See how I updated this old thrift score with a milk painted coffee table makeover. Milk paint is a great furniture paint.
You know how some of the best restaurants are found in a “hole in the wall?” I think that’s true for a lot of things; even thrift stores. I was dying to try some milk paint, so when I stumbled upon a great furniture piece at a local thrift store I knew what my new furniture project would be. Let me show you how I created a new look for this DIY Milk painted coffee table.
It all started when I was on my way to pick my son up from school. I passed this little “hole in the wall” thrift store that I had been eyeing for quite a while now. I finally decided it was time to stop.
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Guess what!
I found a great coffee table that I wanted to try with milk paint.
I have a rule for myself when I’m thrifting; if I find a piece of furniture i’m interested in it needs to be a solid piece of furniture. This rule in a nutshell is this; no cheap junk.
When I found this old coffee table, which looked terrible on the outside, I knew it had potential because it was sturdy and heavy.
I immediately ran up to it, looking it all over for a price tag.
Nothing.
I asked the sales lady, “do you know how much this is?”
She responded, “you know honey, it just came in yesterday. It looks like it was used as a saw horse because someone has clearly made cut marks. I will give it to you for 5$”
My insides were screaming with excitement. I said, “sure, I’ll take it.” I paid, packed her up in the mini van, and off we went with my new find.
Milk Painted Coffee Table Makeover
The first thing I needed to address were the the small cut marks that the sales lady was talking about when she referred to the table as a “saw horse.” Nothing a little wood filler couldn’t fix.
After I cleaned it up, I lightly sanded the entire piece because it looked like someone had painted and then repainted and repainted. Then I filled in the “holes” as well as I could with wood filler.
Then I sanded again.
This table has really been more of an experiment because I only planned on doing a little sanding, then a few coats of MILK PAINT and then distressing. But the more I worked, the more ideas I had, and the more work it became.
After I sanded the coffee table, I painted it with General Finishes Milk paint in White.
I still wanted to add a little more color.
I added Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Grey to the top and the legs. I decided a “two toned” look might be nice.
I still wasn’t happy with it and thought I wanted more than just grey, so maybe a faux wood top?
Off to Lowe’s for a thin strip of wood to stain.
I decided to buy a thin piece of white oak plywood because it was thin, cheap, and Lowe’s was able to cut it to the size I needed to fit the top of the table.
After staining the plywood, I used wood glue to attach it to the table.
Then I decided the color of the coffee table legs need to match the color of the top of the table.
I used Annie Sloan Dark Wax for the legs so they would match the top.
After completing all four legs I STILL wasn’t happy because the legs STILL looked different than the top.
Off to paint the top with more Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Grey.
I sanded the top to give it a more “distressed” look to match the legs and then added another layer of dark wax.
TA DAH, I was finally felt finished with this thrifted milk painted coffee table makeover.
What do y’all think? Did I make too much work for myself? Sometimes I can go a little crazy when it comes to refinishing furniture.
In the end, all it takes a little creativity and an open mind, and you really can find great steals at thrift stores.
Also don’t leave without checking out my milk paint furniture makeover with a tv stand too.
Lindsey***
