Beneath My Heart

Easy Coffee Table Re-do

DIY projects· furniture makeovers

I got this little coffee table this summer at my favorite shopping place (Goodwill) for only $6.50.

I liked it because it was simple, low, and had a shelf underneath that I could place books or magazines. And hey, for $6.50, what do you expect?

It’s for my guest house and will go in front of my couch that I still need to make a slipcover for…let’s not go there.

Here’s the before…

(I thought I had a better shot of it from this summer, but I couldn’t find it in my files. The black paint on the top of the table is from another project I did this summer. If something sits too long in my garage, it becomes a “work table”.)

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If you are painting something, you need to sand it lightly with a sanding sponge, or use a “liquid sandpaper”. I use Klean-Strip Easy Liquid Sander Deglosser. It prepares the surface of the wood to be painted. You pretty much just pour it on a clean cloth and wipe it all over the table. The instructions are on the back of the bottle. Let the deglosser dry before painting.

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Many of you have asked me what paint I use on my projects. My favorite is this Valspar paint that I get from Lowe’s. It comes in a quart size and is extremely durable. We used it on our kitchen cabinets and love it.

First, you want to get a brush and paint all of the corners, trim pieces, or any part of the table that has grooves in it.

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Here’s what it looks like after I painted the edges.

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Then I used a roll brush for the smooth areas. I forgot to take a picture of that brush…sorry.

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I had to do three coats of paint on the smooth parts. Here is what it looked like when I was done.

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I used a sanding sponge to sand the edges. Make sure your paint is completely dry before sanding or it will take off big chunks of your paint. (Yes, I have experience in that area!)

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I love distressing the edges!

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Now for the magic….a little Valspar Mocha Glaze.

Now I know that each of us bloggers have our favorite glazes. The Shanty 2 Chic sisters love ‘em some Ralph Lauren. I haven’t tried that product, but I am sure I would love it. I have had this container of glaze all summer and it’s still half full. I have used it on many other projects as well.

I LOVE IT!

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Okay, you can tell I am the mother of four boys because this next picture makes me laugh. If my boys saw this picture they would think it looks like poo_…okay, I’m digressing.

Back to the project!

I have NO IDEA if this is the correct way to glaze, but it works for me!

First, put a little glaze on a paper towel.

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Spread a layer of the glaze all over table. I work in sections. I did the top of the table first.

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I let it dry for a few minutes and then get a damp paper towel and wipe it back off. You can wipe it as much or as little as you want to get the “look” your after.

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I like mine to look like a “dirty” white. Is that a color?

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I am sorry about the poor quality of these photos. I have to work indoors because it is sooooo cold out in the garage. Plus, I have to wait for the boys to go to bed to work on this, so these pictures were taken at nighttime. I don’t like to use a flash, so this is as good as quality as I could get.

I have to confess that I skipped a step to post this today. I didn’t put polyurethane on it, but I plan to. I don’t use it on all my projects, but since a coffee table will see a little more “wear and tear” than other pieces of furniture, I will be adding some poly to it in the future.

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The reason I am posting this kind of late is that I wanted to get a good shot of the table in the guest house in the daylight. I teach music at a Mom’s Day Out program on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I had to take pictures when I got home this afternoon.

I thought the table looked a little bland when I saw it in the kitchen this morning. But when I put it in the guest house with a few accessories…it’s perfect! (See how much better pictures turn out in the daylight?)

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The couch in the background is the one I am hoping to slipcover in a couple of weeks. Emphasis on “hoping”. Right now I have it covered with a matelesse.

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Didn’t she turn out cute? She’s the perfect size! I love the wicker tray on the bottom. I got that at Goodwill for $4.50! It’s extremely durable and I love the black iron accents.

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Here is a wider shot of the guest house. Remember…it’s a work in progress. (I need to make a shade for my floor lamp, slipcover the couch, and make some window treatments….) I will share it all with you as I go along!

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Even though I am posting late, I am still linking up to all of these parties this week…

Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch,

Before and After Party at Thrifty Decor Chick,

Get Your Craft On at Today’s Creative Blog,

DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land,

Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Designs (Wednesday),

and Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Chic Cottage,

Furniture Feature Friday at Miss Mustard Seed’s Creative Blog,

and Saturday Nite Special at Funky Junk Interiors,

And look at my next project…

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I have an idea that I am so excited about. I just hope it turns out like I want it to. I will share it on Thursday!

See you tomorrow for Wednesdays with Wanda!


Comments

  4. WOW!!! that is beyond amazing!!! I can't wait to see what you do with the head and foot board! I am still trying to figure out what to do for my little girls room. <3

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  7. It turned out so pretty, and your guest house is looking good! I'm excited to see how it progresses and also to see what you do with the head and footboards. Hope you're having a good week so far.

