Painting no.
Iron on t-shirt transfers work, but will eventually peel. They come away clean so they can always be replaced. I used my tables 3-5 times a week and the iron on lasted about 8-12 months. Be careful with the heat, it's best to start low and take your time. Keep going until the edge is down well. each time, try peeling the edge a little bit until its stuck good. I did this on about 10 tables, and never ruined a single one.
I never tried air brushing, my design was too intricate for a decent stencil, but I guess that could work too.
Good luck