On our holiday break (right after Christmas) I got the itch to change up our space. Isn’t that how is always goes? When you’re supposed to be relaxing, project inspiration sneaks in!
So I painted our dining room table (see how it looked before here) with three coats of oil-based paint. I’m in love with the result! I also loved it before, but after almost three years of daily use, it was ready for either a fresh staining or a coat of paint, and I felt like the room could use a little more white now that we have the wood walls. So I just went for it!
Here are five quick tips for painting a table (or other heavily used furniture):
1. Choose oil-based paint.
Both Laura and I have had an experience where we asked for a recommendation for what type of paint to use on a table and chairs at a home improvement store, and the person working there recommended using latex. Both projects were epic fails!
Do not use latex paint for furniture that needs to be wiped down often or will be heavily used. Laura’s table (painted with latex) is very hard to clean and leaves wipe marks each time she wipes it down. The chairs I painted with latex started scuffing and rubbing off immediately.
This is the exact paint I used for this, my yellow chairs, my white piano and my bar cart.
I also love Rust-Oleum brand spray paint.
Tips—Be aware that oil-based paint will take longer to dry and SMELLS. Try to open the windows if you are painting indoors. You can’t wash your brush out in your sink like with latex paint, so you’ll either need paint thinner or a throwaway brush for this project.
The only downside to oil-based paint is that you can’t usually get the colors mixed, so you have to choose from what they have available (which is why all the projects listed above are white, yellow, and olive green).
2. Take your time.
Be sure you choose a time for this project when you can let your paint dry between coats and cure for at least a couple days before you start using your furniture again. Oil-based paint dries slowly, so these are not good one-day projects. i.e. Don’t try this the night before a big party or event you are hosting!
3. Choose glossy finish.
In my experience the glossy finish looks the best when completed. That’s what I used for this table and I really like it. Cleans up like a dream too!
4. Don’t be afraid of pattern.
Just because you can’t get this oil-based paint in a huge variety of colors doesn’t mean you can’t try patterns. Use black and white to create something customized for your style!
5. Keep a touch up can at home.
Even though this paint is super durable, any furniture that is used daily will eventually get chips or scratches. I always keep a touch up can hidden away in our laundry room for this reason, making it easy to keep pieces looking fresh for longer!
I hope this was helpful! If you’re thinking of painting a piece of furniture in your home, be sure to pin this post so you can refer back to it! Here’s a similar table if you’re in the market for one (this one has wood tones if you’d rather have a wood table). You can see the original DIY for my table here and you might love this DIY table as well!
I love my painted table! It really brightened up our dining space. Thanks so much for reading! xx- Elsie
P.S. Check out more home decor on our wishlist and shopping pages!
Credits// Author: Elsie Larson, Photography: Laura Gummerman. Photos edited with A Beautiful Mess Actions.
Did you sand down the chairs/table before painting? Mine has a stain on it already as like you, I’ve had it for a while and it needs a refresh!
Where could I purchase that same table?
Rustolium TOPSIDE marine paint is the best and easiest to clean! Most people don’t think about it but boat paint is amazing for refinishing home floors and furniture! It can really take a beating
Where do you buy this paint at? I cannot find it atcLowes, Home Depot or Wal Mart.
Hello!
I used this exact paint (except black) to paint my dining table last Saturday 9/29 – do you think I have given it enough time to cure before returning it to use?
Many thanks!
I would check the label to see how long it takes to cure, but I bet its been long enough!
It was and I love it! This a great way to redo a piece of furniture and have it be toddler proof as well!
Love love love this so much! Did you have to use a paint stripper/sand first or were you able to paint the table as is?
Amazon! Just search “cafe chair” xoxo! Elsie
where did those chairs come from? love them!
Oil paint is the secret. Great job. Your Dining room is great really, white furniture and that wood tile wall on white wall, its looks super. Great tips here to get the rest of us to start painting and decorating our homes. You make it seem like just a cool thing to do really.
Looks nice! ….it takes a LEAST a month for oil-based paint to cure. Which means truly harden and even longer to completely off -gas ….especially products like Rustoleum or Tremclad….which are ommitting VOCs into your house’s air-quality for quite some time…u might want to consider using a quality air purifier with charcoal filters for at least six months when using these products on daily use furniture. As a professional painter I know trust me on this! –not trying to be a downer on your project just want to let people know, especially if u have small children,pets or it’s something being used for food…the air pollution in rooms w oil paint off-gassing are through the roof! In Canada the availability of oil paint is next to nothing due to regulations on VOCs…but the wear and finish rocks, it’s true!! So don’t paint w these in the fall and then go thru the winter w all the windows closed people!! Lots of ventilation will speed the off-gassing up AND help your finish cure up nice and hard. (Ps don’t eat food off the table before before curing is complete!) I really miss the beautiful finish oil paint provides, but Low VOC paints ARE improving every yr. You can even use porch & floor paint or some Benny Moore types for furniture such as “Advance” 🙂
First of all- I love the efect, and the 2nd to go- yes, whenever I plan to relax- I find new ideas ( like “must do it right now” ideas) on my mind. Love Your work- Marzena
Wonderful dining room! Great inspiration- huge money saving idea too!
Did you paint your piano too?
What plants is that on the table, it looks great!
We painted our last kitchen cabinets with sherwin williams pro classic and it looked nice when we were done (we used a paint sprayer) but in our new (old) house we went with oil based for the cabinets. And oh my goodness it is SO much better! Unfortunately in Utah, and probably a few other states, oil based paint is now illegal thanks to some laws about VOC requirements. SO lame. I went and bought the last 5 gallons in stock of my favorite paint and I hope that will get me through all my projects. Because latex paint, even the alkyd kinds, and even sealed with polycrylic just don’t hold a candle to two coats of oil. Your table looks great! It’s been fun to watch how you’ve changed up this room since you moved in.
This turned out great! I absolutely loved the table when it was wooden too but I’m in love with all things white. Looks great with the bulb lights hanging above it too.
Erin
http://beingerin.com
great succulents in jars just adding to the debt 😉 hehe
Your table looks awesome and this room is super pretty!!! I would add that oil based paint (especially white) will yellow after a few years so that’s something to consider with more permanent projects that you want/need to stay bright white – like kitchen cabinets, which I almost made the mistake of doing!
I can’t even focus on how gorgeous your table is because of how absolutely amazing your walls are – that wood paneling or whatever you call that is absolutely gorgeous!
I want to see before pics
http://www.modeography.com/2015/03/blue-leather-skirt-and-flannel/