Transforming a Goodwill coffee table
April 10, 2009
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I found this large, solid wood coffee table for a steal for $24.99 at Goodwill! I didn't love the color, but I really like the rolled legs and detail along the sides. I knew I could easily fix this up with some black paint!
After I finished painting it and letting it dry, I scuffed up the edges just a bit to give them a slightly distressed look:
Spending that time painting and then messing it all up on purpose?
Wow, it really messes with me. But it is worth it:
I removed the decorative knob and replaced it with an extra I had from our kitchen:
I didn't poly the table, because being real wood, any scratches or nicks will add to the character. I've found if I use a quality paint, a finish coat is rarely needed anyway.
I love the dents all over the top: 
It turned out so beautiful -- even better than I expected!
It turned out so beautiful -- even better than I expected! I almost painted it chocolate brown, but there was too much of that going on in the room.
I decided to pick up on some of the accessories and go with the black:
It pulls in the black from the chest on the sofa table, the lamp, and the kitty. Oh. Wait, not the kitty.
It pulls in the black from the chest on the sofa table, the lamp, and the kitty. Oh. Wait, not the kitty.See how to make that DIY sofa table for around $20 here!
A refresher on how to paint furniture:
- You don't have to sand, but it never hurts.
- Primer is recommended. Unless you are painting bare wood, and even then it's a good idea.
- Letting the primer and paint cure (dry) between coats and after is important.
- You can get your primer tinted to the color of your paint (great with black or red) to cut down on coats.
- I use a foam roller to paint all my furniture (angled brush for the detailed areas).
- Sometimes I use poly over furniture but most of the time I don't.
- Let the furniture cure for up to a week before you put anything on it, like accessories.
Wish I would have read this months ago before I painted my desk...should have used primer and waited to put my stuff on top. Now it is peeling under the accessories! Your table looks great! Why cant I ever find anything that good at Goodwill?
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job and the distressing was worth the stress!
ReplyDeleteWow! That turned out awesome.
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful. Thanks for the painting tips.
ReplyDeleteWOW, girl, you work fast! It looks fantastic!!! :) Love the color you chose. :)
ReplyDeleteHoly crapola, what a great transformation! And an added bonus that it was real wood! It looks beyond great and the distressing, although tramatizing, is a great touch. Love the cat!
ReplyDeleteGreat refinishing job! This room is really coming together.
ReplyDeleteWhat a GREAT find.... amazing price! And you did such a great job on it. YOu could put me out of business! Jennifer
ReplyDeleteLooks great! The whole room looks great! A big change with little change really. I am still waiting on how you did the sofa table behind the couch! I really need one! Great Job! It looks wonderful!
ReplyDeleteOoohhhh. what a great goodwill find! Love what you did! Jen
ReplyDeleteThe cat was a nice touch, hahaha
ReplyDeleteThanks for the painting tips! Will be moving into my own place soon and am getting alot of furniture from home and I would like to streamline them and look put together at least.
It looks great! Seriously, that table would've been at least $50 at my Goodwill. I was there today and there were a couple coffee tables, not as nice as that, for $50-60.
ReplyDeleteOh it is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful job. I love the black color. It just turned out gorgeous. You do such a great job and just the right amount of distressing. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteThat looks really nice and classy. The new knob and the color completely change it. In the top photos it doesn't look really black..so I guess bottom line, it's not a stark black, kind of soft, and it looks wonderful in your room.
ReplyDeleteYou have such a fun blog.
What a bargain you got! If the original owners could see it now, they would hate that they let it go! You did a great job on it...bet you'll use it for years! :)
ReplyDeleteTurned out great! I have a dresser that I want to restain, just waiting on more spare time. I've restained kitchen cabinets before, but never furniture. Great job.
ReplyDeleteI love it! It turned out great! Don't you just love thrift stores? Meeeee too!
ReplyDeleteI do love it! ~Wonderful job!
ReplyDeleteSoooo glad you went with Black. It's very elegant yet hip.
Have a fabulous Easter weekend.
~Melissa :)
It looks fantastic! I have an amazin 5 piece solid wood bedroom set that I got on our local online classifieds for $120! In perfect condition as far as sturdiness and drawers working and all that, but I want to paint it.
ReplyDeleteI'm terrified...how'd you like to take a trip to the Mountain West and come do a whole bedroom set for my little girls room????
Love me some JOEY!!
Xazmin
Great Table! Try foam brushs for putting poly on. Check the foam though because they have cheaper foam that has more holes in in and it doesn't do as nice of a job. Harbor Freight has some good ones, buy the ones with wooden handles the platic ones with red handles don't work as well (more holes in foam). Love your work!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great deal and great job! For the poly, I use a large foam brush or paint brush - it allows you to put it on thick so that it settles and dries flat - moving quickly is the key I think. I'm loving the couch table behind your couch - never thought of that.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful job - I thought it was a hunter green at first. Love the distressing too!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteDelurking...Love LOVE your site. I am getting so many good ideas.
