I had an old end table that was pretty shabby. This post shows how I transformed this old end table into a red chalk paint end table.
Chalk paint is the new rage in upcycling old pieces of furniture (Affiliate Link). Annie Sloan
is a famous chalk paint brand, but many are out there. Click here to watch a video describing the process and the benefits of using chalk paint. Visit our other chalk paint projects here. NOTE: I didn't use Annie Sloan paints here.
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I used one ArtMinds Chalk Paint True Red and one Art Minds Antique Wax for the finish. It was purchased at Michael's. This one red container was all needed for this red chalk paint end table. I only used one antique wax container, too. And I still have some leftovers for another future project. Many people chose lighter colors for this project, but since my furniture (Affiliate Link) in this room is dark cherry, I didn't want to have the piece stand out.
How do you transform a shabby end table
My favorite part of this project is that there is very little prep involved. I didn't need to sand the table. I dusted it off, wiped it with a wet towel, and dried it. Then I began to paint. I purchased special brushes for this project. They are short bristle brushes. Brushes range in price. I recommend a midrange brush because the bristles are less likely to fall out.
Before end table project:
The below picture is what it looked like when I painted on the True Red paint. It was not quite dry, but you can see how it covers. I pulled out the drawer so I could paint the front of the drawer separately. I liked doing all the areas you can see. So, I didn't turn the table over and do the bottom. It wasn't necessary on this piece because no one would ever see the underside of the table.
Add the first coat:
The paint said to wait two hours before adding the wax. I was surprised. Only two hours? I painted a desk years ago and had to wait half a day before it was completely dried.
Add antique wax.
Then, I added the antique wax and wiped it away immediately. The longer it stayed on the paint, the harder it was to get off. The point of the wax is to make the streaks on the paint and add a nice light coating. This results in an old-painted furniture (Affiliate Link) piece without the mess of sanding or chipping paint.
Add a finish coat.
You can add a clear matted coat finish if you want. The clear matted coat is great for pieces exposed to wet areas. I added this step to my next two projects but planned to return and add the matted coat to this one.
The Transformation of the End Table
Drum roll, please. The image below is what it looks like now. This red chalk paint end table project took one day. However, I couldn't put anything on it for one week after to make sure it was completely dry.
Update: I have been using this table in our living room for years now, and the chalk paint is still holding up pretty well for the wear and tear of the living room.
What do you think? It turned out exactly the way I envisioned it. It's so lovely when DIY projects turn out the way you want them to. I hope this inspires you to try upcycling your worn and loved items. Please leave any questions or comments in the comment section below.
Please note these are affiliate links through Amazon (Affiliate Link), and at no additional cost, I will earn affiliate fees if you decide to make a purchase.
Janet Barclay says
This is gorgeous - I'll be keeping my eye out for something I can try it on!
Sushmita says
It feels good when your envisioned ideas work to the same way as expected. Liked your DIY project. Thank you, Sabrina for introducing me to Chalk paint will definitely give it a try soon.
Erica says
I've never heard of chalk paint, but love the way your little table turned out. That does seem fast that it dried in 2 hours. I once went with a friend to a street bazaar. and she bought a little table which she painted. It was fun to watch the project take shape.
RoseMary Griffith says
I love working with chalk paint--my sister has used it several times with great success. My office chair was in sad shape, so I made my first stab with the chalk paint and I love how it came out. (Pics on Facebook, my friend.)
Love this shade of red!
Doreen Pendgracs says
Nice work, Sabrina! I love the colour. I recently saw a chalk paint demo at a local homewares store in our community. It certainly looks easy enough to do, and it's great how you can customize the look you want.
Catarina says
What a good way of making an old dull table blend nicely into a room. It could actually even become a highlight of the decoration.
Ken Dowell says
It looks good. I'm not familiar with "chalk paint." I assume it is translucent because you can still see the wood grain. How does it differ from stain? Is is oil or latex based?
Sabrina Quairoli says
It is a water base paint. The paint is quite flat. When added the wax and then taking it off with a cloth, some of the wax sticks to the flat paint and some of it doesn't come off. The wax that doesn't come off gives the paint that streak look.
Jeri says
I tend to like finishes that are flat. I'm currently (and slowly) repainting all of the pine furniture in my bedroom and might think about giving chalk paint a try.
Marquita Herald says
What a great project! I checked out the Annie Sloan website and really like the colors, best of all I found several places that carry it here in Eugene. This is a project I am definitely going to try. 🙂
Phoenicia says
You have brought the table to life!
We have a cabinet that could with sprucing up. I wonder if I could successfully paint it. There is no harm in trying. It could be my little project!
William Rusho says
I never heard of "Chalk Paint", but I do like the looks of your finished project. This paint might be what I want for someone of my future DIY projects I have in mind. Thanks for sharing.
lenie says
Sabrina, I really like this - especially the part where you don't need to sand. I have an old dining buffet from the 40s that doesn't look nice enough to use so it's in storage. I am definitely going to use your instructions this winter to see if I can make it look as nice as your end table. I'm printing this post so I'll have it handy when I need it.
Tuhin says
The final result is too good!
It is a great way to bring those old but precious furniture back in action.
Donna Janke says
I love the look of the end table. Well done. Years ago I painted one wall of a youth group room with chalkboard paint so they could use the entire wall as a chalkboard. It had a quite a strong smell while we painted. Is chalk paint similar to chalkboard paint? If so, when you add wax on top, does it still function as a chalkboard?
Sabrina Quairoli says
It's quite different than chalkboard paint. It has a very mild smell and washes off with water. I think they use the word chalk because it is a flat finish.
Emily says
This is a really simple and smart way to transform an old piece of furniture into something new. The red colour is great too. I really like the effect that the wax had as well.
Emily | http://www.emilytrinh.com/the-dancer/