Hello amazing friends! Today I’m back sharing how to chalk paint a table and chairs! I originally shared this post about a year ago, and I just love how paint transformed this dated looking table into a real cottage charmer:
I found it at the thrift store for $15! What a deal, right?? Good furniture at decent prices has been really hard to come by lately at thrift stores. I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
What I was most excited about when finding this sweet table was the fact that I already had these chairs that I knew would go perfectly with it:
This table is the perfect size for an eat-in kitchen. Let’s get painting!
Prepping the table and chairs
The only prep your table should need when using chalk-mineral paint is a thorough cleaning. I used White Lightning for this since it is not only a fantastic cleaner, but also a deglosser:
I mixed one TBSP with half a gallon of warm water and used a kitchen sponge to clean the surfaces of all three pieces. This table didn’t seem that dirty, but the water says otherwise! I switched out the dirty water for clean water and gave everything a quick rinse. You’ll want to wear gloves to protect your hands.
No prior sanding or priming is typically needed with chalk paint, so that is all the prep required.
Chalk Paint the Table and Chairs
Then I got to painting. I gave the table a coat of Fluff:
I like to start tables that are drop leaf like this one by painting the underside and legs first. (I will paint, sand, and seal before flipping it upright and painting the top.)
For the chairs, I gave them a quick coat of Rustoleum spray primer in my spray shelter just to get a quick coat on them:
This is not a necessary step at all…just quicker than painting the whole thing by hand. Then they only needed one coat of Fluff, which I brushed on…
If your table is older cherry or mahogany, you may have issues with bleed-through. I ended up having a couple of areas that bled-though on the table, like on the legs where the original finish was worn away:
And also on the underside of the table in a couple of places:
Bleed-through
I did not anticipate that this piece would be a bleeder or I would have started with a coat of BOSS in white. (It is also available in a clear formula and gray formula as well.) However, it is never too late to to apply BOSS to save the day from the dreaded bleed-through!
You can spot “prime” with it in just the areas where you see the tannins coming through if you like, or in this case, I just gave the whole thing one coat:
I let it sit overnight.
Allowing proper dry time is key!
Then I applied another coat of Fluff the following day.
No more bleed-through!
Sand
Although there is no need to sand your pieces prior to painting when using chalk paint, you will want to lightly sand all over after the final coat of paint is dry.
I sanded both the table and chairs with 220 grit sandpaper that I wrapped around an old sanding sponge to make it easier to handle:
Sanding will give your pieces a super smooth and buttery soft finish. Be sure to wear a mask when you sand so you don’t breathe in all those dust particles.
I cleaned up the dust with my shop vac, and they were ready to be sealed.
Seal
The final step to painting your kitchen table is sealing the paint finish.
For high-traffic pieces like this, I use Gator Hide. It’s Dixie Belle’s toughest topcoat and is also water repellent, and I apply it with the blue sponge applicator:
Since this will be in a kitchen, I gave everything two coats, allowing them to dry in between coats.
You will want to use your new table with care for about three to four weeks to allow the Gator Hide to fully harden and cure.
Here is a video that you may find helpful showing how I seal a table using the sponge:
If you have trouble viewing, find it on YouTube HERE.
The After
Are you ready to see how this set looks now?
Much more updated!
But I thought there were only two chairs?
That’s true! There were only two, but remember this cute set I shared last Summer?
I priced the pieces separately, and the table sold almost right away. That left me with two stray chairs in my booth.
You can imagine how excited I was to find the round table so that I could match all four chairs to it!
And that is the reason I chose Fluff for this set, to match the two existing chairs!
Of course, y’all know I love Fluff anyway. It almost always covers in two coats. I painted our bedroom set in Fluff as well, and it still looks as fresh as the day I finished it!
The seat cushions were recovered in the same ticking stripe as the first two:
Originally, two of these chairs already had blue and white ticking from my old old kitchen when these chairs still belonged to me. I had a blue and yellow kitchen back then and I had done the other two chairs in a yellow and blue check. My friend eventually bought them from me. Then several years later, she offered them back to me. Of course I said yes!
Ticking is so timeless and I just love the cottage feel of it!
And that’s how you chalk paint a kitchen table and chairs!
If you missed it, here is the table I originally paired two of the chairs with last Summer:
You can see how it turned out HERE!
I’ll be back on Tuesday with 10 of my favorite black painted furniture makeovers:
UPDATE: See them all here now!!
XOXO,
Don’t Miss a Thing!
If you like what you see, there are several ways to follow along!
Mary Kaiser says
I remember when you did them, and I also remember how much I LOVED that sweet little set! They all turned out so beautiful!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! I have a bit of seller’s remorse on this one lol! Have a fantastic weekend! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
This set is so lovely!! You should sell it quickly! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! Enjoy your weekend too! XOXO
Christina says
Super cute table Christy! I love the tale of the chairs, how cool is that? I, too, adore ticking. I have a lot of it. 🙂 This set looks so charming and welcoming. “Come on over… sit… we’ll chat” it seems to say. 🙂 I hope they all sell together.
