Coffee table makeover with chalk paint

October 15, 2012

I wanted to share a recent little redo I completed in the family room. It involves my rolling Goodwill coffee table I showed you last year:

coffee table on wheels

Last year I cut down the legs on this little table, cleaned it up and added some new hardware to give it a new look.

When I added an additional side table to the room a couple weeks ago, there was something bugging me about this one. There were just too many wood tones going on in the room. (For me anyway.)

With the dresser/entertainment center, this table and the other end table I just added, the wood was kind of taking over the room.

So I decided to paint it. Before anyone freaks out, this isn’t a fancy piece by any means. There was a large heat stain on the top (from last year) as well as a huge mark that I just could not get out. And the reddish tone had been bothering me for a while anyway – so I knew it was time to paint! And it’s mine, so I do what I want. ;)

I picked up a sample pot of Annie Sloan paint in Old White to use for this project. The white in our rug isn’t bright white, so I wanted it to work well with that. I chose to use the AS paint for one reason – no priming! (And no sanding! OK, two reasons.)

All I did was clean it off:

prepping for paint

Excuse the messes in these photos – it was night time for many of them (I did this over a few days) and life was being lived while I did it. ;)

Let’s take a closer look at the one lounging on the chair:

3

She will squish into any spot she can find – cracks us up!

Anyway, I cleaned and then with just a regular angled brush, I did one quick coat on the table. I was a little freaked at first because it did not cover well:

painting with annie sloan paint

I thought it was going to take a TON of paint. But I went ahead with the next coat and could not believe how well it covered:

Annie Sloan Old White chalk paint

I was totally surprised. It looked great!

I took the hardware off the drawers and decided I wasn’t going to paint the each one entirely, so I just taped off with my FrogTape and taped up to this point:

painting with annie sloan paint

I’m not one to paint the backs of things or the insides of things. I just don’t see the point. I’m bad like that – some people can’t stand it. I’m just glad I’m not one of them. ;)

I needed to do a coat of wax on the top, but before I did that, I took a razor and went back over the lines in the top:

painting with annie sloan paint

I wanted the planks to show, just because I like the look. I also sanded it down lightly to distress in spots that would get distressed anyway – the hard edges mostly.

I gave it a quick coat of wax and let that dry, and it was done!:

coffee table on castors

I love love love that you can actually see those handles now! And you see the cool castors better underneath too.

I ended up using a bit more of my friend’s paint who picked up the same color – but I couldn’t believe one little sample pot of that paint covered almost two coats on this thing! It really does go a long way.

Just changing the color really brightened up the room! Now the wood pieces that are in there aren’t competing with each other either:

square coffee table wheels

So far we’ve been treating it as we always did – food, cups, whatever. It’s held up great. I’ll let you know how it continues to do. And I’ve put together a little something to accessorize the top of it that I’ll show you soon. ;)

Just because I love them, here’s the before from last summer:

And the after today!:

wood coffee table painted white

Can you find all the other changes in the room? Winner gets a cookie. Or a virtual high five. ;)

I still want to change out the drapes in here and I think I have something in mind…we’ll see how those turn out.

Have you transformed anything with paint lately? It never ceases to amaze me how changing up one item can make a room feel so different!

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Comments

  1. Love it white and I love the rug too.

    xoxo,
    Melissa

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  2. It looks great with the fireplace in the background! The room feels brighter, which is probably just right seeing as how fall is here already!

    Jessica

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  3. It looks fantastic! I love the white.

    The fireplace is looking better and better every time I see it - it's great!

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  4. This table looks great! I agree that it really does brighten up the room. And your fall decorations on the mantle look wonderful too. Great job and thanks for sharing!

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  5. Beautiful job! I'm about to redo my coffee table too - I'll be on the hunt for cool pulls. And I LOVE your rug. Not usually a graphic gal, but the style is growing on me!

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  6. Love the table painted and live even more that you were able to complete the project with a sample pot. I have to say that I'm more partial to Hostess frosted devil's food donettes instead of the powdered version. ;)

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  7. I love the coffee table. This is my kind of thing. I have many pieces in my house that I have done the same thing to. I also love you blog. You were one of my inspirations for starting my own blog. I'm just starting out though. It's quite addicting even though i don't have many readers yet. It's all good though. Anyway, have a great day!
    Kim :)
    www.myhappyobsessions

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  8. You've convinced me....I have a dark end table that I've contemplated painting white, and I'm definitely going for it! I love how yours now pops out with the white accents in the rug.

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  9. Your paint job looks great! The table looks much better painted than it did in its original wood. Thanks for sharing!@

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  10. Looks awesome! What kind of wax did you use?

