• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
  • Contact
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
  • Contact

Furniture Facelift

March 13, 2021

This furniture facelift features a pair of second-hand end tables that needed a change. Though they were sturdy and the size was good for what space I hoped to use them in, it was the color that was not so great.

It took me nearly 10 steps in the process of redoing these to get the look I wanted, but truth be told, if I would have planned a wee bit better and knew what I wanted at the start I could have avoided a few steps.

If you have a piece that needs a furniture facelift and you want a similar finished look, I’m going to share what I did and what I wished I didn’t do to hopefully save you a few hours in the process.

These two ‘found’ end tables are constructed of solid pine tops and heavy metal legs. At the time I bought them, I thought they had an interesting shape, sort of reminded me of campaign style furniture. However, I didn’t care for the finishes, the scuffed up dark brown that was currently on the legs nor the dark pine wood finish on the top, which had scuffs and dings in it too.

First thing, after I washed and dried the tables, was to prime the wood.

This is my absolute ‘Go To’ primer! It is latex, so it’s easy clean up. It goes on super smooth, and it adheres better than any other latex primer I’ve ever tried! Perfect for over this varnished wood finish. I love that there is no sanding necessary with this primer! HERE is where you can buy some of this amazing primer for yourself.

After the coat of primer dried, I painted the tables a soft sage green. I don’t even know why I painted them this color, other than I had the paint on hand. Worse yet, I have no idea why I continued and painted not only the whole first table, but went on and painted its companion table as well.

I think I was hoping that when the paint dried it would change into another color.

It didn’t. So my answer, (again, not sure why??!) was to paint a thin coat of black over the top of the green.

That looked downright icky. Maybe it needed to be scuffed up a bit, so I lightly sanded it.

Nope.

That looked a little more icky than before.

I’m not one to give up easily… Maybe it needed to be brighter colors. I remembered that I had seen something like that a few years ago that I thought was fun.

Sure, let’s see how that looks.

Using some of the small acrylic paints I had on hand, I brushed on blue and green…

too intense of color, I thought…

I squirted on some white and spread that around, (this was starting to feel like a finger painting project from kindergarten). That splotchy look really wasn’t anything I was going for.

That was my issue!

I really didn’t know what ‘look’ I was going for because I didn’t have a clear vision for this furniture facelift. I hadn’t taken the time to really think it out. I’m a seasoned and professional decorator. People pay me to tell them what to do for their decorating. I know better! But there’s this thing when a decorator is their own client… it’s easy to lose site of the correct process. Case in point… I just jumped into this project without visualizing what the room and things in it were calling for.

I can see that now, but at that moment, I hadn’t reflected on what the real issue was, so what did I do?

Just blindly trudge ahead.

If it was too splotchy looking, how about some whitewash? White paint mixed with water and a latex paint conditioner was the next layer to get painted over the splotchy colors.

I did kind of like that look, but the problem was that it wasn’t the look the bedroom needed.

FINALLY, re-evaluating what my finished project needed to look like, I thought about what finish would look good for these two tables to compliment the rest of the space they were planned for… the headboard, duvet, white walls and other features in the room.

My furniture facelift design started over. I found some sweet vintage glass knobs. They were white glass and I (finally) realized the wood on the tables needed to be dark, a little darker than the headboard was, but with a nice weathered, aged look. For the legs, I decided a shiny gold leg would contrast the weathered top nicely.

So, another layer or two of paint would hopefully do the trick! This time the layers would be a black glaze.

I mixed black paint with the latex paint conditioner to achieve a semi-transparent glaze and brushed that over the white finish. At one point, now giddy with my newly formed plan coming to fruition, I nearly dipped my brush in my cup of coffee which was sharing the same cardboard box as I was applying the black glaze!

Yes! This was getting closer to the look I wanted.

Once that first coat of black glaze dried, I repeated another coat of the black paint glaze and decided that was the finish I wanted for this space.

Now to those legs.

As I really started to look at them, I started thinking I hated them, and not just the color, but their shape too. When I found these tables, I thought the legs were interesting, but right about now, they just looked dated and I started to doubt myself again.

It was at this point I set the project aside for a few days to contemplate it.

I decided I really needed to finish the project one way or the other. Once they were totally done I could re-evaluate and make a decision if I liked the furniture facelift tables or just needed to re-list them for sale.

Two of these bottles of metallic paint would be enough to paint the legs.

It took several coats of paint to cover those dark metal legs.

After the 3 or 4 coats of metallic paint was dry, I’m glad to say I started liking the legs again.

Then once the vintage glass knobs were put on the drawers, in place of the dated and boring original hardware, I finally loved how charming and unique these table were looking.

