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    Home » Furniture Makeover » Easy Two Tiered Coffee Table Makeover Using Milk Paint

    Easy Two Tiered Coffee Table Makeover Using Milk Paint

    Published by Gail | Published March 11, 2013 | Updated July 20, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    How to do a quick and easy milk paint makeover on a two tiered thrift store coffee table. Easy step by step directions. Do it yourself today! #MyRepurposedLife #upcycle #coffeetable #milkpaint via @repurposedlifeHow to do a quick and easy milk paint makeover on a two tiered thrift store coffee table. Easy step by step directions. Do it yourself today! #MyRepurposedLife #upcycle #coffeetable #milkpaint via @repurposedlife
    two tiered coffee table

    In January when one of my favorite thrift stores closed, I took advantage of some great sales. You my remember this coffee table. It had been marked $15, then marked down to $10, I got it for 50% off.

    Please Share on Pinterest!

    $5 Thrift Store Coffee Table

    thrift store coffee table

    This is what the coffee table looked like when I got it.

    Later that month I  won a giveaway over at Linda’s blog, Coastal Charm.

    miss mustard seed milk paint

    This is what I won—miss mustard seed’s milk paint.

    vintage coffee table

    When I paint furniture, I always turn it upside down and paint the bottom. On this piece I painted the very bottom, but not the bottom of the top shelf.

    miss mustard seed milk paint

    I painted two coats of the milk paint onto the table, the color is Typewriter. Please ignore the “disco” lights on the picture… not sure why my camera does that sometimes. It's difficult to take great photos when I'm working in the basement shop.

    Looking for more great table ideas, visit this article 50+ Table Makeovers and Repurposed Table Ideas

    miss mustard seed milk paint

    While the paint is drying.

    miss mustard seed milk paint

    This is after two coats. If you know about MMS Milk Paint, it generally chips or flakes off to expose the original finish. It didn’t really happen on this table. There were a few places where it sort of didn’t “take”, but not the widespread natural distressing it is known for.

    I distressed the coffee table slightly with a putting knife, then gave it two coats of MMS Wax.

    miss mustard seed milk paint

    Not bad for a $5 table, eh? Did you know that for many of my projects I have a $5 limit? If the item is for my own use, I may pay more, but when you're flipping furniture, you gotta keep your overhead low. For this table that was really low because I got the paint free!

    mahogany coffee table

    When I won the paint, I also ordered another color, Tricycle…. bet you can guess what color that is…

    Thank you Reborn Interiors and Coastal Charm for introducing me to miss mustard seed’s milk paint so I could do this awesome coffee table makeover.

    gail

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    About Gail Wilson

    Hi, there! I’m Gail, 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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    1. Diane Cash

      March 19, 2014 at 7:55 am

      I just saw this post Gail. I have a table like this, only it would have been the matching side table to this coffee table. It would have had a shelf towards the end and up high. This part of the end table was removed. After painting it, I used broken pieces of china and tiled the top. I added gold corner protectors. It is a perfect coffee table in our trailer trailer camper.

      Reply
    2. Sharon @ Elizabeth & Co.

      March 18, 2013 at 2:50 am

      That is a sweet little table Gail! And what a deal!

      Reply
    3. Sharon Sheff

      March 13, 2013 at 3:06 am

      I like that color and the table too. Good job! I am interested in using milk paint and chalk paint.

      Reply
    4. Hollie @ I'm Busy Procrastinating

      March 13, 2013 at 2:44 am

      Great deal on the table! Love the sofa and rug, too. 🙂

      Reply
    5. Corn in my Coffee-Pot

      March 13, 2013 at 1:30 am

      Definitely not bad for a $5 table.
      What!?!? you're not going to keep it? After all that work?

      I love the color, when you won, did you get to choose your color or is that what was offered as the give away?
      It turned out great. Wax on...wax off...
      Your disco ball comment...made me L.O.L! ~Patricia

      Reply
    6. Stephanie

      March 12, 2013 at 9:21 pm

      Oh you should keep the coffee table! It will hold a lot of stuff in your "office" underneath. Such a great picture Gail. Pillows, rug, styled table, so darn proud of you!

      Reply
    7. Laurel Stephens

      March 12, 2013 at 4:02 am

      Beautiful table! I love the shelf on the bottom for storage. Can never have too much storage. I can't wait to see what you do with the tricycle. 🙂

      Reply
    8. ScrapCrazyyyy!