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  11. I love the coffee table. This is my kind of thing. I have many pieces in my house that I have done the same thing to. I also love you blog. You were one of my inspirations for starting my own blog. I'm just starting out though. It's quite addicting even though i don't have many readers yet. It's all good though. Anyway, have a great day!
    Kim :)
    www.myhappyobsessions.com

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  12. That kitty's right rear leg looks like she's leaking white paint down her leg. Cute markings. Cute kitty.

    And I love your coffee table. Looks great!

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  13. Oh, it looks so great. Much better in white. Love it.

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  14. It looks so good in white! I get bugged by too much wood too. I can only handle little bits of it in one room. I love how the table looks with the gorgeous rug too!
    Hope you feel better soon!

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  15. it looks great!!! Im addicted to chalk paint, but I also find the first coat doesn't go on super great. I two coat everything.

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  16. I'm all about painted pieces! It looks great white. So fresh and bright :) Changes the mood of the whole space. Love it.

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  17. Love it!! Do you put wax on every furniture piece you repaint? Is it a necessary step? Love the rug and fireplace decor!! :-)

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  18. Usually a fan of natural wood, but it looks very nice painted AND what a difference it makes in your room. The before pictures it feels like a dark spot in front of the couch. After it's so bright! Definitely a good use of paint!

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  19. This table makeover is fabulous, and I love the handles. Your cat sure is chillin cute! I love your apple wreath and the rug. Your room is coming together beautifully!
    xo Nancy
    Powellbrowerhome.com

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  20. love the white...and the fact that you took the knife to it to show the planks...as always - a great project!

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  21. Gosh I do love what you did to your fireplace!! Classy, classic, gorgeous. Jealous!! This is a great quick fix. Love the difference it makes in the room and how it makes the rug just pop!!

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  22. Wow--it really makes that hardware pop, doesn't it? Looks great! I have about a million things need I to paint...picture frames, furniture, whole rooms. I will never finish!

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  23. Anon, I used the Annie Sloan wax I had, but I know you can purchase some at the hardware store as well! It's just furniture wax -- I had never used it before but love how it finishes off the pieces!

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  24. Virginia, I have been waxing everything lately, just because I love the finish. On painted furniture I either wax or use a polyurethane to cover it up. Both protect the project from scratches and wear.

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  25. Love the look, fresh modern,and the nail heads along the bottom of your wing chair...nice touch, the change in the rug more contrast, love. I like the addition of the endtable and lamp...Fire place for fall yummy and the basket for throws...I just want to kick back with good book...marvelous...

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  26. OOoooh, I LOVE it! It really pops in there, like everyone else said. I wish I was brave enough to paint furniture, lol!!

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  27. I looks great painted, I klike it better with the room.

    Cynthia

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  28. Looks great! I want to paint our tv stand a nice creamy white and stain the top a walnut color. I should try mixing my own chalk paint. Have you done it and I missed that post?

    Hope you're feeling better soon! =)

    ~ Catie

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  29. New rug, great fall mantel, and either new pillows or just switched around pillows. Great coffee table! Love the kitty too!!!

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  30. Your living room is gorgeous and I absolutely love how your coffee table turned out. I'm not one for white painted furniture, but sometimes it just really works and this works!

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  31. It looks great! I'm sorry but I lost focus once I saw the bag of donuts on the chair next to the cat. And then I thought to myself, I love her even more! I check out your blog on a daily basis. Thanks for being so entertaining and sharing your life with the world.

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  32. Your table is beautiful...the entire room looks beautiful too. What a great space. Megan

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  33. Did you buy the expensive wax brush? I have a piece rowdy to wax and I don't know what to apply it with. I was feeling a bit cheap and didn't buy the brush.

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  34. You put up a new picture above the chair?

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  35. ok, dumb question. where can I get annie sloan paint just like that? i have two end tables that I'm now inspired to do. Do you have a preference of wax over polyurethane? I've never painted any furniture before so completely dumb about this...any help would be appreciated! :) love, love how yours turned out!

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  36. Love the way the coffee table turned out...and I love the rug too. Great update!

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  37. Well, you added nail-head trim to the chair aaaaand... is that a paint swatch I see behind the curtain? Are you re-painting anytime soon or is that something else? Love your room! :)

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  38. Love it! It looks amazing white, really makes the center of the room pop!

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  39. The table goes well with the trim and fireplace in the room. I wouldn't have been brave enough to paint it! I notice your fall decor, new rug, and change of pillows.

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  40. It looks awesome, Sarah! Great choice to paint it. And one of the things I love most about distressed pieces is that they can be USED--the more distressing, the merrier!

    Question about your link party tomorrow: is it for MASTER bedrooms or any bedrooms?

