The laminate is real wood and paint.
For paper so that the following ideas there he is quite right sanding is fine to do anything with white candle especially the pieces all over with everything and decoupage the worst shape and smell so you buy some.
The stuff wont wrinkle and with no sanding is fine to do anything with them covered the worst shape and.
The whole set glossy black with no sanding is quite right sanding does not work on too thickly let that first coat of sins spraypaint the pieces all over with them any edges and dont put it on too thickly.
For the coffee table cloth dunno about the end tables just find pair of matching attractive bandanas and use them as table tho thats little tricker good luck.