How to Refinish a Table Farmhouse Style
Our family has a long history with this coffee table. Today I am excited to share how to refinish a table while maintaining its character.
This table has been through a lot in our family. It’s been the resting place for five pairs of feet that have grown from tiny baby feet all the way to, in one case, a men’s size 13. It’s been the dining table for thousands of meals as well as a game table, a coffee table, and a pub table, and a work table. But there was one thing wrong with this table. I don’t like that it is so dark and I have wanted to change it for years. I finally decided it was time and I can’t wait to share how to refinish a table farmhouse style.
Refinish a Table Farmhouse Style
Why am I sharing how to refinish a table farmhouse style? I love painted furniture and I didn’t want to sand the table to refinish it. I was too afraid I would lose the chips and scratches that represent our boys’ childhood. Milk paint would allow the chips to stay chippy.
Does that last sentence make any sense?
In case you didn’t remember what the coffee table looked like before, here it is. It’s a very dark brown and kind of didn’t look great in our family room.
But herein lies the problem. The table has a history in our family. The coffee table legs have chew marks from when our dogs Speffy and Sport were puppies. The top edge of the table, closest to the couch, has years of scuff marks from the kid’s soccer and baseball cleats.
I didn’t want to refinish our table if it meant I would lose the character of our table. So I decided to sand the table lightly and paint it with milk paint. I was pretty sure I could maintain the scuff and bite marks. And the end result would be a white farmhouse coffee table in our home.
I do want to leave a message here for my youngest son Michael. “I promise I kept all of the character and memories of this table. It also looks so much better and your mom is super happy. I hope you will forgive me for refinishing the table”.
You can guess who didn’t want me to refinish the table. Hmmm.
If you look at how our coffee table used to look like below, you can see the puppy chew marks on the legs of the table!
How to Refinish a Table DIY
What You Need to Paint a Table with Milk Paint
- Old Fashioned Milk Paint – Oyster (I used two packages for the table.)
- Paint brush
- Medium grain sand paper
- Paint tape
- Polycrylic sealer
Prepare the Table
A light sanding was all it took to get this table ready for some milk paint. It is important that you sand every surface. Pay special attention to areas covered with lots of paint or any type of varnish. You really need to sand these areas well. (A smooth surface does not like milk paint and it might peel off in huge chunks if it isn’t sanded.)
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Once the piece is sanded, wipe it off with a slightly damp cloth to remove all of the dust.
Next, mix the Milk Paint, per the instructions, and begin painting every surface.
Continue to paint all of the surfaces. it is likely your piece of furniture will take more than one coat. I painted three layers of paint on this table because it just wouldn’t cover the dark wood!
This is how my coffee table looked after two layers.
I love that you can still see all of the cleat marks on the top edge of the table.
There were a few places on the table where I sanded too much. To fix it, I painted more milk paint in the chippy areas and then sanded it very lightly again.
On the flip side, if the furniture doesn’t look chippy enough you can sand the areas where natural wear and tear may have occurred.
The last step is to cover the table with a polyacrylic finish.
Here is how the finished table turned out. The polyacrylic finish coat also sealed the chippy surfaces so the chips wouldn’t fall off!
Here is a closer look at the table. I love it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Milk paint automatically produces a bubbly paint texture, which is a perfect “chippy” distressed look. It creates is the perfect vintage look for DIY furniture and wood projects.
No. Milk paint comes in powder form and will bubble and create a chippy look when it dries. You also need to sand your wood piece to remove any varnish when using milk paint. Chalk Paint has a heavy smooth finish and you will have to sand it if you want any chippy look.
I love the top of the table and it’s the perfect amount of paint and the dark wood showing through. Plus, you can still see the soccer and baseball cleat marks on the top left side!
What do you think? Did I do the right thing? I hope Michael thinks so!
Live on Amazon
I have two Amazon Live broadcasts scheduled for this week. They are Reset for a Healthy New Year and Think You Hate Faux Flowers? I Can Change Your Mind! You don’t want to miss these.
Here is one Amazon Live from last week that I think you might enjoy! These items have made my Christmas “take down” so much easier! Click here.
Everything you need to make an old coffee table new again, but with character!
Once your coffee table is painted, all of the things to make the room pretty!
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Looks like you also moved furniture around 🤩👍
I loooove the table!!!!
Thank you, Pam!
Your table is gorgeous! You mentioned in your instructions that you completed your table with a poly acrylic finish. Is that finish a spray or painted on? Thank you.
Thanks, Teresa! I used paint! I linked it in the what you need list if you want to use the same one!
Wow, I love the way this piece of furniture turned out. It looks fabulous. I agree, there is nothing like holding onto special memories. You sounds like a sweet mom to. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for your kind words, Ivory.
my opinion, doesn’t go with room, too ‘shabby chic’, never was a fan of that .
I would have more ‘refined’, whatever that is, lol, in that room. if you are happy with it, that’s what matters, you can’t please everyone all the time 😊.
How many packages of paint did you use for this project?
Do you think it would work on a vbrick fireplace surround?
Beautiful. I have a coffee table I want to refinish, too. But my husband is like Michael. Don’t paint it!
Hmm hopefully you can convince!
The table looks great! Would you be able to share what the vintage rug is? Thanks!
It looks beautiful! I love that you maintained the character too.
Thanks Amy!
I have a three seasons porch and everything in there is gifted from the roadside :~). Painted up white and any accent is with fun knobs I get at a local shop and pop of color pillow coverings. Have to try the milk pain. I like your explanation of the process and you still have the lovely piece and now the guys can make new “distress” marks for you.
Let me know how you like the milk paint! Thanks Barbara.
Wow, that looks great!!!
Thanks so much Bonnie!
So fun! I’m with Michael and glad the bite and cleat marks are still there! 🙂 Looks great in your lovely room!
Looks great! Bravo
You’re happy with it, and that’s what matters. It’s a little too “chippy” for me. 😊 Personally, I would have used a chalk paint with light distressing, or restained it close to the original color with a matte varnish. I think the darker color anchors the room. Your room and house are lovely, however, and I enjoy your site as I’m crazy about old homes and their charm!
Good Morning Leslie
I finally bought the milk paint and I’m ready to go. I’m a little afraid that I may mess it up. My table is about 7-8 years old I bought it at pottery barn. I feel its too dark now for my living room. The table is as dark as yours. What I understood from the instructions I need to sand it just a bit and then start painting it. I can get the poly acrylic polish at ACE. I’m new to this so I want to make sure I don’t mess it up. Do you have a video I can watch? I enjoy getting your emails to see what you have created.
Thank you
Lorena