Vintage Accent Table Makeover/Homemade Chalk Paint

This vintage accent table was an antique store find many years ago. It was missing some of the trim and the finish on top was worn out in spots. It was one of the first pieces we thrifted after moving into our home. Originally I thought I would be using it only temporarily until I had found bigger and better furniture to fill our space but after living with it for a few years I realized how much I liked having a triangle shaped table to fit into the odd spaces in our home.

When we bought this table we weren’t considering style or finish, however, we did appreciate that it was solid wood and heavy for its size.

Now I’m VERY glad we overlooked the imperfections.  Overtime we have learned that finding AFFORDABLE, well made, solid wood furniture, in an antique store, isn’t always easy to come by.

Recently we have begun to rethink the paint colors and furniture in a couple of our rooms. I thought I would refresh this table and possibly sell it on Facebook Market Place, but as I began the makeover, I realized how well it was made and I decided to keep it.

For the majority of the time this table has been a plant stand.

Ahhhh! I know GUILTY! Used and abused. The three circle stains are on us.

The trim is missing under the top piece on both of the angled sides. It isn’t noticeable unless the table is turned over. The front trim is still in place. Unless you turn the table over you would never know that two pieces were missing.

After accessing the damage and deciding that I would be painting this table, I gave it a good scrub with dawn dish liquid. I rinsed it twice with a cloth and clean water. The color was bleeding no matter how many times I rinsed. Once the soap was removed I let it dry overnight.

The biggest imperfection I repaired was a crack that was left after a piece of the decor had apparently  broken off and was put back on. I’m not certain how it was attached into place but it was definitely secure and not coming off. So I didn’t mess with it. I filled the crack in and sanded it down.

I used DAP spackle.  It dries in less then an hour and then can be sanded.

I sanded the top first with my Ryobi sander, first with 60 grit then with 120 grit sandpaper.

I used tack cloth to get rid of all the remaining dust.

I had a few containers of leftover paint from other projects, so I began mixing them until I achieved a color that I liked. It ended up looking similar to leaf green. I then made it into homemade chalk paint using water and plaster of paris. The recipe I use is:

• 1 c paint
• 1/3 c water
• 1/3 plaster of paris

TIP: Plaster of Paris is inexpensive and you can make a lot of your own chalk paint at very low cost.

Each time I have mixed homemade chalk paint using this recipe I haven’t needed to prime first. This makeover included.

I flipped the table over and started at the bottom. There are a lot of nooks and crannies to get into so I ended up using an angled brush as well as a rounded chalk paint brush to get into all the corners and dips.

The first coat of this paint gave amazing coverage!

Two coats of paint gave complete coverage without any bleed through.

Look at all this pretty detail that was being hidden by the dark finish. It’s highlighted so beautifully now:)

Chalk paint loves a wax topcoat.

I used Behr Wax Decorative Finish which I already had on hand.  I used this product on previous projects including other pieces of furniture that I painted with homemade chalk paint.

The above picture is waxed on the right only. It does make the paint color a little bit darker.

I use a small, round, stiff bristled brush to apply the wax. I scoop out enough wax with the brush so that when it is applied in circles it goes on smoothly. I use old cotton T-shirts or the white rags that come in bags from the local hardware store to gently wipe away any extra wax clumps.

After 24 hours I buffed the wax just enough to give this piece a subtle satin finish.

What a difference! The satin finish really highlighted the wood details.

In the past I’ve done some light distressing and/or used dark wax to give other pieces of furniture a vintage feel but this little one I’m leaving as is for now. Originally I had planned on some distressing but I’m enjoying it just painted and standing on its own as the odd colored piece in my family room. The new color draws your eye but the color is neutral enough to not look out of place. I think it adds some needed interest to the space:)

I love it:) A hidden gem in my own home…

Thanks for stopping by,

Roni♥