The juxtaposition of the gilded looking legs with the dark rustic worn finish of the top, combined with the simple sweet glass knobs is just right for this eclectic bedroom.

I found a pair of matching vintage metal trays on each nightstand pulling colors from the duvet. The brightly colored striped duvet, with the weathered wood bed sits on a distressed looking rug, (that I bought HERE super cheap!). Combine it all together and this eclectic combo looks like it’s a plan as it’s woven together with color and texture.

If I would have thought out the plan ahead of time for this furniture facelift project, visualizing what the finished tables needed to look like, I could have saved myself a few steps in the process, but then what would I have to write about, right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on MeWe, Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along.

Here are some more furniture facelift and redo projects I’ve written about:

Furniture-Facelift
Proportion
DIY Inspiration
How-to-Age-Galvanized-Metal
DIY Vintage Window Shadow Box
Repurposing: Stencil a Vintage Window
Restoration Vintage Medicine Cabinet
6 Furniture Projects to Inspire You
Simple Stool Re-Do
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Make a Pulley Light
tips to find the right lampshade
Painting Tips
How to Create Let it Snow Artwork
How  Why I Made Faux Delft Tiles
How I turned this $10 piece of junk into a Masterpiece
before and after antique dry sink re-do step by step
How to DIY Soapstone Restoration
Tips on Restoring Antique Hardware
sofa table redo before and after
Counter stool makeover and my 1st attempt at chalk paint
Inspiration for Colors
Coastal Cottage Style Table
DIY Directional Arrows
DIY Table with a Coastal Design
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Before and After Retro Cart Re-Do
Creating a Trophy Wall in a Whimsical Library
A Lesson in Identifying Furniture Age
Vintage Umbrella on Door
Before and After Headboard Re-Do
Handpainted Table
DIY Picket Fence Wall Hooks
Creating a New Faux Finish on Antique Tin Tile

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Mar Coakley says

    March 17, 2021 at 4:34 pm

    Glad you got it to.your taste.they look great now

    Reply
    • Liz says

      March 20, 2021 at 7:52 am

      Thanks so much!

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Our Whole House Renovation: Mid-Century into Colonial Revival Cottage Style

Simple DIY Curtain
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
Front Entry Portiere
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment

Footer

Shop Decor Steals

AntiqueFarmHouse

Have you noticed this site is faster?! It’s because I switched to SiteGround!!

Web Hosting

My Household Tips and Tutorials for You:

DIY  natural sachets
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing
DIY Natural Simmering Potpourri simpledecoratingtips
How to hang a window box SimpleDecoratingTips.com
First Aid Remove Sticky Residue
How to Clean Spilled Wax
Plate Hanger
Housekeeping Naturally
How to Hang a Wall Mounted Lamp
How to Avoid a Greasy Mess when Frying on the Stove
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
how to install a floating shelf
how to naturally clean silver
7 Simple Hangers and How to Use Them
Packing & Moving Tips
How to Mount a Door Knocker in a Hollow Steel Door
How to Remove Pet Urine Stains
Make your own Natural Potpourri
Five Ways Hardware made a Difference
How to Remove Carpet Depressions

Gardening Tips

DIY Hanging Terrarium
Turtles and Window Boxes
before and after front terraced garden
Creating-an-Oasis-with-a-Water-Fountain
Kid's Craft DIY Miniature Fairy Garden
The-Beauty-of-Fences1
install this arbor and fence in one day
Transplanting Stella D'Oro Daylilies
How I re-did these Concrete Lions
How to Prune a Peegee Hydrangea
snug-harbor-farm
Tips on Forcing Bulbs Indoors
rooftop-garden
DIY Window Well Installation
The-Story-of-a-Blue-Jay-Title-Page
1-in the garden with water walls and cloches
2 pergolas  garden update
Creative-Planters
DIY Simple Deer Proofing
raised bed container gardening title
DIY Brick Edging
Ingenious Tips to DIY this Planter
before  after circular garden
Backyard Boat Pond
before  after front garden landscaping
Dry Stack Stone Planter
Potting Shed
Garden & Landscape Inspiration
Growing Grass in a Vintage Scale
moving-a-screened-gazebo-onto-the-property
DIY Compost Bins
Window-Boxes-inside-a-2nd-story-porch
Humidity Tray for Orchids
Before and After Landscape and a DIY Pergola
spring-planter-arrangement
we had to cut down 13 trees
What-is-this?


Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Copyright

Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Graphics Fairy

Graphics Fairy

Feedspot

Feedspot

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Sample Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
  • Contact
↞
↠
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.