ReplyDeleteI thought the table was green as well. But black makes more sense and is classier for sure.
What kind of paint did/do you use to paint furniture? I was prepared to read that you spray painted this. And I was thinking that you could try spray poly to get a brush-less finish.
Oh, and a Q for you.
ReplyDeleteI am looking for big chunky wood/mdf letters in various sizes and fonts to finish myself and hang on a wall. I have looked around online a little for them, but they can be quite pricy. Do you have any thoughts on a good (read, ahem, CHEAP) place to get them? Thanks!
Your table looks great! I love the color. Distressing stresses me out too, but adds so much character to the piece.
ReplyDeleteGreat job!
XOXO
Jen
Fabulous job! It looks gorgeous!!!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog, linked your blog to my blog and even posted about your blog. I LOVE YOUR BLOG!
ReplyDeleteThe result is amazing!Thanks for the tips...I will use them in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt looks fantastic!! I think painting the table black anchors the room and completes it! I know what you mean on the distressing. But as I mentioned in my last post on distressed, with all my boys it keeps me from being stressed! lol. I agree with you on not needing to add a poly with it being real wood...the more nicks and chips,the more character it adds! What a great find!!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you and Happy Easter!
~Victoria~
I went to a couple of Goodwill stores yesterday and the day before and they NEVER have good furniture. And the bad stuff they have is at least double what you paid... yeah, I'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteLove the color!
ReplyDeleteDi
The BLue Ridge Gal
The table looks fantasti. Great tips for furniture painting. Seems I learn by trial/error or mistakes!
ReplyDeleteThat looks awesome! Great job!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the painting tips, too! Man have I made my share of mistakes!
Hugs from Eventually Cottage!
Thanks once again for another great tip ! I love your coffee
ReplyDeletetable - I wanna steal it...hee hee
Hugs ~ Kammy
Love it! It's amazing what paint can do! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteYour table turned out fabulous! If the former owner could see it now, he/she would be kicking himself! By the way, what color black did you use? Silly question, but there are a million blacks and that was pretty. Was it satin? Linda
ReplyDeletethe table looks perfect. although, so does the pee cat! :)
ReplyDeletehow long does the sanding take??? I have never sanded my stuff down first to paint it~
Hope you have a great weekend with your family.
Thrift store table?...no I don't remember that. Oh wait...you mean the table you found by the side of the road. I see. Ha!
ReplyDeleteI love how the table turned out. It looks sooo good! Also, this is the first time I've heard someone say that the distressing makes them nervous. THANK YOU! I feel the exact same way.
Great job! You took an okay table and turned it into one worth hundreds. Well worth the effort in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter
Sarah, it looks wonderful. You did a great job!
ReplyDeleteWow! It looks gorgeous! It looks like it belongs in a catalog! Great job!
ReplyDeleteWow! $24.99 for a beautiful new table! Love how it turned out!
ReplyDeleteI just have to say that I LOVE your blog! I spy on it often. :) I copied your pantry idea and now have bought out every local Wal-Mart's glass jars (because they were on sale! And we use gluten free flours--so we needed a lot!). I've been looking for wooden rulers and have the chalkboard paint! You have inspired me A TON! Thanks for sharing your great ideas here! :) :)
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good! Thank you so much for posting this...I've had a table from the thrift store for a few months and just didn't want to sand the WHOLE thing...now I know I don't have to - whew! Going to follow you're tips and paint it now!
ReplyDeleteThat looks so good! Thank you so much for posting this...I've had a table from the thrift store for a few months and just didn't want to sand the WHOLE thing...now I know I don't have to - whew! Going to follow you're tips and paint it now!
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteWow! What a great transformation! Looks great.
ReplyDeleteSheryl
Oh yes - we are living it through you. :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome table! So beautiful, I cannot wait to experiment with a project of my own! To the person who said that would of been a $50 table at their Goodwill. It would have been about a $10 table at mine! lol It's crazy how stores are soo different throughout the country! lol
ReplyDeleteTotally worth it! Your table now looks like a table worth hundreds! Great job and thanks for the inspiration!
this really looks great. I would NEVER be able to guess it was from goodwill.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, I love how you did the coffee table, great job.
ReplyDeleteI love what you did! My Goodwill NEVER has stuff like that! I'll just have to be patient!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a bargain. It looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear the NKOTB story. I'm glad to hear Joey was sweet, because he was my favorite. : )
It looks gorgeous now! Did you add the drawer look on it too?
ReplyDeleteThat looks great! I know the truth of what you say about priming and letting each coat dry before beginning the next, but I am THE WORST about getting so excited to get a project finished that I almost always charge ahead, cutting corners on that stuff. I'm always sorry afterward, of course, though I've never had anything turn out truly dreadful as a result. It is sobering to see what lovely results can be achieved with patience! :)
ReplyDeleteI hate seeing these pics. lol I had the same exact table and sold it at a yard sale last year. You made the table look so cute!!
ReplyDeletethis looks so good...i wanna paint mine now...thanks for the tips!
