How to Paint a Table

Sometimes all old furniture needs is a pick me up with paint. This is especially true for table tops and dinette sets. Frequently used wood tables can get chipped, dinged and worn looking over time. Painting these everyday pieces can give them new life and lots more years of use. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Work in well ventilated areas such as a garage or work shop.

2

Clean your table top thoroughly with soap and water and let dry.

3

Use coarse sand paper to rough up the surface of the table top. Go over the entire thing several times. It isn't necessary to remove all the old finish; you're just trying to create a surface that paint will adhere to.

4

Wipe off the table top with tack cloth until no dust particles remain. Fill in any small holes with paintable wood putty and let dry. Sand smooth and wipe with tack cloth.

5

Apply primer over the entire table top. Any good wall primer will do for this part of the project. Let dry thoroughly.

6

Decide what color you want your table top to be. If you plan on painting the rest of the table, consider choosing contrasting colors for the legs and top of the table.

7

Paint the table top with your chosen color. Use water based latex paint for easy cleanup. For a really smooth surface, use 1 to 2 inch foam brushes. Brush the paint in long smooth strokes to apply. Apply two to three coats until you are satisfied with the color and look of the surface.

8

Finish the table with a protective topcoat of satin water based varnish. This is especially important if the table is to be use outside or without a table cloth. The varnish will give the painted surface a water resistant coating. You can also purchase a glass table top to go over your paint job.