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    Home » DIY » Drum Table Makeover

    Drum Table Makeover

    Published by Gail | Published February 22, 2023 | Updated February 23, 2023
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    A less than perfect drum table gets a much needed update with a little paint and TLC. Great tips for using milk paint without waxing or sealing. #myrepurposedlife #furniturefixerupper via @repurposedlife

    A drum table makeover can be a fun and creative way to transform an old or outdated piece of furniture into a stylish and functional accent piece for your home. Below are some steps you can follow to give your little side table a new look.

    But first, I'm excited to tell you that I am joining a fun group of bloggers known as the "furniture fixer uppper" blog group! I admire all of the work these ladies do and I'm honored to be joining them. Be sure to check out their projects at the end of this post. I'm hoping my simple drum table makeover is worthy.

    White Drum Table Before

    Now, let's get on with how I fixed up this sad white drum table I picked up for $15. Yes, it's well over my $5 limit, but times have changed my friend. Thrift store prices are also rising--it's a sign of the times. This little gal has definitely seen better days, but I hope you love the simplicity of this easy tutorial. Did you notice the little lady is missing a couple of her "slippers"? Never fear, the other two were taped inside the drawer!!!

    Prep: Clean and Sand the Table

    Dismantle the table by removing the screws that secure the table top to the base of the table. This is also a good time to remove any hardware, such as the handle on the drawer and the toe caps on the legs.

    Inspect your project, including looking for loose veneer or places that may need to be filled in with a little plastic wood or wood filler of your choice. 

    As you can see, the top of this table was rough. Luckily, the base and the drawer were in really good shape. 

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    The orbital sander was definitely the way to go to try to smooth out the roughness.

    I started with 60 grit, then 150 grit, and finally 220 grit to smooth out the table top.

    This small dust brush is so handy to keep on hand. It allows me to quickly clean off the table to see where I may need to hit it with the sander. For some reason, I'm not a real fan of the "tack cloth".

    The inside of the drawer wasn't very pretty, so a quick sanding was in order to ready it for it's makeover. I also like to sand away any roughness or buildup of paint when I remove hardware/handles. See image below.

    As you can see, I used a 220 grit sanding sponge to smooth out the table legs. The sponge was also used on the toe caps.

    Can You Use General Finishes Milk Paint in a Paint Sprayer?

    after 1 light coat of Milk Paint using Paint Sprayer

    Yes! You can use nearly all paint with a Finish Max Paint Sprayer!

    For this drum table makeover, I really wanted a clean look of black paint. I used General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint on a pair of nightstands years ago, and I loved how they turned out. I have been using HTP All in One Paint, painting by hand on all of my recent  thrift store projects. So, I figured it was time to change things up. You could use chalk paint, if that's what you prefer for your diy projects. It also works well in the the Finish Max paint sprayer.

    How many Coats of Paint on this Drum Table Makeover?

    Did you notice that the table base was upside down when I painted it? Starting a paint job with your project upside down insures that you won't miss any crevices especially with a spindle like table base.

    drum table makeover sanding between coats
    use brown craft paper in between coats of paint for a smoother finish

    I like to do very light coats of paint no matter how I am applying the paint. After the first coat of paint dried, I used some brown craft paper to lightly sand the table top. It's a great way to get a smooth finish in the end.

    Then, I reassembled the table and did a second coat to see how things were going. Isn't it beautiful??? Note how little overspray there is from the Finish Max.

    Here's a little tip about using expensive paint on projects. First, if it's your project you may not mind dropping the money on a quart of high dollar paint. As a furniture flipper, you do need to get your money back.

    The Finish Max gets nearly every last drop out of the paint cup. However, before cleaning it out, I used a chip brush to do very light touchups where needed, making sure no paint was wasted at all.

    Buff Table

    Using a soft cloth, actually a flour sack towel, I buffed the entire table. Here, I'm using a shoe shine method on the base of the table. The milk paint tends to show handprints, where you've touched or carried the table. You, of course have the option of waxing or sealing the table. I prefer gently buffing the painted drum table and base. If you want to use your table right away, I recommend putting small pieces of wax paper under any decor you place on the table until the paint has time to fully cure.

    Spray Paint Hardware

    All of the hardware got several light coats of spray paint.

    Drum Table Drawer

    drawer liner

    For a drawer liner, I used some heavy duty wrapping paper. I turned the drawer upside down and traced the shape onto the paper. Then I made an educated guess about how thick the drawer was and cut the paper to size.

    use a glue stick to secure wrapping paper drawer liner

    Because I'm flipping this table, I didn't want to decoupage the paper on the entire drawer bottom. Instead, I reached for a cheap glue stick to secure the edges all around the drawer.

    In order to get the best finish I could on the old top, I buffed it with the soft cloth, then I did one light coat of Lamp Black with this small foam paint roller.

    Drum Table Makeover Complete!

    Black Drum Table Makeover

    I put all the hardware back in place, and did a few touchups. Voila! The drum table makeover is complete!

    Pin it for Later

    Optional: Add Decorative Details 

    Although I only did a simple paint job with this side table makeover, you could  give  new life to your accent table with a few more steps.

