Paint or refinish?

Suzann
by Suzann
Our kitchen table has seen some better days, there is some permanent marker on the top, the varnish is wearing off. I think I would like to paint it. Has anyone done this with a kitchen table? We have 4 kids, and I babysit, so it needs to be very durable and scrubbable. Would chalk paint work? Diy or Annie Sloan? Any recommendations on color?
  36 answers
  • CynK CynK on Mar 04, 2014
    I painted mine but never sealed and it came off quickly. Sanded and repainted the surface and then applied 3 coats of poly. Holding up great.
  • Dawn A Dawn A on Mar 04, 2014
    Yes I would paint but not the top. Go to home improvement stores and buy tile on clearance, use to do top of table, paint chairs and legs of table what ever you like, but polyurithane areas to protect from bumps from kids and every day life. I have same style chairs bought when my girls were little all grown up, but chairs and legs are white and chipped I too am looking to repaint soon and will make sure I do the same refinishing.
    • Sistah Sunshine Sistah Sunshine on Mar 05, 2014
      @Dawn A tile isn't exactly kid friendly and scrubbing grout is bad enough in the bathroom... :-/
  • Lynn Zawojski Lynn Zawojski on Mar 04, 2014
    paint and poly acrylic the top. The old wood sets (I think) in this color, just date the whole kitchen.. Just my opinion, i love the painted look, and it can always be repainted a new color..
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Mar 04, 2014
    Hair spray usually removes ink.
  • Janet Smith Janet Smith on Mar 04, 2014
    While I love the "round oak table" look, but I agree that the wood finish is dated. I'd paint the chairs black and the base of the table black and refinish the table top in a slightly darker stain. Or you could paint the table in an accent color and use a dark stain to "antique" it. Just be certain to put a good polyurethane (matt or semigloss) on the table top so the finish will last.
  • Joan @ Nicer Than New Joan @ Nicer Than New on Mar 04, 2014
    Refiinish the top in a nice rich walnut stain and paint the rest of the table any thing you want. As for the chairs... paint.
  • Michele Eures Michele Eures on Mar 04, 2014
    I like the painted idea where the base and chairs are black (which would look nice against the red wall and your floor), but maybe stain the top and seat tops in a cherry finish. You could also distress it a little since you have small kids to "hide" the nicks and dings that come with family life.
  • Cori Warner Cori Warner on Mar 04, 2014
    I like the idea of the black on the bases of the chairs and tables. Leave the tops and seats wood, but degloss them and stain them darker. I would distress the base with an orbital sander, so any lovin' this set gets from the kids will be less noticable. If you want a chalk paint, I have a few recipes in this post that work pretty well. Since this may need to be scrubbed, I would seal the chalk paint with matte polyurethane. Here;s the post link: http://www.flyingc-diy.com/2014/03/02/chalk-paint-recipe-roundup-mix-chalk-paint/
  • KathrynElizabeth Etier KathrynElizabeth Etier on Mar 05, 2014
    I'd paint it with homemade chalk paint. Depending on the decor, I would use colors that fit with the style. I'm thinking a very pale blue and a yellow that's more beigey than orangey, but that's without knowing what the area it will be in is like.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 05, 2014
    I would keep the top wood. Strip it and stain it and poly. Be sure to cure it. I like a dark stain walnut or espresso. Paint it the color you prefer. I always stain the tops of tables. I find they wear better than paint and a lot less problems. Even through I have painted a lot of tables I spray them with a commercial paint sprayer. I love chalk paint but I don't love it for table tops unless. If it is a real large area IHOP see a lot of brush marks. I know others love it but it drives me crazy. Chalk paint would be beautiful for the base. It would make it pop.
    • See 1 previous
    • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 08, 2014
      Lisa it's drying times. Since your staining it I guess you will be using polyurethane as a sealer for the wood. What I don't know is what kind. They have water based, oil based, a fast drying. Read the can. This way I am not guessing. After I stain a table I let the stain absorb and dry. Then I apply the poly. Each coat of polyurethane I do I let dry at least 24 hours. Then I use a finishing sand paper and light sand it, or a finishing greenie and lightly sand it. The second coat I do I let it dry. I don't sit anything on top of it, or use it, wash it . Read the directions on the can it will give you the right drying time, or curing time. It should tell you the drying time in-between coats, And the drying time before you can use your table. I think your table will be stunning. If you have any questions please contact me.
  • Sistah Sunshine Sistah Sunshine on Mar 05, 2014
    Painting this whole set will be a nightmare. :0) too much varnish left on all those little spindles... (shudder) I would say use a belt sander on the top of the table, pick a funky color like lime green (to contrast your walls) and use an enamel type paint. The finish will hold up better / longer, but with kids working eating playing at it every day, go the quick easy route, you may be refinishing again, sooner than you think! Have fun with it!
  • 117135 117135 on Mar 06, 2014
    Restain the top and paint the base. A stained kitchen/dinning table will hold up longer with stain on the top! I would stain the top darker!
  • Diana Diana on Mar 06, 2014
    A light grey would look good with the floor and wall color.
    • Joyce Gilkey Joyce Gilkey on Mar 10, 2014
      @Diana Light grey would be my choice, also, but those spindles would be a pain to sand down.
  • JessieMacD JessieMacD on Mar 06, 2014
    Do this!
  • Linda Straughn Linda Straughn on Mar 06, 2014
    My ceramic tile top table holds up perfectly with kids. Markers, play dough, paint & paste wipe right off. It is grouted with silicone caulk which is easy to clean.
