Quick and Easy Side Table Makeover On A Budget

Do you ever wonder how to revamp, update, or makeover a side table? I have been dabbling in furniture makeovers and last week I saw this little side table for $1 at a garage sale. It had seen better days, but I thought what have I got to lose? I love refurbishing old furniture and small projects like this are quick and easy. You can find plenty of similar pieces at the thrift store or yard sales. With today’s project, I’m going to give this table new life with painting, stenciling, and glazing.

This post is in collaboration with Dixie Belle Paint. All thoughts and opinions are my own. A big thanks to Dixie Belle Paint for providing me with the paint for this project.

Side Table Makeover Materials:

Dixie Belle Hurricane Gray Chalk Mineral Paint
Dixie Belle Fluff Chalk Mineral Paint
Dixie Belle Van Dyke Brown Glaze
Dixie Belle Round Paint Brush
Dixie Belle Paris Stencil
Side Table
Painters Tape

Here is the small table that I purchased for $1 at a garage sale.

The top of the table had holes, some sort of sticky residue from something that was sitting on it, and some scratches. Overall though this old table was in pretty good shape.

Side Table Makeover Step-by-Step Instructions:

The first thing I did was use a sanding sponge and sand the sticky residue off. I then tried to even out some of the scratches.

It took more than a little effort to sand, and I thought there must be a better way to do this…

I used this plastic wood my husband had from another project. I mixed it, used a putty knife to fill the holes, and once it was dry I sanded the holes down. I made sure to give the table a good wipe down after I was done sanding, before applying paint.

I have the opportunity to work with Dixie Belle Paint products for this project.

This chalk paint is great for the everyday DIYer. No sanding or primer necessary (Full disclosure, I totally could have skipped that step.) You can check out their products here: Dixie Belle Paint Company. They have so many different colors to choose from.

For the next step I used a medium Dixie Belle round brush to paint on Dixie Belle Hurricane Gray Mineral paint.

A little goes a long way for the paint. It is the perfect choice for this project because it self-levels, and the paintbrush really helps a beginner, like me minimize brush strokes.

I did the first coat of paint and I could have gotten away with one coat, but I did a second coat just to even out my paint job.

I used their Dixie Belle Fluff Mineral Paint for the legs. Lighter colors take 2 coats of paint..

I am using Dixie Bell Van Dyke Brown Glaze to accent the legs.

Paint the glaze into the creases. This is a great way to add depth to your piece.

Using a damp cloth, old rag or paper towel gently rub and wipe the glaze until you get the desired look you want.

You can see the leg on the right was the one I was working on.

I was looking to emphasize the creases but not change too much of the white color.

For the finishing touches, I will be using their “Paris” stencil on the tabletop.

I will demo this on a piece of paper.

I used Hurricane Gray as the base, and using painter’s tape is an easy way to hold the stencil in place.

Using the Fluff paint I dabbed it onto the stencil.

Here is the stencil when it’s done.

Here is the completed table! The paint and stencil made a huge difference and this looks like brand new piece of furniture that will make a great addition as an accent table.

Side Table Makeover Video

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Extra tips:

You’ll want to use grit sand paper to help the paint stick better as the first step, then give your piece a good cleaning. You can put a piece like this in your living room, or guest room, use it as a bedside table or night stand, and I’ll be putting this little table in my entryway. With projects like this, you can paint the entire table or leave part of the original wood showing. You can also spray paint the whole piece or use a paint sprayer if you prefer and find that easier for you. You can update just about anything from a coffee table to large table makeovers. You can paint with chalk paint, acrylic paint, spray paint, milk paint, or you can even use gel stain or a dark stain on it. You can use a chip brush or a foam brush. It’s whatever you like to work with best. After this fun project, I invested in an orbital sander to make some of that process easier. If you decide to fix laminate furniture you’ll need to put some sort of primer on it, or the paint won’t stick. You can give your piece a distressed look if you prefer, and you may opt to put a clear coat over it at the end to protect your piece.

Find out “What Exactly Does It Mean To Repurpose Or Upcycle“, save money, and create the most amazing things.