Have a wonderful rest of this week!
Christy says
Thank you, Christina! Yes, the ticking adds instant charm! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Janice Holt says
You know I never tire of seeing your posts. Such a sweet table and chairs and perfection as usual. Have a great week-end. Don’t feel like you have to respond to this because I know you are busy getting Jack back to school.
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that, Janet, thank you! We shopped yesterday and knocked a big chunk off our list. Having a fun day today! XOXO
Cynthia Becker says
I have a question-when you paint the underside of the table it looks like you paint right over the hardware, how do you keep it from sticking? I am about to start on a similar table and was thing I had to take it apart so if I don’t have to I would be happy!
Christy says
Hi Cynthia! When I use chalk paint, I do paint right over the hinges. Just don’t allow the paint to accumulate around those parts, keep it nice and thin and you won’t have any issues. I love a distressed look, so if some of the paint comes off of the hinges. I’m ok with that. 🙂 XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
How funny that you found another similar table to go with the chairs, Christy! Fresh paint brings those old Early American pieces up to date, doesn’t it? The ticking is a great choice, too. I predict a quick sale for this set 😊
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie! I’m so glad the first set of chairs didn’t sell with that table! And yes, paint does wonders for sure! XOXO
Sue Mellette says
Enjoyed visiting the table and chairs you transformed into a cute cottage look! I still love the finish in fluff and the blue and white ticking stripes on the chairs. You are right; this is a classic and timeless look. This set would fit comfortably in a farmhouse themed house or even a tradional one! Thanks for the “walk back.” Have a fantasitic weekend.
Christy says
I’m glad you enjoyed this look back, Sue! It is a favorite of mine. And yes, the white and ticking is so classic and versatile! Have a great weekend too! XOXO
Cheryl Rippey says
I love love all your work! That little table is precious! I have a question, where do you find your best ticking material? I know you’re busy, there’s no rush. Thank you so much and have a great weekend!
Christy says
Thank you, Sue! The best ticking material I have found actually came from a thrift store, which I know is no help lol. I have purchased it from Hobby Lobby also, which is very reasonably priced, but I have found that the ticking from HL has faded over time in the bright light of our kitchen, while the fabric I found at the thrift store has not. (I used one kind on two of the chairs in there, and the the other on the other two.) I will try JoAnn fabrics next when I purchase fabric for the two that have faded. If your pieces won’t be exposed to direct sunlight, it should be fine. XOXO
Jen Hamill says
Oh I love this set! I have two sets of the chairs, so eight chairs that I use with a larger table that has three leaves in it.
Would love to do them in white, but honestly don’t think I have the energy for it.
Christy says
Thank you, Jen! Eight chairs is a lot for sure, but spray priming the first coat sure did help me get through these pretty quickly! XOXO
CToth says
Hi Christy,
I recently did a set just like this and I went straight to this vlog to learn your tricks. It turned out perfectly, I actually did the top in the blue/gray Beachwood look that you did on your little sofa table. I just want you to know that you have inspired me tremendously, I always follow your instructions because they work so well. I am the one who did my whole Palms Springs home from free and thrifted furniture – using all your vlogs for guidance. It is absolutely beautiful!! Thank you soo much for showing and sharing.
Much Gratitude!!
Christy says
I love this so much!! I bet your home is just gorgeous! I truly appreciate the positive feedback, and I am beyond thrilled to hear that you’ve been inspired from things I’ve shared!! Thank you!! XOXO
Laura says
Here’s a weird question for you: How do you decide to paint over or remove hinges before painting or refinishing? And also, do you like to use a clearcoat in matte, semigloss or gloss? I have bought Dixie Belle products from you and wondered if the Gatorhide came in different sheens. I always love your projects!
Christy says
Hi Laura! I love a bit of a distressed finish, and so I almost always paint right over the hinges. Chalk paint sticks to most anything, and the little bit of paint that comes off as the hinges are in use only adds to that look I love. If am painting something like kitchen cabinets that I want a clean look for, I will remove the hinges before painting. As for the sealers, I prefer the Clear Coat in the satin finish, and the Gator Hide only comes in the one sheen, which is like a satin. Hope this helps! Thank you! XOXO
Michele M. says
Oh I love love looooooove this set now! It is SO SO cute and perfect for a lake cottage! Your choices for this set are spot-on perfection.
Have a wonderful weekend. Hope it cools off here soon, too hot to spend outdoors!!
Christy says
Thank you, Michele!! Paint did wonders here for sure! Enjoy your weekend too, my friend! XOXO
Pamela Jackson says
What a beautiful up date! Great job.
Christy says
Thank you so much, Pamela! XOXO