How to Chalk Paint a Coffee Table

6 Materials
$100
6 Hours
Medium

Transform an old coffee table into a beautiful new piece of furniture.

Supplies Needed


Chalk Paint (Annie Sloan is a great chalk paint but you can certainly use other brands)

Chalk Paint Brush

Soft Wax

Wax Brush

Rag

Sand Paper

Prep your piece of furniture


First, wipe down your piece with a damp cloth. Make sure it is free from dust and debris.


The great thing about Chalk Paint is that is very forgiving and covers up scratches and dents. So you do not need to sand your furniture before you chalk paint (that will come later).

Add the first coat of paint


Dip just a small amount of paint on your chalk paint brush.

Once Dry Add the Second Coat of Paint


The first coat of paint does not have to be perfect and you can use brush strokes in different directions.


Cover your entire piece of furniture in one coat of paint. Let dry completely.


Then, add the second layer of chalk paint. Again, the brush strokes do not need to go in a particular direction. The paint dries evenly.

Add a layer of Wax


Once your table is completely dry (best to wait one full day), you can add a thin layer of wax to the table. Dip your wax brush in a little bit of wax and brush on to the table. You will notice that a little bit goes a long way!

Add some distressing


Now this step is entirely optional. But if you are looking to give your table a little bit a of a distressed look, you will want to do some sanding.


Use a piece of sanding paper and gently sand corners and different spots on the furniture. Start small and add as much distressing as you would like!

After the sanding process, you are all done! It takes several weeks for the wax to "cure" so be mindful when you put anything on the table. It is best to wait a few weeks!

Resources for this project:
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Jaclyn Musselman
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 4 questions
  • Karen Karen on Oct 31, 2020

    Can you use varnish instead of wax?

  • Tammy Armstrong Tammy Armstrong on Nov 04, 2020

    Did you use Annie Sloan Soft Wax as shown in you tutorial or Gigi Wax as shown in material list?

  • Roc90049246 Roc90049246 on Oct 25, 2023

    what Is the purpose of the wac

Comments
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3 of 5 comments
  • Jaclyn Musselman Jaclyn Musselman on Oct 22, 2020

    If you have sticky gunk you might want to use Goo Gone but the Annie Sloan website does just recommend warm soap and water.

  • Nancy Nancy on Oct 26, 2020

    This is the idea I needed to update my 90’s bookshelf and coffee table! Love this look.

    • Jaclyn Musselman Jaclyn Musselman on Oct 27, 2020

      Yay good luck!! It is amazing what you can do with some paint. A lot cheaper than buying a new piece of furniture.

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