Can I chalk paint my scratched coffee table ?

i would say sand it. If you have deep gouges fill them with wood filler, sand it, stain it and seal it with 2-3 coats of polyurethane. This will help protect it from future damage.

Hi Chris,

If it's dented and scratched badly, it would be best to fill in those spots with wood putty and sand them smooth before you paint. Also rough up the whole surface a bit with a high grit sandpaper and clean it throughIy. Personally would take it outside and use a spray primer then a spray paint for a nice smooth finish, but latex paint is also pretty durable. When everything is dry, a coat or 2 of sealer will also help. You could also patch it with stainable wood putty, sand it down smooth, clean it off and put on a new coat of stain, if you prefer the wood look. We have grandchildren too and are leaving our scratched up table alone until they are a little older. Then the plan is to paint it when they are a little older. Wishing you success with your project.

Linda

I would sand it then paint unless it is very deep then you fill the dent with wood putty, sand then paint.

You can try an oil like teak oil or hemp oil. I use them all the time to hide scratches in wood. They make dry wood look new and lovely again, as well.

If you do the oil thing and it doesn't work and you decide to paint, be sure to remove the oil or let it dry thoroughly for a few weeks.