Would you be opposed to painting the whole thing? If you do this, definitely seal it!

Whitewash it. I've done this, and it's simple. You can use any color that you like best.

A short video

https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a31813330/how-to-whitewash-wood/

Kelshome, yes, painting is definitely on my radar. I hate to cover up the beautiful wood grain underneath, but that finish.... I would still need to sand and everything prior to painting, yes? But perhaps not quite as thoroughly as a full strip and sand for restaining?

LB, beautiful finish with the whitewashing! thanks for the tutorial. I did notice that it said to remove any traces of finish before whitewashing, so I think that would be about the same level of now commitment/work as what I was hoping to avoid. Correct me if I’m wrong?

Pieces are late 60’s early 70’s effort at early American design using a pine finish.

There isn’t any value, so paint to fit your decor.

Yes sand it but you could use just sand paper! And just enough to give it a little bit of roughness so the paint sticks! My experience with chalk paint is that sticks really well regardless of how well you sanded !

You can milk paint this. If you try to white wash it you would have to strip it first down to bare wood. Make sure you give this a good sanding and tacking off; you want to get any dirt or grease off of it also. I like to use two coats of paint, a light sanding in between. If you want a French country look you can sand afterwards in areas down to the original finish to give a distressed look. You can then use antiquing wax to finish. If you want a more updated look just lightly sand , tack off well and seal.

A couple beds I did recently with chalk paint. I finished them with a dark Bri wax that gave them a nice antique look. You can see were I sanded down the finish.

To be clear; you do not have to remove the existing finish if you are going to use milk paint! It adheres very well; just do a good prep.

I’d buy a tablecloth and some seat cushions and wait until the room has been completed. And then take a fresh look at what changes to the table would look best in the room.

Love this redo with painted chairs, table base and a gray wash top.

You get a sophisticated Farmhouse style

https://realitydaydream.com/farmhouse-graywash-technique/

To answer your question, no not a thorough deep sanding process. Actually to whitewash the table, just a light sanding to rough it up a little. Just to remove some of the gloss but not down to the bare wood to remove stain color. Hope that helps. Its simple. Not much sanding at all.

Donald is right. If you wait, you'll easily see what the perfect solution is for your table.

Here are some ideas. I like table and chairs different colors.

I love upcycling old furniture. My advise to you is keep the tabletop wood. sand all the varnish off

and get it back to it orginal wood.

paint the rest of the table and chairs with a couour that suits your room. sand them by hand first to make them feel rough then primer them a couple of times before adding the top colour coats. give the wood surface of the table a coat of quick drying varnish (colour of your choice) once dry, then gently sand wipe down with a slightly damp cloth then start again until desired affect. but chair cushions from a good home store and you won't be dissapointed