Transforming coffee table with gray chalk paint

We are in the process of updating our family room. First, we painted the room a beautiful yellow which brightened up the room so much that we now can leave the lights off and still see. Then, got rid of the old furniture. This post is about how I am transforming a narrow table into our new coffee table with gray chalk paint.

Coffee Table Gray Chalk Paint Project

But, first, let me give you some background on why my coffee table needs to be so narrow. Our family room is in the basement and the room is only 10 feet wide and 20 feet long. You could probably call it a den. We installed a stone wall and a wall cabinet to hide the sump pump that was awkwardly placed in this family room.

So, as you can see if you visited this post, we had issues finding the right size coffee table. We went from store to store with a tape measure and dimensions hoping and praying we would find something that would fit in this small space.  Fast forward, several years and we still didn’t find anything.  So, we tried something different. We decided to be creative and make a coffee table that would work in the space. We used two square storage bins, but they were too low. Then tried a larger ottoman, but it was so square (3 feet by 3 feet) that we couldn’t walk around the sofa at all. Oh boy, I was at a loss.

Chalk Paint Step By Step Instructions

Recently, we found a new sofa that would work in the space that would be delivered in 6 weeks.  I now had a deadline.  So, instead of going out and looking again for the dreaded narrow coffee table, I decided to make it myself.  Well, update it myself.

As I walked around the home, I just knew there was something I could use as a narrow coffee table. Sure enough, I found a table that has been already repurposed a few times in our home.  This is the table below. I found it in my son’s room.  It was actually the table I stored my African Violets on B.K. (before kids). It then was the table my son used for his Lego bins and creations before he grew out of it.  I purchased it from IKEA in the 90s when we first got married and it still was in good shape. It was sturdy and could fit any size bins below for extra storage. It was pine and a little outdated.

It’s a perfect width and the height allows us to put our laptops on it when we want to sit somewhere else.

I started by cleaning off the dust from the shelves and began to paint.  This Rust-Oleum Chalked Country Gray was so easy to put on. I bought another type of short bristle brush. It had a shorter handle. The other brush handle kept hitting the already painted area.

After letting it dry as instructed on the container, I used a fine sand paper and sanded the item lightly. Next, I dusted the table and added the wax with another short bristle brush. Then quickly wiped off the white wax to create the streaks.  Allowing it to dry overnight, I was pleased with the result.

Tip: Wash the short bristle brushes right after you finish using them. Squeeze the bristle of any excess water. Next, wrap a paper towel around them. When dried, remove the paper towel and store away. We have been doing this for years and are able to keep and reuse brushes. Doing this saved us a lot of money on painting supplies.  

To protect the wax and paint, I used this matte clear protection topcoat.  An added advantage of using this product is that it helped bring out the depth of the paint and the wax. We let it dry for several days.

Before I left to purchase bins for this cute coffee table, I measured the length and depth of the opening of the bottom. These bins are fabric and they didn’t hang over the shelves. I found them at Target after visiting a few other stores.

Tip: Don’t settle on bins.  Look for the right color and style you want for the area you are looking for.

Well, that is it. The entire project took about 2 days including drying time. It was easy and I love the outcome.  How about you? Have you ever updated a piece of furniture? Please share in the comments below. I hope this gives you ideas on how to update your furniture pieces.

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