I’m soooo excited to share with you how our DIY Farmhouse table turned out!
As I mentioned before we had to sell our original farmhouse table we hand-built when we moved, 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.
There was no way I was going to spend $1000 on a table. So we looked on Craigslist and came across this little gem.
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.
Here are the steps to refurbishing an old oak table similar to the one above.
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 KONA Wood stain
Varathane Semi-Gloss Polyurethane
Americana Décor Chalky Finish Everlasting
Americana Décor Crème Wax
Power Sander
1 Paint Brush
3 Foam Brushes
Plastic gloves
Cloth
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. Now it’s time to move your table outside or into your garage.
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It’s Time To Sand Your New Farmhouse Table
You can start by sanding the top or the base of the table, whichever you prefer. We started by sanding the base of the table. Flip the table upside down so you don’t have to hunch under the table.
We may or may not have crawled under the table for a good 10-15 minutes before it dawned on us that we should
flip it upside down so we don’t kill our backs, lol.
It’s time to get out your sandpaper. We took 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 cloths are awesome, minus the texture of the cloth itself, you’ll know what I mean once you use one. These little 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.
When Staining Your DIY Project…Wear Gloves
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 fails use the gloves you use for washing dishes. You’ll be thankful you used gloves when you’re done!
We taped off the table before staining the top so we wouldn’t get the stain on the rest of the table. Now dip your rag into the stain and start spreading it over the table.
Make sure to use a cloth that doesn’t have fuzz all over it, such as cotton.
Cover the table with stain using long strokes that follow the grain pattern. Let the stain sit for 5-10 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. Stain doesn’t dry well if it’s hot and humid out or if it’s too cold. 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.
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
This project came about because we didn’t want to spend a ton of money on a new farmhouse table. We are all about saving money and we love a good project!
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Vandalism! You took a potentially beautiful example of classic hardwood furniture and turned it into a yuppy-inspired eyesore that looks most appropriate for a daycare. Some years ago, I rescued a very similar, possibly identical piece from a bunch of poker-playing overage frat-boys, stripped off layers of carpet underlay and green felt, and restored it to its former dignity as a finely-made piece of 20th century production craftsmanship, using its (thankfully) untouched centre leaf as a guide. You people would paint a polyester leisure suit on an original Rockwell just to make it “fresh and updated”!
I doubt that my comment will ever be reprinted. Since all the comments printed so far are universally overflowing with praise, it’s obvious that you have edited out any that are less than fully impressed with your dimestore “improvements”.
Hi Roger,
Thank you for stopping by and checking out this post. I’m sorry that you didn’t enjoy our work. Luckily for you, you don’t have to stare at it every day. We are happy with how it turned out as it went well with the decor of our house.
Have a great day,
David
Found this on Pinterest – what a beautiful job! This came out so well and you make it look so simple that I’m tempted to do the same with our identical hand-me-down table that is in super rough shape. Can you estimate how long this took you, from start to finish? It looks like you did it all in a day, but just curious!
Hi Jaime!
Thanks for checking out the post and I’m glad you loved how the table turned out. If you’re thinking about doing your own table makeover I think you should go for it!! This took us two days to finish. The only reason it took two days was because we wanted to let the stain on the table top sit for a day before we put the poly over it. It ended up going a lot faster than we thought it would.
Hi Jaime!
I’m glad you loved how the table turned out! If you’re thinking about doing your own table makeover I think you should go for it!! This took us two days to finish. The only reason it took two days was because we wanted to let the stain on the table top sit for a day before we put the poly over it. It ended up going a lot faster than we thought it would.
This process is not simple. It takes loafs6of due diligence. I am 60, a retired Interior Designer, an artist, and am passionate about furniture restorating and refinishing. I have never used a sander on a piece of furniture and have restored over 300 pieces. I use stripper to remove all manner of issues. I said lightly between coats of paint, etc. My finished are superb, and have sold pieces for a few grand. The point is that sanding always takes the wood with it. Do your homework.
Thanks for the input!
Thank you for showing your table transformation. I have exactly the same table but we removed the top part of the pedastal and converted it to a coffee table., keeping the legs. We removed the varnish and waxed it so it has a much lighter oak colour than your starting photos. From an unused piece of furniture we now use it everyday in our family room. It’s also interesting that the same piece of furniture is something I inherited and we live in New Zealand.
Stacey, I LOVE your story! It’s pretty neat that we both have the same piece of furniture when we live on the opposite sides of the world, lol. I would love to see your coffee table, it sounds amazing!!
Love your table! I’m wanting to redo my pedestal table and was wondering do you always have to sand the base if your using the chalk paint?
