It Took Less Than $34 to Make This Gorgeous New Piece for Any Home!

Is your coffee table in need of a make over? Looking for something a little more chic, sophisticated, or even classic? Follow along with me as I walk you through the steps to revamp your existing coffee table or your thrifty treasure like I did!

Short Back Story

I had recently come across a great little coffee table for my home. It was listed for $25 on the Facebook Marketplace and I lucked out to be the first person to message the seller! Anyway, my sister, Billie, really liked it and mentioned that she would like to have one for her home too. So I set out find her one. About two days later, I came across the one pictured above for only $20!! To my surprise, I was the first one to message this seller too! I brought it home the next day and got started on revamping it!

Getting Started

You’re going to need to pick a well ventilated work space. I work in my backyard and use drop cloths when necessary. I knew this piece would be sitting direcetly on the ground so I used the drop cloth for this project. You’ll want to be sure your work space isn’t close by anything you wouldn’t want paint on. Then start gathering your supplies.

Mise En Place

(pronounced: MEEZ-ON-PLOSS or mē-ˌzäⁿ-ˈpläs by Mirriam-Webster.Com)
This is the French Term for “everything in its place” and is typically used in the culinary field. I have many uses for this term and as you (my readers) will see, I use it in all areas of my home. For the purpose of this post, mise en place refers to the materials we will use.

– Coffee Table
– Drop Cloth
– Sandpaper (1-80 Grit, 2-120 Grit, 2-220 Grit)
– Spray Paint Primer (I used two cans, I wanted a thin coat on the top)
– Spray Paint, Color of your choosing (I used two and half cans)
– Stain (you don’t need much, those small “test” cans at your local hardware store are more than enough for this project.
– Seal/Finish of your choosing (again, I used a spray matte finish)
– Carpenters or Painters Cloths

**GASP!! DID SHE SAY “SPRAY PAINT”?!?! ON WOODEN FURNITURE?!? GET OUT!!**
I know, I know, “For Shame”… Just trust me. This table is gorgeous!!

Sanding

I had some left over sandpaper from a project a while back. It’s actually for a Black + Decker MEGAMOUSE that I no longer have, but it worked just the same. Now, I started out sanding the top and completly stripping one side of the table top until I remembered that my sister wanted it to have an ‘antiqued’ look. So, I actually wanted to leave the darker stain color underneath; therefore, I removed just the top layer of varnish that would prevent the primer from adhering to the surface. I accomplished this by switching from the 80 grit I started with and opted for the 120 grit to complete this step. I also went over the area that I sanded at the beginning to even out the surface texture. I then took a small flat head screwdriver and cleaned out the sanding debris from the grooves. Once that was done, I used a damp painters cloth to wipe down the entire table and remove any remaining dust/dirt and I allowed the table to dry completely before moving forward.

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The Metal Detailing

This table has such a beautiful metal detail on the underside framing! I decided to keep it, but it could have been easily removed and replaced or sealed.
I used packaging tape for this project for two reasons: 1. I didn’t have any painters tape and 2. I am nothing if not resilient and resourceful.

Priming

I chose to use RUST-OLEUM Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover in Flat White, which I purchased at my local hardware store for less than $3 each (two cans)! This stuff is AWESOME! I have used it on so many different projects and it bonds to EVERYTHING! Click the above link to get the Promo Offer when you purchase with Amazon!
I started out with the table on its side because it was easier for me to get to the underside of the legs that way. I got every bit of trim I could reach with it in that position before allowing it to dry completely, flipping it and doing the same to the opposite side. Since this primer dries rather quickly, it only took 25-30mins to dry. Which gave me time to snap a couple of pictures, swap laundry and walk the dogs too!
After all four sides were complete, I moved on to the table top surface. Since I wanted to get to the darker colors in a later step, I chose to keep this layer fairly thin. Which is why it kinda looks splotchy.
I allowed the primer to cure for a couple of hours before moving on.
At this point, the table top is kind of rough to the touch. It’s not very smooth and it actually feels a little like a fine grit sandpaper. You could use an extra fine grit sandpaper at this point to smooth out the surface if you want; however, I knew I would be addressing the texture at a later stage and chose not to at that time.

Time To Paint

My sister wanted an off-white cream color, so Heirloom White was the obvious choice! I got two cans of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch 2X Ultra Cover Satin Heirloom White for under $3 each at my local hardware store (I already had one can half-used from another recent project). Follow the link to find the best deal on Amazon in your color!
I only had to apply one coat of color to get the look I wanted. Since it’s paint and primer in one, it had flawless coverage! I removed the tape over the metal detail when the color coat had dried completely. I allowed this to cure over night and then got started on the next step!

Light Sanding, Scuffing, & Staining

To start the next step I used the 220 grit sandpaper. I wanted to smooth out that rough texture I mentioned earlier so I was very gentle with the flat surface. When I had reached the smooth texture I needed, I started scuffing the surface. To do this, you need to apply more pressure to the sandpaper in a localized spot and sand it until you’ve reached the desired depth of the scuff. I wanted some of them quite deep to expose the wood grain and others only on the color coat surface with varying depths in between. This was to achieve that “weathered”, “aged” or “antique” likeness.
The next step was to add the Varathane Premium Fast Dry Wood Stain in Dark Walnut. I used a smooth painters cloth and dipped a small portion of the cloth into the stain. I lightly applied a little at a time and then immediately followed it with a clean cloth to remove excess. The object is to let it sink into the cracks, grooves, & knicks and then remove the extra liquid before it can ruin the paint job. Remember you can always add more stain, but you can’t remove it once it’s set into the paint.
After you’ve added the stain and wiped away the excess, you’ll want to let it cure for a couple of hours before applying the sealer/finishing.
**NOTE: The stain will ruin the paint coat if it sets for too long. By that I mean if you are using a dark colored stain and a lighter shade of paint, work quickly.

Finishing Touches

I already had an extra can of the Rust-Oleum Matte Finish that I used on this project, so the cost of it is not included in the total for this post. I honestly don’t know how much I paid for it when I purchased it last May, but you can get it at the link above for just $7.38! That one can covered the entire table twice! The final coat on this table looks amazing (if I do say so myself)!

Final Thoughts

So, to recap, I spent $20 on the table, we’ll say $6 on the primer and another $6 on the paint. With taxes I would say I spent less than $34 and about one full day’s worth of time on this project! That’s not a bad deal for such a lovely addition to your home!

If you found this post helpful or inspiring, I hope you’ll comment down below, subscribe and share it on your Facebook and/or Pinterest profiles too!

Honorable Mentions

Please take a minute to admire my adorable, sleeping nephew, Joab, in the picture showing the finished table top and my couch! I love when he comes to visit me! Sam is cuddled up to him too! Xena must have tuckered Joab out playing with the soccer ball today!

Also: If you’re looking for a good book to pick up, featured on the table top there, is a book my husband highly recommends, 12 Rules For Life By: Jordan B. Peterson. If you are feeling lost in a sea of chaos, Dr. Peterson’s rules will help you bring purpose and clarity back to your life. Follow the link to get your copy, now!

Thanks for stopping by! As always, Work Hard, Stay Humble & Nevertheless Persist!