze off and a couple coats of paint, as redoverfarm suggests, is about all you can get away with. if the top is actually a laminate plastic, paint might not stick well. see if a pen knife at some edge chips the surface (laminate), or cuts it. if it chips, sand with coarse sandpaper and prime using a sticky primer, then paint. if it cuts, light sanding with 220, then paint directly.

Could not resist, cheaper stain ?

Time = $Money.

I would get the best can of "matched-in-color" spray paint and hit it w/ a couple of coats and be done with it.

As far a new/used table, get a listing of all the estate sales in your area and start going...many times you can get great deals and the quality of older products [40's, 50's, 60's] is far better than the wood today...

heh, sparky, hire the handyman dozing under the park bench, not the one awake on top. cheaper, faster, and they don't care how it turns out, either :-D