Simple Small Table Makeover

This simple small table makeover will give you all my best tips for updating a piece of furniture quickly and easily.

Small Antique Table

This was a “free find” given to me by a friend. What might start out as a simple furniture makeover can throw you a curve ball. The best thing to do is “keep a positive outlook.”

I plan to add a little something extra to this small table makeover. Continue reading to the end of this article to see my surprise for the new owner.

Inspect Your Furniture Project

To complete this small table makeover, I focused on its wobbly nature. I found that the wooden angle brackets were no longer secure.

All the brackets and staples were removed and replaced with new wood glue and brad nails.

Knowing how to make small repairs will give you many more options to flip furniture quickly and easily. Countless pieces of furniture are discarded simply because they are rickety. Sometimes, the only issue may be loose screws or bolts that need to be tightened.

If you’re buying furniture, you will want to inspect it before you purchase it. However, if the furniture is free, you really have nothing to lose.

Sand Tabletop Smooth

The table legs are in rough shape. Did you notice in the before picture above that the tabletop had large scratches? An orbital sander was used to smooth the top and achieve a nice finish on this small table makeover.

To get a smooth surface, begin with 150-grit sandpaper and finish with 220-grit. My best advice for judging the smoothness is to run your hand across the top. Your fingers will tell you things your eyes may miss.

Clean Furniture Before Painting

There are many options to Prep Your Furniture For Painting. My top three choices are Krud Kutter, All-In-One Surface Prep, and Surface Prep Wipes. Don’t skip this step! You never know what abuse the wooden furniture may have seen.

For this small table makeover, I chose the liquid surface prep. It’s easy to apply with a chip brush, scrub with a pad (optional), and wipe off.

The surface prep dries quickly, and there is no need to rinse. It not only cleans but also deglosses the shine of your wood, allowing better paint adhesion.

Using A Foam Roller to Paint Furniture

For this small table makeover I chose to use a small foam roller and All-In-One-Paint in the color Bone.

To begin each project, I always start with the underneath side. I have a little something extra planned for the underside later.

In the background you can see my Recycled Mirror, Double Sided Chalkboard.

Painting First Coat on Furniture

Resist the urge to paint a heavy first coat. I call this the ugly first coat because it’s thin; you can still see the wood through some of it. Light coats of paint work best for a smooth, lasting finish. At this stage, I thought I might do a two-toned look and stain the top of this small table.

Second Coat of Paint

All in all, I generally paint two and one-half coats of paint. The second coat covers up the ugly, and then I do a quick coat of touch-ups where needed.

Small Table Makeover in Progress

I use a piece of brown packing paper between coats to smooth the surface to receive the next coat of paint. (not shown)

The table had a red hue, which led to tannins bleeding through. I used a light coat of All-In-One Paint Satin on the top of the table. Then, I added another light coat of paint, and there was no longer any bleed-through.

Chalking a Transfer

Were you wondering what hidden little gem I was going to leave? Well, here it is, the extra little feature I added to the underside of the small table makeover. I thought it was a nice addition as someone picks it up and puts it in their vehicle after they purchase it. It’s a chalk couture transfer, and it’s oh-so-easy to do!

Simple Small Table Makeover Complete

I love the way this simple makeover came together!

Now, let’s check out my friends’ projects below:

Salvaging A Vintage Porcelain Enamel Kitchen Table

DIY Wood Candle Holders from Finials

Mid-Century Modern Wall Decor from a Collage Frame

Paint A Wood Mirror

Simple Small Table Makeover (You are here, thank you.)

Decoupage Wastebasket Makeover

Thrift Store Hinged Box Spring Makeover

Upcycle Garden Pots with Paint

I hope you enjoyed these tips for flipping furniture. See more Thrift Store Projects Here.