    Once the base coat of paint or stain has dried, you can add decorative details to the table. This could include stenciling a pattern or design, using a contrasting paint color to highlight the edges, or using decoupage techniques to add a graphic element. If I were to do anything to embellish this project, I would probably use a transfer similar to the one I used on my navy blue bar stools. 

    With these simple steps, you can give your drum table a fresh new look that will enhance the overall style and aesthetic of your space.

    Now, let's check out these fabulous projects from the furniture fixer upper team!

    • Rolling Buffet Cart Makeover
    • French Provincial Dresser Makeover
    • Chocolate Painted Desk
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    1. p

      March 04, 2023 at 7:47 pm

      Welcome to the group Gail !
      I am really liking lamp black. Your makeover is so pretty now ! And your tutorial is really clear and helpful !
      Thanks

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 07, 2023 at 11:12 am

        Thank you so much! I love redoing furniture, it's a change from sawing and building! 🙂

        gail

    2. Janette

      March 04, 2023 at 5:00 am

      Absolutely stunning , it looks beautiful.x

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 07, 2023 at 11:13 am

        I appreciate your sweet comment Janette! I'm really happy that my friend talked me into dragging this table home! It's such an odd size, I had to dismantle it to get it home, and take it back to the same store, but this time in MY booth!

        gail

    3. Joann

      February 24, 2023 at 6:26 am

      Beautifully done! Great tips and excellent instructions.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:13 pm

        Thank you Joann. I was happy to give this sad little table a new look. 🙂

        gail

    4. Cecilia from Georgia

      February 23, 2023 at 10:25 pm

      Welcome to the group! I love the table and you gave such clear directions. I'm looking forward to seeing posts from you soon!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:15 pm

        Thank you Cecilia,
        This group is going to challenge me to up my game!
        gail

    5. Carla from Kansas

      February 23, 2023 at 6:37 pm

      The table is lovely but I would like to s÷ the bead detail, drawer pull, and toe caps with a little gold on them.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 23, 2023 at 7:34 pm

        That's a great idea Carla! Thanks so much for sharing your idea with me!
        gail

    6. Lizzy

      February 23, 2023 at 1:33 pm

      That's really pretty. Great work!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 23, 2023 at 7:35 pm

        Thank you Lizzy. I love the rescue and re-homing of less than perfect furniture pieces.

        gail

    7. Christy James

      February 23, 2023 at 11:32 am

      Just beautiful, Gail! I love all the tips you share, and I’m sure I’ll learn a thing or two from you! SO glad to have you in our group!! XOXO

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 23, 2023 at 7:36 pm

        Christy!
        Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be joining such a wonderful group of ladies for monthly furniture fixer uppers!!!

    8. Marcie Lovett

      February 23, 2023 at 11:08 am

      Welcome to the furniture fixer upper group, Gail! I think $15 was a deal, even though it started out looking so sad. I love drum tables and this one is a beauty now.

      Reply
    9. girlfromwva

      February 23, 2023 at 10:21 am

      It turned out so nice! Love how you show us the whole process. Beautiful job. 😍

      Reply
    10. Denise - Salvaged Inspirations

      February 23, 2023 at 10:14 am

      This is a night and day makeover Gail, just beautiful! Pinned!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:16 pm

        Thanks so much Denise! It sort of is a plain jane, but that's what sells around these parts! I'm so happy to be part of your FFU group!

        gail

    11. Cheryl Atkinson

      February 23, 2023 at 9:30 am

      I love GF Lamp Black! I have used it a couple of times. I don't have a sprayer so I brush it on and it still comes out so smooth. Thank you for sharing and welcome to the FFU gang!!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:17 pm

        Cheryl

        I agree about the GF Lamp black. It does brush on really nice. I'm so excited about being part of the FFU gang!

        gail

    12. Jackie C

      February 23, 2023 at 9:07 am

      This is beautiful. I personally would definitely seal this piece.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:20 pm

        Jackie,

        I'm not a fan of sealing furniture for several reasons. Because I'm re-homing it, I always wonder what the new owner will do??? Will they re-paint it? If I seal it, will that make a difference? I'm not a fan of anything shiny, so I worry about making something shiny, and getting the sealer perfect. My project next month does have a little sealer on the top of the table..... So when needed, I do use it. 🙂
        Thanks for stopping by!

        gail

    13. Jennie

      February 23, 2023 at 8:37 am

      It’s beautiful. I think the transfers would make it really pop. The only difference I’d make is to leave the slipper feet brass. But I know on these pieces they’re sometimes really beat up.
      Quick tip, we just got a puppy after our little Lucy passed. She’s in that eat and chew everything stage. Some pieces of furniture I really don’t care about, but one is a cedar chest with long Victorian legs. Great for storage. When Maggie (new dog) started on the feet I took 4 big cups you get at a baseball, or football game and stuck each leg inside one. Yes it look silly, but it’s saving it, and keeps me from saying Maggie No every time she chews.
      So happy to see you with a new group of bloggers.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        February 26, 2023 at 7:22 pm

        Jennie,

        That's a great tip about putting the cups over the legs of furniture to protect it from puppy teeth!

        The feet had already been painted white, as was the handle. This was a quickie makeover to make sure I got it done for this month's challenge. It's tough around these parts to get furniture painted in the dead of winter! 🙂

        gail

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    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

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