Hello sweet friends and welcome back! It’s Trash-to-Treasure Tuesday, and we’ve got some trashy makeovers for you! Y’all know I love to share thrifty makeovers around here, but on the second Tuesday of each month, I get to to do it with four of my favorite creative friends!
Today’s makeover was actually trash! I found this gem curbside in our neighborhood:
It was in such bad shape and it was so wobbly that I wasn’t sure I could save it, but I was willing to give it a try! I’ve included few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Fixing the Wobble
The first thing I did was try to figure out how to stop it from wobbling so much. The legs were held in place by screws, and tightening them helped a little but not enough.
So, I replaced all the existing screws with some that were just a tad longer:
That did the trick!
Once I got the legs taken care of, I gave everything but the very top a good sanding with 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around a sanding sponge:
That was to remove any finish that was not well-adhered. The old finished practically flaked right off.
Fixing the top
This is what the top looked like before:
Yikes! The veneer on the top was trashed and it was bowing in the center, which is hard to see in that photo, so there was no saving it.
Instead, I found a scrap piece of thin plywood and cut it to fit the top using my small circular saw.
This saw is great for making nice, straight cuts. Here I just used a yard stick as a straight edge, securing it with clamps:
This saw can be handled with one hand, so I was able to hold the wood securely with my other hand. (Always wear eye protection and follow safety guidelines when using power tools!)
I gave my new table top a good sanding with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it out and dropped it right in on top, securing it with liquid nails.
I used a couple of weights to secure it while I moved onto priming!
Prepping for Bleed-through
This table has all the red tannins and would most definitely be a bleeder, so to prevent that, I applied one coat of BOSS in the Clear formula.
Y’all see me use White BOSS all the time because I’m usually painting things white, but if you plan to distress your finish and don’t want white to show through the finish, opt for the Clear BOSS instead. It goes on a milky color but dries matte and clear.
I left it to dry overnight.
The fun part: painting!
Finally, it was time for the best part…the paint!
I chose one of my favorite Dixie Belle colors, Mermaid Tail:
One coat gave it fabulous coverage, but I gave it two.
When it was dry, I lightly sanded all over to smooth out the finish and distress it a bit.
Seal
I sealed my beautiful new table with Clear Coat in Satin using the blue Sponge:
As you can see, I cut this sponge on the sides so I had a nice, straight edge to start with. The sponge works so amazingly well at applying sealer and it is so much easier than a brush!
Try not to keep going over areas you’ve already covered and apply in nice, long strokes. The first coat may appear streaky, but a second coat should fix that!
You can see more on how I apply sealer with a sponge in this video:
If you have trouble viewing, find it on YouTube HERE.
The After
Here is how this sad curbside throwaway looks now!
It’s definitely not sad anymore!
It’s vibrant and full of life!
This Mermaid Tail color is so rich and beautiful up close.
OOH and look what I added to the top!
I decided to add a little something more to the top by adding nailheads every couple of inches…
They add a little interest to this otherwise simple table.
This little piece would be perfect in a bathroom to hold extra supplies and toiletries…
Or anywhere you could use a little extra storage!
I’m so happy I was able to give this piece new life!
Don’t forget my friends have trashy makeovers of their own to share today!
See the afters at the links below!
1. Prodigal Pieces
2. Artsy Chicks Rule
3. Girl in the Garage
4. Salvaged Inspirations
And that’s one project closer to finishing this Free-to-me Haul!
If you’ve missed any so far, you can catch up below!
Grandma’s Mirror Makeover
How to Upcycle a Secretary Desk Hutch
Stenciled Stool Makeover
Antiqued Christmas Mirror
STENCILED BENCH MAKEOVER
STENCILED DESK MAKEOVER
CURBSIDE LAMP MAKEOVER WITH WAX
LONGABERGER BASKET MAKEOVER
HOW TO “FIX ” A BROKEN CANE CHAIR
I’ve got three furniture pieces left and two of them need some serious sanding, so I’m looking for a break in the weather for those! Meanwhile, I’ve been working on those two baskets plus a couple more I’ve had hanging around, and I’ll be back with those on Thursday:
UPdate! See how these baskets went from blah to totally updated here now!
Have an amazing week!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Mary Kaiser says
WOWZA so bright and happy now! I love the shelf on the bottom, and the nail heads sure kicked it up a couple of notches! Happy little table now for sure! You saved its life, so happy!!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary!! These sad pieces are always the most satisfying for sure…I’m so glad I could save it!! Have a fantastic day, my friend! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh my word, Christy – you totally came to this sweet table’s rescue! What a great save! I prefer a pretty neutral color scheme but this bright color is fun and perfect for an eclectic or nautical theme! Well done saving another piece from the landfill. Mother Earth thanks you! : – )
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! I’m always happy when I can save save something that is destined for the landfill! And I’m with you…neutrals usually do it for me also, but I do love this color! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
Sweet save!! Perfect repair and fun color too. ♡
Christy says
Thanks so much, my friend! XOXO
Christina says
Christy, this is such a darling makeover! Love the addition of the nail heads and the color is perfect!!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Christina! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
What a great ‘trash’ find and I love the extra detail you added! Brilliant! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Rebecca says
You are my hero! And those nailheads are genius! Thanks for sharing.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Rebecca! XOXO
Cecilia says
Oh fun, fun! Love the color and nailhead trim. I’m so glad you could rescue that poor little table. Now it can live on happily ever after. 😍
-Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Me too!! It was a fun little piece to rescue! XOXO
Janice Holt says
For a curb-side find, it sure don’t look like it now. Turned out beautiful and love the color.
Christy says
Right?? Thank you, Janice! XOXO
Brenda Davis says
Once the item is painted and sealed,how long do you wait before you put it in your booth to sell?
