DIY Coffee Table

Today Bruce and I changed the look of our coffee table!  I've never done anything like this before, but it was inexpensive and easy to do.

I got the inspiration from Pinterest.   I have long detested this table.  It was a hand-me-down from Bruce's aunt (almost all our furniture was previously owned).  It's chunky and outdated.  I saw that a coat of paint could change the feel of a piece and I figured, why not give it a try?  As Bruce put it, "We don't really like it anyway, so what's the harm?  Worst comes to worst, we get a new one at a thrift store."

So we watched a few YouTube videos and read a few blogs.  It seemed simple enough.  We went to the hardware store and bought one medium course sanding sponge and two cans of white primer+paint-in-one spray paint, which was less than $15 total.

First, we took the table outside and placed it on a tarp.  I filled a bucket partway with warm water and dish soap, and I scrubbed the table all over with a regular sponge, to get any gunk off.  Bruce thinks this was probably unnecessary, since afterwards I lightly sanded all the surfaces that we'd be painting, to remove the lacquer so the new paint would stick well.

Then we taped the top of the table using masking tape, a garbage bag, and plastic wrap.  I was too cheap to use TWO garbage bags, ha!

When the top was good and protected, I sprayed the whole thing all over.  We waited about an hour and then sprayed another coat.  This took 1.5 cans of paint.

We left it outside to dry for a couple hours.  Then I took a piece of sandpaper we had and sanded over the paint to give it a worn, shabby chic look.  I learned that this refinishing technique is called "distressing" in the furniture renovation world.

I sanded more in the areas that would naturally wear over time - corners and outside edges.

We wiped all the paint dust away with a barely wet rag.  If I do this again, I will definitely wear a mask to protect my lungs from the spray paint and dust.  Also, there are some places where the paint dripped a little from me spraying too closely and thickly.  Next time I will be more careful about doing two even coats.

Overall, we are extremely pleased with the result!  The white legs help the table to seem less heavy and they compliment the white curtains we recently hung.  We'd like to get an end table at a garage sale or resale shop and maybe do this again!  As I've mentioned before, we hope to get a neutral-colored couch cover soon, in a beige or taupe, perhaps, with new pillows to add a pop of color/texture.  Then eventually we'll paint all the trim in the house white.  I dream about hardwood floors, too... but we'll get there.

Have you renovated a piece of furniture yourself?  I'd love to hear what you've done!