New and Improved End Tables

 Yes folks, I finally found the courage to paint some furniture! First on my list of desperately ugly furniture were our living room end tables. I complained talked about them earlier in A Makeover About to Happen when I shared why I purchased them despite disliking them so.

During this makeover, my very first painting experience, I learned quite a lot such as not to paint when yard work is being done (even when it's three floors below you), paint in hair is quite difficult to remove, and dog hair is an epidemic.

Before we did anything, we knew we needed to sand the end tables well in order to ensure the paint would adhere well and not chip or peel easily.  Let me just tell you, sanding is tough business!  We purchased 60 grit sand paper and attacked those suckers.  Next time we need to sand we will be investing in a sanding tool. 

John wasn't 100% convinced that the tables would look better white. He is more of a natural wood kind of guy and didn't see anything wrong with the 1970's orange finish.  After sanding both tables and taking a step back, he recognized how ugly they really were.  (now I'm trying to get him on board with our dressers)  

Just sanding them made them look better than before.

I didn't really care much about these tables before so I wasn't adamant about people using coasters or particularly careful with them.  You can see the massive water damage to the above table.  We tried to sand out the damage but unfortunately we couldn't completely erase the two years of neglect. 

 We used water-based primer (it was leftover from our DIY Desk) and put on a coat.  I wasn't expecting it to go on as evenly as it did.

 After the first coat of paint I became giddy - they looked so pristine and clean and updated.  The legs were a pain to paint as were the details along the sides (you can't see them very well in these pictures).  In the end they needed about three coats of paint.

I love how bright and happy they look in our living room which tends to be dark after the sun leaves the eastern sky in the morning.  In the past when I would glance around the room, my eyes would always focus on the tables.  Now, the tables serve as a bouncing off point as I glance around.

 

Now that I've had a taste of a painting makeover, I'm dying to do more. I find myself glaring at our TV stand, coldly lovingly referred to as Ursula.  She is a big, black, monster of an eyesore. I have a color in mind...now I just need to wait for John's memory of sanding to dissipate.   

Oh, and while I was high off paint fumes and the power of paint, I also painted some old Ikea plant stands.  I ordered a free sample of paint from Valspar a couple weeks ago thinking I was choosing a fabulous gray color to try out for our bedroom furniture. When it arrived I was very disappointed to find a baby blue paint on my doorstep. I guess my computer screen doesn't show colors accurately.

I'm linking this to:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Coastal Charm
Tip Junkie
Creating a House of Grace
I'm Topsy Turvy
The Nester 
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