Average But Inspired

Inspiring creativity with crafts, DIY, and home decor projects.

by

A Tired, Worn and Scratched Coffee Table Gets a New Look

Last September I purchased a small coffee table for $5.  I had been bitten by the furniture painting bug and was scooping up forlorn pieces, like this one, left and right.

Chalk paint table makeover // Average But Inspired

And then I stacked those pieces in my garage.  And they sat there.  Through Chiberia and Polar Vortex 2013/2014, through the mess of my basement remodel (which turned our garage into a storage unit), and through all of the wonderful summer days that are just about over.

My husband threatened to throw them out if I didn’t do something with them.

NOOOOOOOOO!

Needless to say, I got to work and chose to start with my coffee table friend.  I took photos of the makeover along the way, but managed to lose or delete them somehow.  So I have no “work in progress” photos to show you – just before and afters.

But you probably don’t care about those photos anyway, do you?

So let’s cut to the chase and I will show you what this coffee table looks like now.

Chalk paint table makeover // Average But Inspired
A little happier, don’t you think?  
Chalk paint table makeover // Average But Inspired
I painted it with two coats of Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint in “Primitive.”  This was my first time using store-bought chalk paint, and I have to say I really liked the convenience of it.  No mixing and no mess – it was super quick and easy to use, which I loved.
 
Once my paint dried, I gave the table a light sanding to distress the finish, and then I taped the top and painted a red grain sack stripe down the center to add some color and fun.  
Chalk paint table makeover // Average But Inspired
I finished it off with a coat of SC Johnson Paste Wax and called it a day.
 
Now I just need to find someone who wants to take it off of my hands before my husband does. . . .
 
– Bre

I Bet You'll Like These Posts, Too!

Share this post:

PinterestLinkedin

Comments

  4. Karen Marie Kedzuch says

    Bre,
    I just found your blog from Creative Spark Link Party. I love what you have done to create your up-cycled table. You have a new follower.
    Have a creative day,
    Karen Marie
    Dragonfly & Lily Pads

    Reply

    • Bre Eggert says

      Hi Karen Marie! Thank you SO much for your note and for following along! I just followed you back! Hope you have a great day. 🙂

  5. Annie Dugan says

    Love the originality. Just exactly what IS a “grain sack stripe?” I have a bench/coffee table that I want to bring to life and am willing to learn about anything new. Thanks, Bre

    Reply

    • Bre says

      Hi Annie! Well, I believe the grain sack stripe is the pattern that appeared on feed bags way back in the day. It’s characterized by a thick stripe in the middle and thin stripes on the outside. They’re great to replicate in painting because you just need a straight line and some painter’s tape! Perfect for a coffee table or bench. 🙂 In hindsight, I think this coffee table kind of looks like a surfboard since it’s rounded, but I think a grain sack stripe would be awesome on a bench or a rectangular coffee table! 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

My Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Review: Luxury Vinyl Plank Pros and Cons

Last month we installed Tranquility 5mm Copper Ridge Oak luxury vinyl plank flooring from Lumber Liquidators in our living room and basement.  We replaced white carpeting in the living room and some composite flooring in the basement that had been damaged when our furnace leaked.  Because vinyl plank is increasingly becoming a popular flooring choice, […]

How to Update Mirrored Built-ins with Paint and Peel and Stick Wallpaper

You guys!  I thought I was excited about the limewash stone fireplace makeover I completed last month, but I think I’m even more excited about how I updated the flanking mirrored built-ins with paint and peel and stick wallpaper.   This makeover totally transformed the look and feel of my living room in my new home! […]

Two-Tone Painted Dresser Makeover in Cypress Vine Green and Wood

Have you ever had a vision of how something would look in your home – and you were convinced it would be awesome?  That’s what happened to me when I purchased this antique tall dresser in a Facebook resale group recently.  I knew it would be gorgeous in my living room (to take the place […]

Life Takes You Unexpected Places, Love Brings You Home

As I sit down to write this post, I can’t help but feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience.  Is it really me writing this?  Is this actually happening?   The news is still fresh as I share it with all of you, so it hasn’t completely sunk in yet; hence the strange feelings accompanying me […]