Are you ready to transform your table into a DIY farmhouse table for real cheap!?
I was, and I’m SOOO excited to share with you how our Farmhouse kitchen table turned out!
I think you’ll love it just as much as I do. I decided to step by step lay out exactly how I did it, so you can replicate it.
If you want to!
You won’t regret it if you do!
I mentioned before we had to sell our original rustic farmhouse dining table that we hand-built when we moved into our first home… So back to the drawing board, we went.
Everyone dreams of moving into their first home and buying brand NEW furniture, décor and such, so did we…
Until we went shopping for a new table.
We live on a budget, there was no way I was going to spend $1000 on a table.
So we started searching for thrift stores and Facebook marketplace. Shortly after my husband came across this farmhouse table for sale on Craigslist.
My husband was convinced that with some paint and a little work it would turn into something we’d love.. so we brought it home.
This solid oak table was dated and the base of the table was split down the middle. The table was supposed to slide apart to expand, however, only the top moved apart and the bottom was stuck together.
We were actually told a gentleman handmade this table years ago.
With a little determination, I knew this table would turn out how I envisioned it in my head.
We couldn’t beat the $100 price tag so we took it home!
Turn Your Old Table Into A Farmhouse Kitchen Table
Here are the steps to refurbishing an old oak table similar to the one above.
You can use the same steps for just about any wood table. This DIY farmhouse table makeover will have your table looking like an expensive pottery barn farmhouse table, only for a fraction of the price.
Gather Your Supplies
< 3M 80 grit Sand Paper
< 3M 150 grit Sand Paper
< 3M 220 grit Sand Paper
< 3M 400 grit Sand Paper
< Tack Cloth
< Varathane
< Varathane Semi-Gloss Polyurethane
< Americana Décor Chalky Finish Everlasting
< Americana Décor Crème Wax
< Power Sander
< 1 Paint Brush
< 3 Foam Brushes
< Plastic gloves
< Cloth
< Painters Tape
The first thing you want to do before starting is to give your table a nice little scrubbing
We have kids and we used our table for a few months before we had time to conquer this project, so a good cleaning was a must. Then it’s time to move your table outside or into your garage.
Tip: Be prepared to be without a table during your dining table makeover.
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Sanding Your Farmhouse Kitchen Table
You can start by sanding the top
We may or may not have crawled under the table for a good 10-15 minutes before it dawned on us to flip it upside down so we don’t kill our backs.
We started with a piece of 80 grit sandpaper and began hand sanding the base of the table.
It’s surprising how fast most of the varnish came off.
Next, use the 150 grit followed by the 220 and then 400 grit sandpaper for a nice smooth finish.
You can use any combination of sandpaper, that is just our preferred method and it works quite well.
The lower the grit the more course and grittier the sandpaper will be. We tried starting out with the 150 but switched to the 80 because it wasn’t taking off all the varnish.
Once you’ve finished sanding use a cloth to wipe off all the excess dust. Any old piece of cloth will work.
Then use a tack cloth to wipe down the base thoroughly. If you haven’t used a Tack cloth before, it might just become your new best friend.
These
These tack cloths are great for picking up any dust on your project before you start staining. I use them all the time and they are pretty cheap on Amazon.
Now it’s time to flip over the table and sand the top. This is where the electric sander comes into play.
Use the same method with the sandpaper and the electric sander, 80, 150, 220 and 400 grit. I think it took around two hours to get all the varnish off both the top and the base of the table.
Staining Your Rustic Farmhouse Dining Table
Now on to the fun stuff!! Let’s see this table transform.
You can use any color of stain on the top of the table. We used Varathane KONA Wood Stain.
I personally love this color stain. We have used this color on multiple projects so it’s always our go-to stain.
Don’t forget, I highly recommend wearing gloves.
Either pick up some cheap plastic gloves or if all else
We taped off the table before staining the top so we wouldn’t get the stain on the rest of the table.
Make sure to use a cloth that doesn’t have fuzz all over it, such as cotton. (We made the mistake of using a cut up shirt in the beginning).
Cover the table with stain using long strokes that follow the grain pattern. Let the stain sit for 5 minutes, then use another cloth to wipe all the excess stain off.
Repeat by adding more stain until you achieve your desired color!
Keep the weather in mind if you are staining outside. The temperature plays a role in how fast stain will or won’t dry.
Once you get your desired shade then you are done with the top.
All About That Base, Painting That Is
I knew I wanted a white base for our table so I decided to experiment with chalk paint. I went to Home Depot and bought the color Everlasting by Americana Décor.
I love how it turned out.
I ended up putting 3 coats on the base of the table before I got the desired look I was going for.
What I love about chalk paint is by the time I had the first coat on I could start with the second. Chalk paint only takes 15 minutes to dry.
When I was done painting, I did one coat of Crème Wax just to seal the table. It goes on so easy and it dries almost immediately.
When I was done painting, I did one coat of Crème Wax just to seal the table. It goes on so easy and it dries almost immediately.
Chalk paint tip: One benefit of using chalk paint is that you don’t have to sand before painting. I sanded our whole table before deciding to use chalk paint.
Finishing Touches On Your DIY Farmhouse Table
Finally, its time to poly the table. We like to use Varathane brand Polyurethane with a semi-gloss finish. This is our go-to poly because of the smooth finish it leaves and how easy it is to apply with a foam brush.
We did 3 coats to make sure it had extra protection since it’s a kitchen table.
If there are any rough spots in between applying the coats you can lightly sand it using 400 grit sandpaper.
Make sure to follow the wait times on the can in between applying the coats and enjoy your new farmhouse table!
Finished Product
If you want a Pottery Barn table but are on a budget, this is the way to go.
If you transform your old table into a DIY Farmhouse table let us know how it goes in the comments below!
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