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  8. Love the table. I can't wait for what your sharing on Thursday.
    BTW I came by to tell you about something I am doing at my blog. A kind of Trade Days.
    Come over and read about it!
    See you soon,
    Sherry

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  9. As usual you did an amazing job on your table. The Guest cottage sure is coming along. Are you taking reservations yet? :) I am excited to see what you do with the gor-ge-ous bed. You should link to Miss Mustard Seed's furniture feature friday with your pieces. It is all furniture and would be a great addition. Here is the link:
    http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
    Let me know when you start taking reservations for the summer months :)
    tammy

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  11. This turned out great, Traci! I like the glaze on top. I need to get painting my living room coffee table. I've had a little delay in my sofa slipcover fitting due to our constant snowy weather, so I have put painting the table off. Maybe this weekend. Like you, I have to do it inside, and I should just get it done already.

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  12. Wow! Just one more fabulous makeover! I'm more inspired with every visit…truly. CAN'T WAIT to see what you do with the head and footboard! = )

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  15. Such a great job Traci! No one would ever guess it was a Goodwill find, sure wish there was one around here so I didn't have to pay retail all the time!

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  16. That looks wonderful!! I haven't tried to glaze anything yet. I will have to give that a try. Loved your poo comment. I have three boys (and 2 girls) and they all thought the same thing!! LOL!! ;0) I look forward to seeing what you do for a window treatment. That type of window would be hard to make a treatment for… or I could just be making it more difficult than it is.

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  21. What a cool blog you have! Came by from Loui's blog. Loved the step by step for your coffee table. And the cost for the total project—amazing!! I'm adding you to my favorites as soon as I write this!

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  22. Great project! It looks perfect! I am waiting for it to warm up around here 'cause I have so many spray paint projects to tackle.

    Robyn
    mysoutherncottage.com

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  24. Hey Traci! Do you go to Goodwill every day? I never find these cute things when I go…..and is one of your stops the Goodwill @ Brannon? Brit & I bought a headboard to turn into a bench, hasn't happened yet. But, I really, really want to! It will be great in my foyer – when we get it finished! Love your blog, read often & I am sinfully jealous when I see all your fun projects!!

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  27. As usual Traci, you and the Shanty girls, never fail to amaze me, and one more thing–ANOTHER GREAT GW FIND!

    YIPPEE! You are making me want to go to GW tomorrow!!!!

    Excellent project! I love it!

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  28. White paint saves the day once again! Great little table…I use that brand of glaze too, but mine was too light, so I added a quart of mistinted cocoa paint to it. Talk about a cheapskate. :)

    That bed frame is gorgeous too…looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

    Oh, and I have 2 couches to slipcover, and I keep putting it off. Such a chore.

    What color did you use on your walls in the guest house?

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  29. Very beautiful! This makes me want to go to Goodwill now. It's so hard for me to think beyond what something looks like though! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  32. I love it! And I can't wait to see how that bed frame turns out. The shape is amazing. I absolutely adore furniture makeovers. This is truly a happy ending. I hope you'll share your furniture projects at my furniture feature friday link party.

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  36. WOW…that turned out great! It's amazing what a little paint can do. Can't wait to see what you do with the head board.

    Have a wonderful day.

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  43. I love your style ! WE could have endless fun together redoing furniture! I have two beds similar to yours that I am waiting till Spring to redo! So lovely!Thanks for linking!

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  44. I love all of your redo projects.
    We are in the middle of sanding down a set of bedroom furniture that someone gave us and of the 5 different colored paints, the top layer is white paint and a brown GLOSS. It is SO difficult to sand off (But it has a MUCH thicker layer of gloss than when you did in this post, at first we thought they were trying to paint it brown and didn't get the paint on thick enough!).

    When I first saw that bottle of gloss in this post I thought "NO" (ours looks really and truly AWFUL) but I actually like yours alot.

    If ours had been done that way, I dont think the person would have been giving it away!

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  45. I think your coffee table turned out great! Just found you through Cottage Instincts, and I had to leave a comment that I'm inspired to start some of my own painting projects (after my baby arrives) after observing your technique. You make it look easy and fun!

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  46. That daytime photo was so fabulous for a second I thought you were showing an inspiration photo of a similar table from a magazine!
    It's really beautiful…great job!

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  51. what a steal for $6.50, and it turned out incredible. do you like valspar? I'm having my doubts about that brand lately and was wondering if i was alone in that thinking…
    well, regardless, you do some amazing projects :)

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  56. never would have seen something so beautiful be made out of that coffee table! GORG!! One question..how do you keep your decoration items from sticking to the table? I have had this to happen many times and I know my paint has dried! :(

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