DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover

This stunning entryway piece went from drab to fab! Why pay hundreds of dollars for new furniture that is cheaply made when you can turn an old quality piece into something gorgeous? In the time it would have taken me to go furniture shopping, this DIY chalk paint entryway table makeover was done and drying!

DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover

One night, I’d spent hours looking at DIY chalk paint makeovers on Pinterest. I was absolutely stunned at the transformation of ugly 1970s clunky end tables, coffee tables and dressers. They were remade into beautiful, colorful, updated and once again useful furniture pieces.

The little painter in me told me to give it a try. I found this great video showing me how to do it. So, I decided to do a practice piece first to see how that came out before I did the entryway table.

My improperly stored old buffet server had veneer coming off, water stains and many scratches. It was easy to give this beautiful piece life again and you can do it too! Do you have any outdated furniture that could use a makeover? This tutorial will tell you how simple it can be.

Chalk paint has been around for many, many years. It has become very popular because you can paint right over the existing finish! The only time you need to do some sanding is if you choose to for antiquing however, dark wax can be used in addition to or in place of sanding. If you choose to do some sanding for antiquing, it is minimal, especially when compared to stripping off the old stain and varnish.

If you’ve painted the furniture and don’t like the color, you can paint over it again! You don’t have to marry the piece. No commitments here!

Choose Furniture Wisely

However, I do NOT suggest painting over antiques. You can devalue antiques by doing so. Check with a trusted antique dealer first.

I decided to make over my entryway table in chalk paint because sanding it would have been a nightmare! It has way too many curves and small areas that I couldn’t do with a sander and would have to be done by hand. Did I mention I have carpel tunnel syndrome?

In my humble opinion, I think furniture pieces that have a lot of detail and curvy edges look best chalk painted. That is also why I thought this buffet server would look great done in chalk paint.

Supplies:

• paint brush
• clean, lint free cloth
• chalk paint (from craft store)
• clear wax (from craft store)
• dark wax (from craft store)

You can find chalk paint online, in craft stores or at Home Depot. AC Moore Craft Store used to have 4 colors to choose from but, now have an aisle of colors. The brand is Folk Art and color is Provencal. Annie Sloan chalk paint is probably the gold standard for chalk paint. It is pricey though at $30-$40 per pint and must be purchased trough an authorized dealer. Her colors are gorgeous!

You can even make your own chalk paint with latex paint and plaster of Paris.

DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover Steps:

1. Thoroughly mix chalk paint. Turn container upside down for 10 minutes and then stir for a minute.
2. Clean off the furniture with a damp cloth to remove dust and particles.
3. Apply one coat of chalk paint (if it is mixed properly, it will only need one coat.)
4. Allow furniture to dry.
5. Apply clear wax.
6. Remove/buff clear wax.
7. Sand corners for antiquing, if you desire.
8. With a dry cloth, add a tiny bit of dark wax for antique look.
9. With a dry cloth, wipe off dark wax until desired look is achieved.
10. Allow furniture to dry.
11. Apply an extra layer of clear wax on the table top.
12. Buff clear wax on table top.
13. Allow 24 hours to cure/dry.

Some of the above steps are optional. You may skip step seven- sanding and/or steps 8 and 9- applying and wiping off dark wax. I didn’t sand the blue entryway table because I was o.k. with just the dark wax for the antique look.

What’s nice about using the dark wax is that if you put on too much in one area, you can apply some clear wax to remove it. Go along the wood grain. Only dip a tiny bit of dark wax. Also, dark wax will darken the paint color a good bit so, keep that in mind if you think the color is too bright when selecting it.

I painted over the chipping veneer and kept the existing knobs on this piece because I thought they were already antique looking. Try using a small practice piece of furniture, such as a small table or kids’ rocking chair. You can see how the chalk paint covers the wood and practice applying the wax and taking it off.

Although, I wasn’t quite sure if I liked the color at first, maybe because I thought it was too dramatic, it grew on me as I’d hoped it would. I’ve gotten many compliments on it.

DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover using Folk Art Paint- Provencal

DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover using Folk Art Paint- Provencal

How Much Time Does the DIY Chalk Paint Entryway Table Makeover Take?

Ah, this is the big question. Bigger furniture will obviously take more time than smaller furniture. I did the blue entryway piece in about three hours, not counting drying time.

However, it would take days to do a dining room cabinet! That is a project I suggest doing once you’ve really gotten good at using chalk paint as it will go much faster. You’ll probably feel more confident displaying it in rooms where it will be seen by visitors.

Will it Break My Back?

If you have a bad back like me, you will feel pain and probably be sore. It is better if you can stretch out the work into a series of days instead of one day, like me. I get excited and want to keep working until it is done so I can see the finished project.

Is it Worth the Work?

In one word – YEP! People are buying old well-made furniture at thrift shops for cheap and spending another $20 in chalk paint supplies to make-over outdated furniture. When you look at the prices of new furniture, you can see why furniture makeovers have become so popular!

In a morning, you can transform old, outdated furniture into a beautiful, eye-catching piece. Your friends will think you bought it from a furniture store and paid hundreds of dollars. When you have a new apartment or a house full of rooms to furnish, chalk paint makeovers is an inexpensive and practical solution to having fun, trendy furniture! Give it a try!

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