      March 12, 2013 at 2:41 am

      Very pretty!

      Reply
    9. Erin

      March 12, 2013 at 2:30 am

      Looks fantastic!

      Reply
    10. Angela Swanson

      March 12, 2013 at 2:19 am

      Thank you for your review of milk paint. I was wondering how it worked. I have been wanting to give it a try but didn't want to put out the money just yet. I wonder if there are any homemade recipes out there. Crafty Chicks just had an excellent recipe for chalk paint that I have been using.

      Reply
    11. Full Circle Creations

      March 12, 2013 at 1:51 am

      It looks great! I haven't used MMS milk paint. I've used another brand of it though.

      Reply
    12. SunnyCal

      March 11, 2013 at 9:51 pm

      I've used MMS paint a few times & I think you really need to buff it in order for the wax to have a sheen to it.
      And I found the chippiness to be a little intimidating at first but now love it. I can pretty much gauge how much it'll chip by the finish of the wood. Dry or porous wood will not chip. Sometimes a slick finish will chip way too much, but that can be controlled by lightly sanding first or using the bonding agent (which I have not used).

      Reply
    13. Gail Wilson

      March 11, 2013 at 6:20 pm

      Thank you all very much! I doubt I'll keep it because I already have a coffee table.
      gail

      Reply
    14. Mimi@blueroofcabin

      March 11, 2013 at 5:44 pm

      What a great little table! Love it and love the rug too 😉 So what did you think of using the wax? I'm curious.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        March 11, 2013 at 6:19 pm

        Mimi,

        Thank you! I liked how easy the wax went on, I just don't think I'm a very good "waxer". First and foremost, it hurts my shoulder to make those kind of wipe on-wipe off motions. I was a little disappointed with the sheen afterwards. I thought the paint still looked a little "dry". Will I use it again, yes.
        gail

    15. Mindi@MyLove2Create

      March 11, 2013 at 5:23 pm

      It turned out beautifully! The color looks great with the couch and rug! I have been wanting to try the MMS milk paint, but I am so cheap, I just haven't bought any yet....

      Reply
    16. Debbie

      March 11, 2013 at 2:32 pm

      I love it! I have typewriter but haven't used it yet! The table looks great.
      Debbie

      Reply
    17. Korrie@RedHenHome

      March 11, 2013 at 2:09 pm

      The table looks great! I'm jealous that you got to play with the MMS paint!

      Reply
    18. Angie @ thejunkranch

      March 11, 2013 at 1:31 pm

      I do love the color...looking forward to seeing "tricycle". I have a lot of furniture painter friends, but they are still sold on chalk paint...I am more of a milk paint fan myself. Thanks for the post.

      Reply
    19. Anne

      March 11, 2013 at 1:05 pm

      pretty! Love that colour Gail!

      Reply
    20. Jamie@OwlReally.com

      March 11, 2013 at 12:33 pm

      it looks good! and your living room looks great!!

      Reply
    21. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      March 11, 2013 at 12:28 pm

      it looks perfect! love the color- i hope you are keeping it there!

      Reply
    22. It's Just Me

      March 11, 2013 at 12:11 pm

      Gail, that table looks PERFECT infront of your couch. What a beautiful piece and such a GOOD color. $5 = SCORE!!! : )
      ~ Deanna

      Reply
    23. Terri

      March 11, 2013 at 12:09 pm

      Your table turned out adorable...such a transformation!! I have yet to give the MMS Milk paint a try...I am a little intimidated by the amount of "chippiness" it can render. I love distressed, but I have seen some projects where there is almost none of the fresh paint left!

      Love how your piece turned out! Looks perfect in front of your sofa!

      Reply
    24. Susan @ homeroad.net

      March 11, 2013 at 10:23 am

      Gail that is the perfect coffee table! In my opinion something simple and functional is perfect and I love
      the color you gave it. (Your couch is really nice too) Great job as usual my friend!
      Susan

      Reply
    25. Jeanette Ann O'Donnell

      March 11, 2013 at 9:52 am

      Nice colour,looks great with your couch. 🙂

      Reply
    26. I Play Outside The Box

      March 11, 2013 at 9:23 am

      I love how that turned out....can't wait to see what you do with the other color too! Nice prize too.

      Reply

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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!

    More about me →

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