I'm sharing the easiest way to do a sofa table makeover with paint! It's amazing what a little paint and plaster of paris can do to improve an outdated piece of furniture.
This is a pretty black table, but it wasn’t always so loveable!
This old sofa table had seen better days. It was scratched and worn, and pretty much downright ugly. I got so busy with the makeover that I forgot to take a before picture.
To make it easy on my back, I raised the table up onto some old milk crates. I gave the shelves a pretty good sanding with my orbital sander, but you can see I didn’t sand the legs. NOT a fan of sanding turned legs.
I mixed up a small batch of my own chalk paint using Plaster of Paris to make a primer. I have been doing this a LOT lately. It will stick to anything. 
I did a couple of light coats, which takes no time at all since it dries so quickly.
I did a light sanding after each coat of the POP chalk paint to get a really smooth final coat.
After the chalk paint (primer) dried, I moved the table to the paint booth. You can see that my paint booth isn’t all that grand. I have one large piece of plastic stapled to the wall, and then it just lays on the floor. I prefer to put my pallet on top of the plastic, while some scrap 1x2’s hold down all the sides to keep the plastic from flying around. (this picture is with the primer only) Can you see that this has been the easiest sofa table makeover ever?
I then painted it with my HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer
using Behr semi-gloss Beluga. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
I LOVE the finish that I get with my sprayer, especially on the legs! Painting legs with a brush is not fun at all. How do you do it? I go up and down, side to side, and then I have crazy brush strokes!
Who knew there were so many shades of black paint? I don’t think I’ve bought Beluga before, but I LOVE it!
This is the front. That is a faux drawer, and I don’t know whose bright idea it was back in the day to make faux wood grain out of PLASTIC! Personally, if this were my table, I’d turn it around and put the drawer against the sofa or the wall. 
Not a great picture, but you can see the great finish on the top and the legs! Best sofa table makeover to date!
I have to tell ya, I love these easy/quick makeovers! Gotta love the power of paint combined with a great paint sprayer.
So, here’s my question…. show the drawer, or turn it around?
gail
La Verne @ hopeandsalvage.com
Can you just pop that front piece off? You are right about how awkward it looks-sort of front heavy. The rest of the piece is classy and that makes it look a little gaudy.
Question: With the sprayer....if you spray a little heavy and have a run/sag, do you catch it with a brush or foam or sand it later? Does the touch up show differently than the smooth spray?
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
La Verne,
I rarely get any drips with the Finish Max. IF I do, it's because I have thinned the paint too much. I typically keep a chip brush in my back pocket just in case. I did a lot of spraying yesterday, and didn't have a single run.
If I catch it with a chip brush, it blends in really well. If it's on the first coat you would never know it even happened after the second coat. If it's on the final coat, and you catch it right away and lightly hit it with the chip brush, and give it another quick shot a few minutes later, all should be great! I've never "not" caught it and had it dry... if so, then you would have to sand it, and I think it might be more noticeable.
gail
Diane
Does the chalky paint cover over all finishes? I have some painted plastic fronts to a desk to refinish and also
an old beautician's stand covered with a glossy "countertop" material. Do you normally prime with the same color
you paint with? I am looking for a worn look.
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
Diane,
Yes, I use the chalky paint for all finishes. The front faux drawer of this table is plastic wood grained stuff. It went on great. I recently painted some plastic mirrors with great results. You do have to seal it to keep it from scratching off. I mostly use poly products.
since you're looking for a worn look, you could sand it back before sealing. Many people use a damp rag to "sand" this type of paint.
gail
Pat
This looks so great.
I like the black...kind of looks matte finish.
Command Max did a good job.
I like that you kept the same hardware (drawer pull) on the table.
Looks good.
Patricia
leslie thompson
have you posted how to make your own chalk paint? I am searching for a tutorial.
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
I have blogged about it, but never have given exact measurements. I don't measure when I cook, so therefor I'm bad about measuring when I DIY paint. Mix plaster of paris with some water, add that to the paint. Formula to follow in a future blog post. 🙂
gail
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
Looks great!! I say show the "drawer" - it is really neat looking. Thanks for the name of the paint... I may add it to my paint repertoire!
Cher @ Designs by Studio C
Holly
Your finish looks wonderful! I like the look of the drawer but it would depend on the room it is in. Great job!
Donna in SC
Totally LOVE the idea of chalk paint on just about anything! You're such an inspiration to so many of us who are afraid to try different ideas. Thanks for always sharing! nrn
Laura Clark
I am in love with this sofa table, the finish looks so nice in the pictures. If it were mine I would put it with the drawer in the back for awhile and then put it with the draw out just to change things up. It is amazing what paint can do to a piece of furniture like this. Thanks for using the Finish Max on this project!
Laura
Stacie Czech
Beautiful piece! I recently bought the Command Max sprayer on your recommendation. I love it!! I've used ASCP in it and it works beautifully, however I think there's a lot of waste. I'm interested in reading a post about your experience with it.
Korrie@RedHenHome
It looks great, Gail! I like the drawer, actually. But it's always good to have options 😉
girlfromwva
it looks really nice. i think i would go ahead and show the faux drawer.
Suzanne
I love this one. The finish on it is sooo beautiful -- it looks like satin. Love the shade of black too. The tip of putting the table on top of the crates to finish it was such a good idea! As always, you inspire me!
Marianne
As usual, it's gorgeous!! I agree, drawer facing the back of the couch...now is it for sale? I have been looking for a sofa table for a week, JUST got off of Craig's List and on FaceBook...here you are with exactly what I want!
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
Marianne,
I did this makeover for a neighbor, I believe anything he has is for sale. 🙂 Thanks for your comment.
gail
Pam
I love BLACK! I tend to wander that way when buying clothes also! Black is classy and it looks so nice on furniture. Great job Gail.
Maxine
I like it very much, the color, the finish, even the drawer front. Just looking at it I'd not know it was plastic.
I will be making my own chalk paint soon for a pair of bedside tables and plan to spray paint the final coat but just so I know...you can't spray paint chalk paint, can you?
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
Maxine,
I plan on testing my CommandMax today or tomorrow with ASCP and my own version of chalky paint. 🙂
Honestly chalk paint goes on so easy, I don't generally mind it even on spindles or turned legs.
Thanks for your comment, hope your tables turn out fab!
gail
Terri
In the picture the "drawer" front looks fine, I don't really know what it looks like IRL, but I like it! Great job!
So, if I am reading correctly, do you just use your own chalk paint recipe as a primer and not to paint the finishing coat?
gail@myrepurposedlife.net
Terri,
I use my own version of chalky paint for all kinds of applications. I use it as a primer and as a topcoat. However, I'm not a big fan of waxing. The flat finish of this type of paint needs a protective coat of some sort. When I use it as the topcoat, I generally use wipe-on poly for that protective coat because it's easy. 🙂
I love that I can make a diy primer any color I want by adding a little Plaster of Paris! LOVE!
gail
Diane
Your table looks great! Maybe the reason you aren't fond of the drawer is that you know it's plastic.
cassie
very classic in black! i love the shape of this table!
Karl Micheal
this is a really nice table project. depending upon the room and setting...drawer showing! thank you for all your posts.
Doris Henson
I LOVE it....I've been making chalk paint too....and it is super easy to use and does cover nicely. Great finish on this piece Gail.