Christy says
Great question! I usually keep them here at least a week, sometimes two before taking them to my booth. Everything is fully cured in three to four weeks, and most things don’t sell right away. XO
Marcie Lovett says
If anyone can revive a sad little table, it’s you, Christy 😊 I thought you’d pull off the old veneer, but nope – drop on a new top! And it looks like it was always there. I’m starting to appreciate the brighter colored paint and this one is a beauty. Did you do a little distressing before sealing? With the lighting, it looks like you used your wood block with gold paint.
Christy says
Aww thank you, Marcie! I love a pop of color every once in a while! I did distress it before sealing. I did it the traditional way with sandpaper. 🙂 XOXO
LORRI says
Love this little table..😍it looks like it has a “pie crust top”. Love how you put the brass nail heads around the edges. Did you put black highlights around the sides? Or is the just the way it looks in picture. Thank you for making it shine!!
Christy says
Thank you, Lorri! I did not highlight anything…just lightly sanded to distress before sealing! XOXO
Sandi Allen says
Beautiful transformation! Love the color & the nailhead trim. Genius!!!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandi! XOXO
Niki says
Fun and bold Christy!! I like bright colors but I’m always a little chicken too try them. This table is the perfect little something for the more color shy to say- hey I can be whimsical too.
In fact I have a little table similar to this I bought at an estate sale. One leg is wonky and has a bad putty patch on it. I am hoping I can burn the putty off with my heat gun and start over. My pastor is an excellent woodworker ( go figure) so I’m going to have him help me. It also has red tannins almost burgundy, so I’ll have to order some boss when I get around to fixing it. Not sure what color I’ll paint it but probably not blue as I am still trying to transition away from everything blue.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! I don’t do bold color very often at all, so it’s nice to break out of that box every once in a while lol! Good luck with yours!! XOXO
Beckie Stanevich says
I have this exact same table. It was my grandmother’s! It is in only slightly better condition than yours, so all of your tips are super helpful. I hadn’t planned to restore it right away, but it has been abandoned in our old bedroom and could be useful in the bathroom of our new bedroom suite. The color would be nice in there as well! Thanks for the tips! Great job!
Christy says
Oh awesome! It is such a great size that it can fit just about anywhere! Enjoy transforming yours! XOXO
Addie says
Adordobs!!!! I hate when people just leave things out in the rain….
TAKE IT TO THE THRIFT SHOP!!!! I love the redo on this!!!! As I first saw it I was thinking it would a good table for one of Nancy’s tile tops!!! I bet she is drooling!!! Doesn’t it make you sick all the beautiful pieces that just went to the landfills that could have been saved ;( It does me!!!!
Happy New Year!!!! xx
Christy says
Thank you, Addie!! Oh my goodness…I don’t know why people set good furniture out for the trash, especially when the thrift stores do regular pick ups in our area. Of course, then I wouldn’t get lucky like I did on this piece ha ha! And yes, this would’ve been lovely with one of Nancy’s tiled tops! Happy New Year!! XOXO
Kimberly Wollmer says
Oh my gosh, this is amazing! I love it. The nailheads are perfect.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Kimberly! XOXO
Rose Lefebvre says
It looks so lovely and the color is wonderful. Would be nice at entryway.
Christy says
Thank you, Rose! Absolutely! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Love the Mermaid Tail! Your pieces are truly one of a kind with all the special details that you add. Larissa has used a fabulous combination of colors too!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cecilia! I enjoyed bringing this one back to life. And yes, Larissa had fun with color today too! XOXO
Sandi says
I love your makeover and the color! I have a little table that looks just like yours. I bought it at a flea market a number of years ago. I gave almost nothing for it. It’s in great shape but like yours the legs are a little loose. It’s brown like your original and I’ve wanted to do something to it. I use it in my bedroom next to my chair as a little sewing table to keep my bits on when I’m cross stitching or knitting or something. Now I can follow your instructions and make it pretty. Thank you. Hugs,
Christy says
Thank you, Sandi! These little tables are so versatile! Enjoy giving yours a new look! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
What a beautiful makeover! I love the mermaid tail color! Yes, it is very vibrant!! Thanks for sharing all the details in this makeover. This piece would fit nicely in any space that needs a punch of color. The nailhead nails are the crowing touch! Enjoy your week.
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! I would love to do a large piece in this beautiful color, but yes, even this small piece would add a punch of color to any space! Enjoy your week also! XOXO
Nancy @ Artsy Chicks Rule says
Oh how cute!! The nailheads are the perfect touch!! Love it! xo
Christy says
Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Petra says
Gorgeous colour and the white accessories are perfect! It would even make a nice bedside table 😊
Christy says
Thank you, Petra! This would make a great bedside table for sure! XOXO
Wendy says
I love it Christy! The beachy color with a bit of industrial with the tacks. Nice look.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Wendy! XOXO
Robin says
I dare say this was quite an ‘in-your-face’ smack of color. Quite uncharacteristic of you. Must be the climate change, lol? or maybe just something with Pizzaz for 2022? It is adorable especially with the nailhead embellishment.
Christy says
Ha ha, right? Thank you, Robin! I love painting with color, but I also have to sell my pieces, so I usually play it safe. I loved playing with color today! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! Peacock is such a pretty color and those racks make the top really stand out. You saved her life!!! Thank you!
Cheryl Atkinson says
Tacks, not racks
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! I thought the tacks would be a fun addition! I’m so glad I could save her!! XOXO
Jen @ Girl in the Garage says
Great save, Christy! And what a fun color! xo
Christy says
Thank you, Jen!! XOXO
Becky says
Beautiful! My daughter, who would live in this color if she could, just walked past and approved whole-heartedly! 😊
Christy says
Oh ha ha! Thank you, Becky! I’m so glad she approves! XOXO