  • Linda T Linda T on Mar 06, 2014
    My partner bought his daughter a cheap table and chairs at auction. They were in pretty bad shape. Her favourite colour is purple, so she bought that colour blackboard paint (it comes in many colours nowadays) so the kids could draw on it to their hearts content. Whenever we visited, there were welcome messages all over it, with pictures for us both. Great idea, and it gives the kids something to do that won't get them in trouble!
  • Centrd Centrd on Mar 06, 2014
    Refinishing is a lot of work. You can achieve a similar darker top look with chalk paint (not chalkboard paint, although I like that idea too). Chalk paint doesn't require sanding or prepping. You could paint the top dark and the base a lighter color, like white or gray. Black tables look great distressed on the edges with some of the wood (or another color) showing through for a classic, antique-ish look and should look good against those walls and work well with kids and abuse. You know what else would be cool and something I'm considering? A zinc top! I've seen tutorials for square tables, not sure how easy a round table would be but I love the idea. If that's too ambitious, here's a link to a paint tutorial knock off of Ballard's zinc top table, using paint rather than metal. http://thatmommyblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/ballard-designs-knockoff-diy-zinc-table.html I'll post some inspiration pics that I've found.
  • Centrd Centrd on Mar 06, 2014
    here's a comparison of the faux painted zinc top I mentioned above to Ballard Design's zinc top table. She did a really good job.
  • Miz Amerika Miz Amerika on Mar 06, 2014
    Paint!
  • Shari Veater Shari Veater on Mar 06, 2014
    Your set would get a new life with paint. I had 6 children and did daycare so I truly know the wear a dining set gets. Have fun with it!
  • Tammy Tammy on Mar 06, 2014
    I would refinish never ever paint solid wood that is this beautiful the darker you go the more grain you will see it's up to you which shade put I would never paint any of my wood I have oak all threw out my home
  • Debbie Harris Debbie Harris on Mar 06, 2014
    Chalk paint will not hold up to scrubbing! Chalkboard paint is a good idea so that you just erase the mess and let them start over.
  • Pansy Jordan Pansy Jordan on Mar 10, 2014
    PAINT
  • Paula Palmer Paula Palmer on Apr 17, 2014
    refinish
  • Joanna Carrisal Joanna Carrisal on Apr 18, 2014
    I think if you refinished the top a darker color and the bottom a lighter color it would be cute. You could also paint the chairs the same way.
  • Rebecca M Rebecca M on Apr 20, 2014
    Personally i would refinish. That is still a beautiful table and it would be a shame to cover up that nice wood.
  • Darcy Seferoglou Darcy Seferoglou on Apr 20, 2014
    Refinish, not paint... my suggestion.
  • Yvonne Yvonne on Apr 21, 2014
    paint, you can go crazy and be creative or soft and subtle
  • Cathey DeRosa Cathey DeRosa on Apr 22, 2014
    I have a hard time with everything being painted. It is the trend. But someday the "wood" look will come back and believe me, stripping is a lot harder than simply painting. Real wood is gorgeous and was made to stay that way in my opinion. You could lightly sand your table top and any chairs that are marred and then restain to the original wood color. I have done this before and it works beautifully. I have also put a few coats of polyurethane on the surfaces to help with the kid issue. I have four, so I know. If you want color, get another piece for your room and go crazy if you want. I love thrift stores!!
  • Kathy Kathy on Apr 22, 2014
    I have found that if you use a "flat" finish polyurethane will last forever if you can locate one. The hard part is finding it the flat finish product! I did our whole family room with it in the 1980's and even windowsills that have gotten wet and are washed off with a sponge are still the same beautiful lustre I went for to begin with! Two or three coat of that and even nail polish remover doesn't mar it! I have a drop leaf dinette set I purchased also in the 80's and that was the finish it boasted and the reason why I went with the same type finish on all the oak in that room. You will need to search for product but I think in the long run that pretty oak table should be refinished, re- stained and sealed in this manner for years of enjoyment ♥ just my opinion :)
  • Centrd Centrd on Apr 23, 2014
    I understand people's concerns about painted finishes going "out of style" but for people like me who only rarely like wood finishes that are stained (because that's not natural wood either) the current trend of painting has been really liberating & exciting. The fact is, painted furniture has been around for a reeeally long time so I doubt it will go out of fashion entirely. Perhaps it won't be as popular as it is now, but if you have the right decor, i.e. relaxed, coastal, shabby, country, boho, French or Swedish, to name a few, and the piece is done well, painting it shouldn't be a problem. The only times I really worry about painting wood is if it's an antique, has a veneer that's been book matched, or it's got an inlaid design. When I do keep a piece's wood finish, then I prefer it to be waxed which, in my opinion, is closer to a natural finish. I'm not a fan of high gloss polys and varnishes or stains that change the color of the wood to something unnatural...because if you're going to change it that much, why not go all the way and make it a color you really like?
  • Wilma Hurley Wilma Hurley on Apr 23, 2014
    Clean with dark old English then buff with towel
  • Valerie Valerie on Apr 23, 2014
    I have a hutch from my parent's house that they bought from Ethan Allen in 1960. About 10 years ago, I painted their maple hutch. I loved it and it has been a light paint color It will match my new kitchen much better being stained again.No matter what we do, in the end we will want to change it to something else!! I know it will look beautiful when it's done! Whatever you decide, I hope you're happy with your creation!!
  • Lori L Lori L on May 02, 2015
    Definitely, without a doubt....refinish!!!
  • Maureen Ryan Maureen Ryan on Sep 03, 2016
    I vote for painting it white. We had our table done professionally by a local craftsman and he lacquered it for durability. It has held up and looks so nice and fresh.