Hey Debbie! No, you do not need to sand the base of the table if you are using chalk paint. At the time I wasn’t sure if I was going to use chalk paint or regular white paint.. So I sanded it all. I used chalk paint on another farmhouse table that we built by hand. I didn’t sand it and it turned out great and the chalk paint is still holding up just fine =)
Hi, I really love the look., it’s really professional. What colour stain did you use and from which company? I’m redoing my table and love the dark brown you’ve used. thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Leah! I’m glad you loved the table. We really love how it turned out!! The stain we used is made by Varathane and is the Kona color. We got it at Home Depot in the paint area. We love how the dark Kona color contrasts with the white base.
I love your table i did mine almost exactly the same! I cant figure out how to post a picture of it though
Hey Denise! Thank you, I bet your table turned out beautifully. Isn’t it amazing how a little paint, stain, and love can transform a table =)
Hey, love this look! I’m redoing my old table right now. Did you use a foam or paint brush to apply the chalk paint and stain?
Hey Heidi! We used rags to stain the top of the table. Rub it on, let it sit a few minutes then wipe off the excess stain. Repeat until you get the desired color you want. =) For the chalk paint, I used just a normal paint brush. There are paintbrushes specifically used for “chalk paint” but they are expensive. A normal paint brush worked just fine. We used a foam brush to apply the poly on the table top once the stain was completely dry. I hope that helps!
Your table looks beautiful! I found you on pinterest while looking for furniture projects. Thank you for the info on sanding the old varnish down! 🙂
Thanks, Amby! I’m glad you found us =) Sanding down the old varnish is a must. The paint/stain won’t adhere if don’t break through the varnish. We’ve figured that out through experience, lol.
I have a table very much like the one you did the “redo” on. I have NEVER attempted anything like this before, but I have read your post and I think with what you are saying, I can do this project. I have made a list of everything I need and I am going to Home Depot tomorrow to buy everything I need to do this. I would be happy if my project turns out half as nice as your table. I think it is beautiful. I love the paint with the stain idea. I want my table to look just like yours. Wish me luck. I may have questions when I get into this, but I feel good about starting this. Thanks for sharing this idea with us. I’m like a lot of people, I can’t afford to purchase a fancy table like that…..I have to try to make mine. I bought my table with 4 chairs for $25.00. I’m going to paint my chairs white….and I may destress them a little. By the way, I am doing a complete décor “redo” in my apartment. I’m going Farmhouse. So this table will fit right into my plans. Thanks!!!
Hey Kathi, I can’t wait to see how your table turns out. Its a lot of work up front but it will be worth it. That’s awesome that you were able to find a table and chairs for that price. I love the Farmhouse look, that’s how our house is decorated as well. If you have any questions while redoing your table feel free to message us! Good luck!
This table looks amazing!! Can you tell me how you sanded the rounded edge, was it with the electric sander or by hand? I am working on my own table redo and afraid of sanding the rounded edges.
Thank you!! I’m glad you like the table! For the rounded edges we ended up hand sanding them. It took a little longer but we were afraid of over sanding them if we used the electric palm sander. Don’t be afraid to sand the rounded edges, just take your time with it and it will turn out great!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Did you use the foam brushes to apply the polyurethane? There’s no mention of them or any techniques or many tips for the polyurethane stage. Is it pretty easy/straightforward?
That’s a great question! Yes, we used the foam brushes to put the poly on. I made long, slow strokes to avoid any bubbles. On most of our projects where we use poly I do 3-4 coats using a new foam brush each time. Make sure the surface is free of lint or any other debris before you put the poly down so you get a nice smooth finish. Follow the manufacturers recommended wait times between coats and you should be good to go!
What did u do with the chairs
We actually bought the chairs off Wayfair a while ago. We loved the rustic look they had!
Was this a laminate-topped table? I am wanting to redo our table and 2 leaves but it is all laminate on top. Will sanding remove the shiny laminate so stain or paint will stick? Your table is beautiful, by the way!
Hi Susie,
I’m glad you love the table! It was a really fun project. The table is solid wood, no laminate, but it had a really thick coat of varnish on the whole thing to keep it from getting scratched. The hardest part of the whole project was sanding down the varnish so we could get the paint and stain to stick. Feel free to email me pictures of the table you’re going to redo and I’ll see if I can give you some tips. Send it to pipp.livinglowkey@gmail.com if you want!
I loved the tutorial – I can’t wait to try it! Does using the was creme wax with the chalk paint make it more durable and less prone to scuffing? We have little boys playing w/ their cars all over the place !
Hi Jamie,
I’m glad you loved the table makeover. We’re so glad we did this and didn’t buy a new $1000 table. We have two little kids who beat up on our table pretty good and it holds up pretty well. We’ve used that combination a couple times and it works out pretty well.
Nice job! I love the new look! What a great way to take an older piece of furniture and make it current!
Thanks, Melissa! It definitely gave it a whole new look.
I love the paint and varnish combo!
Thank you! I love it too. We use that combo on pretty much everything we make =)
What an amazing tutorial, what a makeover! The step by step photos are super helpful!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it.