Paint a Coffee Table | Pinterest Made Me Do It

Oct 14, 2012 by April

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Posted under: Clutter Free, Pinterest Made Me Do It

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How hard could it be, paint a coffee table?

I’ve seen it all over Pinterest. People using this “Annie Sloan” – ish method.

Hmmm.

Let’s go back a few days.

I’m spending my usual “allotted time” on Pinterest. Surfing. Pinning. Getting inspired. Thinking about ways I’d like to <do that> to my <house, garden, wardrobe>.

Now, it was time to act.

I had been drooling over the *several* pins where creative souls had turned a piece of discarded furniture into something new with just a little paint.

I thought, “I could do that!”

I looked around the house & determined where I’d like to solve some clutter issues by adding something.

A bookshelf here, a coffee table there, a dresser turned buffet by the dining room table.

With this little laundry list of wishes I set out to the one place I knew I could get used furniture cheap.

Goodwill.

Side note: Remember how I showed you our dresser back in January?

{you can go read it really quick, I’ll wait here.}

I was able to get that clutter corralled but then I realized I wanted a coffee table between the dresser & the couch – at the end of our bed. So when I found this 70′s-ish one at Goodwill I knew immediately it was the perfect piece.

Paint a Coffee Table ::

Step 1:

clean it

As it turns out, Murphy’s Oil Soap & I have become VERY good friends {{giggle}}

I did try using a regular rag, but quickly changed to an old dish brush for the top of the table. It just made much quicker work of the task.

Step 2:

Prepare the paint

choose a paint color

I opened my paint with the end of a fork. Don’t worry, it’s a discarded one from Goodwill meant just for these types of tasks {grin}.

I had so much fun at the local hardware store choosing the paint. There was such a camaraderie with the women, once I told them what I was up to they requested “after” pictures!

take 1 part Plaster of Paris

yes, I’m a messy DIY-er

add water

add 2 parts paint & mix together

Step 3:

Painting

When you choose to paint a coffee table, might I suggest you find one with good bones. This “method” will cover up all the blemishes as well as previously attempted “re-do” stuff from others.

the table & all its beautiful blemishes

Keep in mind, this was my first attempt to paint a coffee table. I had a few trial-and-errors. Like this:

note :: rollers do not work with this paint, it’s too thick

So, onward …

luckily, I picked this up when I bought the paint

goodbye blemishes, hello yellow!

Since this paint is mixed with Plaster of Paris I found it dried rather quickly. Be sure to plan enough time to use up the paint you’ve mixed.

yes, I probably should have done the legs first ~ but it all worked out in the end

Step 4:

I call this the “twiddle your thumbs step” …

now we let it dry, isn’t she gorgeous?

Step 5:

Wax it

use finishing wax to seal the paint

I know I show a paint brush with the wax … do not do that.

It didn’t work either ~ this stuff is hard! I tried an old bedsheet, t-shirt but eventually found this red handled tool worked best for me.

Another tip, I learned the hard way, you apply the wax – let it set for 15 minutes, THEN buff it out.

Finally:

She’s done!

As you can see from this angle, I let my wax set too long. But :: that’s alright. It was my first piece, it’s solving a “dishes on the floor in my bedroom when we sit on the couch” problem and I love it just the same!