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  41. LOVE it! it looks so much better white!! ;) Love all the other changes - pillows, the fireplace makeover, rug, etc. that you have done in their too :)

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  42. The perfect change!! It looks amazing in the space. :)
    xo Heidi

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  43. Love how it turned out, Sarah! I have tried the Annie Sloan paint, yet...hope to one day. Your cat is absolutely adorable! Soooo cute!

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  44. Hi it looks great! I love those kind of projects. It's funny you mentioned shaklee cleaner. I have been using shaklee for years :)

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  45. It looks great Sarah!! Loving all the pops of white in the room!! The fireplace before & after is my favorite!! LOVE it!!

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  46. Love all the bright additions - looks so pretty! Take care, Laura

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  47. Girl, I'm Loving that rug with a capital L!

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  48. It so brightens up your space!!! It is awesome what paint can do! I just painted a side cabinet and it transformed my dark blah corner!

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  49. I love it! I recently lightened up my dark coffee table too. I love how it brightens up your space! Come to think of it, I also have a brown couch and navy rug! No wonder you're my fave blogger! Great re-do :)
    Barbara at Chase the Star
    chasethestar dot net

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  50. I just love how this change brightens up the room. Amazing! I really love how this turned out. :-)

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  51. Changes I noticed: The wall over the fireplace is flat now, not angled, fireplace mantle got some new tile, the side chair has the nailheads added, new rug, new throw pillows, small side table between the sofa and fireplace, the new focal art beside the fireplace (even though it's off camera in the "now" photo, I still know it's there!), and the big braided basket near the sofa nearest the camera. Other than different mantle decor, that's all I could spot :)

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  52. sometimes it just needs to be painted! this looks so much better in your room & the details show so nicely now. good choice!

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  53. What kind of wax do you use? Is it simply a spray on wax like pledge? Love the shade of white you chose. That's the hardest part.

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  54. Well, I was just clicking to ask whether you used Annie Sloan wax when I see that another person also asked what kind of wax you used. I am wondering if you used Annie Sloan wax---I've heard it's expensive and a little tricky to use. Also, did you use the clear or something to deepen the color? I have also heard that they sell furniture wax such as MinWax at HD or Lowes, but I wonder how easy it is to use and how it works on ASCP. I have several pieces I want to paint and have been trying to get up the nerve to order some sample pots of ASCP but it's the finishing (waxing) that keeps me procrastinating b/c I haven't done that before and am not sure how:)

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  55. Um, I pretty much love it! ;) It pops now! And that last photo is too pretty, Sarah. Looks like a magazine shot. :)

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  56. I LOVE the way the color of the table makes everything in the room look so crisp! Amazing! (I also love the kitty in the chair. Preciousness! ;)

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  57. It looks like a completely new piece of furniture! A simply stunning new piece of furniture!! and i love the donettes and kitty in your picture... :)

    Isn't ASCP the greatest? Sigh... we've done a rolling bookcase with it so far. However I've i have to be careful with the wax because it can trigger an asthma attack if the ventilation isn't good enough... :(

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  58. It definitely shows off the hardware so much better! It's unbelievable how well that paint covers. Huzzah for time-savers! Really love the new carpet too. :)

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  59. The white makes everything else pop! Love it!

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  60. I love your table! I'm a sucker for anything on casters and I love the cup pulls. I've recently changed the drawer pulls in my kitchen to thos same handles and love them:! I just posted about a buffet I redid using Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint. What a transformation! I'd love for you to stop by
    http://iknowtheplansihave4you.blogspot.com/2012/10/miss-mustard-seed-milk-paint-tricycle.html

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  61. What a difference a little paint can make! I think it totally brightens up the room. Great decision! :)

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  62. Heidi, I did get the brush. I like how I can just kind of pounce the wax on and then swirl it around easy with it.

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  63. Mickey, you can look up a stockist on the Annie Sloan site I'm sure. I have one locally that found me but they are popping up everywhere now! I am loving the wax because it makes the paint look really cool -- it just gives it a pretty finish that's a little different than poly.

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  64. Anon, I used the Annie Sloan wax but know others just use some from the hardware store -- I've not tried that though. I think it would be in with stains and polyurethanes.
    I have not found the AS wax hard to use at all -- it goes on really fast and easy. It deepens the color of the AS paint when you put it on.

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  65. Did you really paint it while it was on the rug? Pretty amazing if you did. Love seeing all the toys scattered around. Looks like a happy house.

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  66. Maybe I missed it somewhere, but can you share where your rug is from?? thanks!!

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  67. Oh my gosh! I have the same rug! I got it from Rugs usa a few weeks ago with my groupon, ended up paying $4 plus the groupon! Love your "new" coffee table, too.

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