Easy Coffee Table Makeover + DIY Tips and Ideas

Check out this quick and easy coffee table makeover I completed in ONE DAY. I’m also going to give a few tips and ideas for your next DIY coffee table makeover.

COFFEE TABLE WITH BLACK TOP AND GOLD ORNATE LEGS

***Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you!

Our old coffee table recently broke beyond repair so we needed to replace it ASAP. I did not want to spend a lot of money on replacing the coffee table so I immediately checked on Facebook marketplace.

TIP #1: Check out your local thrift store or Facebook marketplace for furniture. You can find many pieces with a ton of potential for a fraction of the price of buying brand-new.

I was able to find this beauty for only $40. I love the ornate legs and overall style of this coffee table.

However, there are quite a few blemishes and stains on the table top. I also felt like it needed a touch of darkness to fit my personal style and desired aesthetic.

The coffee table is not made of wood. I think it could be made of resin or acrylic. I’m not sure what material it’s made from, to be honest. If you have any guesses of what other material it could be, comment below.

Here is the step-by-step process

Step one: Primer

The first thing I did was prime the top. I love the gold ornate legs the way they are and didn’t want to change those. The plan was to only paint the top part so that is why I am not priming the entire piece.

Because I don’t know what material the coffee table is, I am using a shellac-based primer so I don’t have to sand it. Shellac-based primers are great for allowing paint to adhere to materials you can’t sand. It will also help the paint from chipping later on.

This was my first time using this primer and right off the bat I noticed it was a lot more thinner and runny consistency compared to regular primer.

I did put two coats of primer, but I believe that was totally unnecessary. One coat would have been sufficient enough.

Step two: paint

Next, I started to paint with some leftover Sherwin-Williams paint in the color Black Magic. This was leftover from painting our dining room trim.

I should have known as soon as I opened the paint that there was something wrong due to the funky smell it had. It wasn’t till finishing the first coat that I realized how grainy it was. There was way too much debris all throughout the paint.

Step three: sand

I was really hoping to not have to do any sanding in this project but as with most projects, things don’t always go as perfectly planned. The Sherwin-Williams paint was so grainy, I ended up having to sand it. Thankfully it only needed a light, quick sand with a fine grit sanding block.

After sanding, I wiped the entire surface down with a damp cloth. A tack cloth is also really helpful to use after any sanding.

Step 4: paint (again)

Ultimately, I ended up using Benjamin Moore’s Advanced paint in Black Beauty. This was leftover paint I had on hand from my bathroom vanity makeover project.

I made sure to check the paint before applying it this time and this paint was still good.

I applied a total of two coats of paints, waiting 1 hour in between coats.

TIP #2: It’s better to apply light coats of paint. Especially if you are using a brush for painting.

For this project, I used mini foam rollers which give a nice smooth finish. I wanted to avoid brush strokes which is why I decided to not use a brush.

TIP #3: OPTIONAL- Add a top coat for good measure.

Full disclosure, I did not add a top coat to the coffee table. I do plan on adding a coat of polyacrylic because it is an easy way to add a little extra protection. This coffee table will be used heavily in my living/ family room with 7 kids so I need all the extra durability I can get. I will be adding the top coat in a couple of days.

Here is the finished product …

After Coffee Table Makeover

I absolutely LOVE the end result of this coffee table makeover. The biggest problem was the grainy paint but thankfully it was easily resolved.

The contrast of the black top with the gold ornate base of the table is gorgeous. This definitely fits the dark, moody aesthetic I’m going for in the living room. It is so refreshing when a project is truly easy and doesn’t take a long time.

I love this comment that someone made on Instagram: It looks like Beauty and the Beast but more moody!

Check the full tutorial on my Youtube channel

Paint is such an easy way to give any piece of furniture a new look. So don’t be intimidated by old outdated furniture. As long as it has good bones, there is always potential to give new life.

Here are some other easy coffee table makeover ideas

Chalk paint: Valley + Birch has an excellent chalk paint coffee table makeover tutorial where they use white chalk paint and add a little bit of distressed areas. This is perfect for those who like a farmhouse style coffee table
Lime wax : Lime wax is great way to get that white-washed, light furniture look for solid wood tables. Check out Repurpose and Upcycle‘s blog post for a lime wax coffee table makeover
Handpaint design: I LOVE this handpainted border Sweet Something Design added to her coffee table using a gold leaf pen. This gives your coffee table such a unique flair.
Create a design using steel wool (no paint makeover): This is best for stained coffee tables. C.R.A.F.T. shares an easy coffee table makeover that mainly requires painter’s tape and a steel wool to create a beautiful diamond pattern on an old stained coffee table.

Easy Coffee Table Makeover + DIY Tips and Ideas