ReplyDeletekristen
Great transformation! And such a steal - I'm so jealous :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteIt looks great!!! And thanks for the tips. I'm glad you went with black.
ReplyDeleteLooks mahhhhvelous! See I am the opposite...i sand like a mother and don't put primer on. I feel like if i put primer on it is harder to distress it. but i have a love relationship with my sander so that could be why also ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove the black. You did a great job.
ReplyDeleteAck, you like Glenn Beck too?! How cool is that...it is very rare that I find someone in my age bracket that also likes him. :) I got to "meet" him back in December at a signing for his new book. He was so nice to everyone!! :) So glad you stopped by my blog. I'm leaving the giveaway open until noon on Monday, and then announcing the winner on Tuesday morning. :)
ReplyDeleteIf you want a sealer without roller marks get spray lacquer. It does a great job! The coffee table is lovely all black and distressed.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely fabulous, and am I surprised? Of course not. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the fabulous painting tips. I had no idea you could get primer tinted.
ReplyDeleteHi! don't ya just love turning someone's trash into a treasure!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job!
Have you ever tried pouncing the paint on (like stenciling)? I've just used a regular paint brush! Works great especially on table legs, and no brush mark worries!
Wont the roller leave marks as well? I've never painted furniture. I'm way too scared. I have a hideous oak table that I've been dying to paint, but I'm afraid I'm going to make it look worse.
ReplyDeleteHoly cow, that looks amazing!! Great job Sarah!
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! You have totally inspired me to find things to paint. I do have a few find from the thrift store waiting for spray paint. I just have to find the time. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteHoley Moley - it looks awesome!
ReplyDeleteAnother great project! I just love to see these found treasures get transformed with paint. You know how I love a good paint story.
ReplyDeleteLove how it turned out- it looks great!
ReplyDeleteAnother great project... thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI have a table that could be your table's cousin. I was thinking of giving it away 'cause I was getting tired of it, but I think I may repaint it instead. Your post gives me the courage to actually try. Why not? If I completely botch it up it will be okay 'cause I was gonna get rid of it anyway!
ReplyDeleteYou're amazing! I love love love that table. Love. It.
ReplyDeleteWow! Your table came out great. I leave off the poly on furniture too, love the "natural" distressing at my house.
ReplyDelete~Misti
Oh I love it! The painting tips are wonderful as well. I'm a cutting corners kinda girl and usually regret it. Isn't it wonderful to find real wood? I'm going junking this weekend for sure!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so good. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGORGEOUS coffee table! You did a wonderful job! We will be making your $20 sofa table this weekend! :) Thanks for sharing your ideas.
ReplyDeleteOhhh BEAUTIFUL!!!! What a great find!!!!!
ReplyDeletexoxoxoxo
What a change a little black paint can do!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVE it! I too have a hard time distressing anything; but I love that look.
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI love it and am very happy to find your blog...I've got to do some snoopin' around this place! What did you do to your wall behind the sofa? Is it just paint and trim? Looks great. Oh, and I usually distress everything and had every intention of distressing the blue cabinets, but after all that work, I'm not sure I have it in me!
Thanks so much for joining us!
Hugs and blessings,
edie
First time to your blog and I just love it. I may have to hang out for awhile. Oh, I guess I can stop back :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great find at the Goodwill. You did a wonderful job transforming it. It goes very well with your decor.
Thanks for sharing!
I love your posts! You're so funny. Is it weird to post a comment months after you make the post? I just saw your coffee table and it looks like its the sister to my sofa table :) If you want to see it, its the first thing on my blog.
ReplyDeleteI know this is an older post, but I wanted to suggest wipe on poly if you haven't discovered it already. I found some at Home Depot. Easy peasy, and no roller marks!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT, thanks for sharing how "how-to"!
ReplyDeleteThere is a product marketed to eliminate brush strokes from paint/poly. The brand names I know are Flotrol and Penetrol. One is for oil-based and the other for water-based, just can't remember which. I've used them both with great results. They were recommended to me by my professional wood-working father
ReplyDeleteI know I am late to the party...but I have been keeping your coffee table paint job in mind for my living room. I just blogged about it as inspiration here:
ReplyDeletehttp://thethriftress.blogspot.com/2010/02/living-room-love.html
Thanks!
Sarah
OMG Sarah I found this exact same coffee table at Goodwill and painted mine black and then I saw that you had it and I was like OMG! BUT I got mine for....FIVE DOLLARS!
ReplyDeleteGetting ready to paint some laminate bookcases (they were a trash pick find, nothing special, but sized perfectly) so appreciate your tips on the liquid sand paper and primer.
ReplyDeleteRather than the poly to seal off painted furniture, I like to paint with flat paint and then use butchers/bowling alley wax to give it a hard finish and a bit of sheen.
I have the same table and I was thinking of getting rid of it thanks to you I'm going to paint it. Thank you!! (Oh & I have the same sofa, haha)
ReplyDeleteIt looks awesome! What paint finish did you use? flat? matte? satin?
ReplyDelete