How to Do an Easy DIY Boho Coffee Table Makeover With Stencils
If you like preserving furniture and saving thousands of dollars, then you’ll love today’s DIY boho coffee table makeover. This coffee table belongs to a friend. I wanted to swap it out as part of a more extensive makeover, but the owner said she wants to keep it.
Therefore, I’m going to transform this drab piece into a cool stenciled coffee table that not only fits the new aesthetic of the room, but may even steal the spotlight.
Keep reading and watching to discover how to paint a coffee table with a cool boho stencil design.
Table of contents
Tools and materials:
- Wooden coffee table
- Allen key
- Electric sander
- Black chalk paint
- Paintbrush
- Coffee table stencils
- White chalk paint
- Paint dauber
- Black plate
- Tape
- Measuring tape
- Chalk
- Paint dotters (nail art tools)
- Polyurethane
- Paint sponge
DIY boho coffee table inspiration
We’re going for a bone-inlay-inspired look, but we’re creating the style with paint and stencils.
1. Sand the tabletop
First, take apart your coffee table (I needed an Allen key for this) and sand the tabletop with 220-grit sandpaper. Then, wipe down the surface.
2. Paint
Next, paint the tabletop. I’m using black chalk paint by Krylon. Paint the bottom, wait for it to dry, then paint the top.
3. Spray paint the frame
Next, spray paint the frame gold. I tried using Rub 'n Buff, but I hated it and ended up removing the paint to start again.
4. Paint the stencils
Now it’s time to use the stencils! Place them on the coffee table and attach them with tape.
How to stencil a coffee table
The key to working with stencils is to use a paint dauber because it doesn’t pick up as much paint. As I’m working with white paint, I’m using a black plate to hold my paint. That way, when I’m dabbing off the excess, it’s easier to see exactly how much paint is on the dauber.
Peel off the stencil to reveal how crisp the lines are underneath.
I hate measuring, but it’s important to figure out where each stencil goes, especially when working with stencils of different sizes. Use chalk to mark lines where you want the stencils to go, then you can wipe them off once the paint is dry.
5. Paint dots
Many of my inspiration pieces included intricate dot work, so that’s what I’m going to do in the gaps between the stencils. To do this, I actually used paint dotters that are usually for nail art. Note that this takes a long time!
6. Tidy up & finish
The next day, I went over some of the white again and also tidied up some of the black. Finally, I topped everything with a coat of Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane.
7. Reassemble the coffee table
Now it’s time to put everything back together, ready for the final reveal!
Coffee table makeover before and after
DIY boho coffee table makeover
What do you think of this DIY boho coffee table makeover? I hope this stenciled coffee table project inspired you to think up some other makeover ideas or cool ways to paint a coffee table. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Frequently asked questions
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