Ever painted a table? Me either. But I was motivated to learn by this sweet table. I decided to revive this garage sale find and create a whole new table. Here’s how to paint a table and make it look like new (ish)!

On the way back from picking up dry cleaning the other day, I saw a garage sale sign in my neighborhood and decided to go on a whim. I found this two-tier tea table for $2. Yes, $2.

I couldn’t believe it and asked the woman if she was sure she didn’t want to fix it up. She said the table had been her grandmother’s and she’d had it for 20 years and hadn’t restored it so it was time for the table to find a good home. Well I stopped arguing, put the table in the passenger seat and headed home.

First step: new Pinterest board. There are loads of tutorials on painting furniture and I think I’ve read most of them by now. I saved a few of my favorites to this board.

Here’s how I completed my project. I’m no expert at all, so visit my pins for better advice. But I can tell you this is do-able and fun, so don’t be scared to try it yourself! Just follow package directions and work in a well ventilated area. This is not a project for the kids to help with.

Table Painting Supplies

• Sanding block
• Paper towels
• Painter’s tape
• Zinsser Cover Stain Primer
• Surgeon’s gloves
• Drop cloth
• Valspar Interior Satin White (or the paint of your choice)
• Floterol
• 1″ Purdy paint brush x 2
• Small foam roller
• Minwax Polycrylic
• Elmer’s Wood Glue (if needed)
• Elmer’s Wood Putty (if needed)
• Putty knife (if needed)

Table Painting Instructions

1 – Lightly sand your furniture, then wipe it down with a damp paper towel. Allow to dry. (I like to use a sanding block because it’s easier to hold than a piece of sandpaper.)

2 – Some of the trim was peeling off my table. I used Elmer’s Wood Glue to reposition the trim and then my husband — earning his Vice President of Special Projects title — reattached the trim with finish nails. He countersunk them so the trim would be smooth.

3 – Two pieces of trim were missing. Also, there were a few gaps between trim and the tabletop. Those I filled with Elmer’s Wood Putty. Just wipe away the excess. When it’s dry, lightly sand the putty. (You should use a putty knife. I clearly did not and it worked out fine since I was dealing with such small surfaces.)

4 – I taped off the little brass feet because I wanted to save the patina.

5 – The pins recommended using Zinsser Cover Stain Primer as a primer because you don’t have to do heavy-duty sanding. I did ask the paint clerk at Lowe’s if clean up would be difficult with an oil based primer. “Oh no,” she said. Ha! Clean up was no fun at all and I still can’t get all the paint off my hands. So learn from my mistake and wear surgeon’s gloves while painting with the primer.

I used a 1″ Purdy paint brush to cut in the primer on the trim. Work from the top of your furniture down to the bottom. The flat surfaces I rolled with a small foam roller. I used two coats of primer to get good coverage. When the primer had dried for an hour, I gave it another light sanding just because debris had blown into the paint.

5 – For paint, I used Valspar Interior Satin White. (Remember to have the paint store shake up your can. I forgot so I had to do a lot of stirring. And remember to pick up paint sticks at the store. I had to borrow one from my neighbor.)

The tutorials recommended adding Floterol (a conditioner for latex paint) to the paint so help achieve a smooth coat with no roller marks. I did that, and the surface is pretty smooth. Once again, I cut in with a brush. (A new one, since I couldn’t clean out the oil paint from my other brush. Grrr.) Then I rolled the flat surfaces.

6 – To seal and protect the table, I added two coats of Minwax Polycrylic. Just let it dry two hours, give it a light sanding and then repeat. Done! It’s not perfect, but I was going for shabby chic, so that’s OK.

This really was pretty easy. I did it over two days. Most of the supplies I had on hand, so I only had to purchase $37 of wood filler, primer, paint, conditioner and poly.

Here’s the before and after.

You’ll see my little table in action at our Easter party — coming soon!