How I Restored a Thrifted Moroccan Accent Table

This morning I shared photos from a recent thrifting trip and promised more details about a particular table we rescued, together with my routine for refreshing musty wood. Here’s the full story: we found a solid wood Moroccan-style accent table at our first stop (Love of Jesus Thrift in Richmond). It had great lines that reminded us of designer versions selling for much more, and at $25 it was an easy take-home.

The table arrived in rough shape, but the structure was solid. I followed a simple, low-risk cleaning and de-smelling routine that works well for older wooden pieces:

• Wiped the surface with a damp cloth and a tiny amount of gentle dish soap to remove dirt, dust and cobwebs from cracks and carved details.
• Left the table outdoors in direct sunlight for several hours to let it dry and help reduce lingering odors.
• Wiped it down again with a cloth dampened with white vinegar; vinegar helps neutralize musty smells without damaging the wood finish.
• Returned it to the sun for a few more hours to ensure it was completely dry—vinegar plus sunlight is one of the most reliable ways I’ve found to remove that old, musty scent from wood.
• Brought the table inside and placed it in the bedroom to live on a trial basis before deciding on any major changes.

An optional step is to apply a wood conditioner or oil if the wood looks dry or matte. I often wait to oil or condition until I’m sure the piece will remain in its current state, because conditioning makes future refinishing or painting more difficult. For this table I held off: some areas of the ornate top are gorgeous while others still show wear, and I prefer keeping things reversible during the initial trial phase.

Leaving a piece as-found for a little while is a strategy I use often. It prevents rushed decisions—especially permanent ones like painting over interesting details—and gives time to experiment with placement and styling. In this case, a small stack of colorful books and a potted plant immediately made the top look more intentional and helped mask imperfections. That was enough for now while the table settles in.

From across the room it reads as a cohesive accent rather than a mismatched thrift find. The table’s darker mocha tones pick up other accents in the room, like the leaning mirror and oil-rubbed hardware, so we don’t feel the need for a bold repaint. Subtlety won out: the legs of the table even echo a pattern in the rug, which ties the look together without shouting for attention.

My favorite feature is the ornate wooden top — it almost looks like a large Moroccan puzzle. I took several close-ups because the carved detail is the table’s best asset and worth preserving, whether we ultimately refinish it or not.

I’ve been considering a light, reversible accent instead of a full repaint: painting the inner lip of each leg a clean white to highlight the keyhole shape and reveal more of the silhouette from a distance. It’s a small tweak that would keep the vintage character while adding a subtle contemporary twist.

For now the table remains in its trial phase. We’ll live with it for a bit, make small adjustments, and only commit to a full refinish or paint job if it still feels right. What would you do—leave it as-is, refinish, or add a small painted detail?