Taryn Whiteaker

Taryn Whiteaker - Lifestyle and Design Blog

Farmhouse Table Makeover

I am proud to be a 3M sponsored blogger, and, as part of my responsibilities, I get the opportunity to evaluate ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. Opinions are my own and additional products used in the farmhouse table makeover were selected by me.

I’ve been wanting to update our dining area for some time now. It’s a space that has NEVER felt complete to me no matter how many times I move things around and I’m determined to get it right. So over the next few months I’ll be taking you through a process of making sublet changes that make a huge different. Ready for the step 1?

After years of contemplation, I finally gave my dining room table a complete makeover using sand paper, stain, paint and ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape! That’s all it took for this Farmhouse Table Makeover. The whole project cost roughly $85. 

farmhouse table makeover: Learn how to easily transform your table into a farmhouse style table with chalk paint and stain!

farmhouse table makeover – tired of your old kitchen table?

We bought this table back in 2008 with money that we received as a wedding gift. It was also one of the first big furniture purchases we made as newlyweds so it definitely holds some sentimental value. BUT, over the years it has been through a lot. A dog, two kids and two adults and one of those is a very messy crafter (can you guess who?). And if you were thinking it was my three-year-old, you are wrong. Let’s just say it was in need of a major facelift.

DIY Farmhouse Table Makeover 2

I am a huge fan of two tone pieces and I knew right away that’s what I wanted to do on this table. I love the rich dark wood mixed with the rustic white. It’s heavenly.

DIY Farmhouse Table Makeover 3

 

DIY Farmhouse Take Makeover 5
farmhouse table makeover – supplies

– ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape for Multi-Surface with Advanced Edge-Lock™ Paint Line Protector 2093 EL

– 50 grit and 220 grit sand paper

– white chalky paint

– clear soft wax

– paint brushes

– dark walnut stain

– semi-gloss polyurethane (Polycrylic is best to use as it has a hard protective finish that allows the water to bubble up)


old table top

farmhouse table makeover – sanding

So this is what the table looked like when I started. Yup, here it is in all its glory. It was definitely in need of some love.

IMG_4481

I started by sanding down the entire table top with 50 grit sand paper. Then I went over it with 220 grit paper to create a really smooth surface. This worked really well. It look me about 3 hours to strip the tabletop and prep it for staining.

PS. Make sure you wear a respiratory mask and glasses while sanding!

Table Tutorial 2

farmhouse table makeover – staining

Next up, staining. I went with a Dark Walnut stain. It’s my favorite and matches everything else in my house. Typically, I only do one coat of stain on my projects because I love seeing the woodgrain, but this time I went with two coats to really richen the look.

I waited 24 hours and then applied a layer of water-based semi-gloss polyurethane to seal it.

 

Table Tutorial 3

farmhouse table makeover – painting

Because I went with a two-tone look I really wanted a crisp line to distinguish the stain and the white paint so I used  ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape for Multi-Surface withAdvanced Edge-Lock™ Paint Line Protector to create that really clean line. This type of tape is perfect to use on wood projects. Its really gentle on the surface but still creates a perfect line.

I taped the top and then gave the table two coats of a light chalky paint.

Table Tutorial 1

To give the table a rustic farmhouse style, I gave it a chippy look by taking sand paper and roughing up the edges. And I finished off the piece with clear soft-wax on both the chalky paint and over the top of the table top. I love the finish with the wax, it is so smooth.

Chair Tutorial 1

farmhouse table makeover – the chairs

For the chairs, I did the same technique as the table. Sand with 50 grit, then 220 grit. Stain with Dark Walnut. Seal. Tape with Tape with ScotchBlue™ Painter’s Tape. 2 Coats of Chalky Paint. Distress. Wax.

Chair tutorial

I seriously love how clean the lines are between the two tones. This tape rocks.

Table Top Before and After

Look at that difference! I’m so glad I removed the existing finish, not just because it was so scratced but because it looked  too manufactured. Now you can see the wood grain and it is full of character.

Before and After Table makeover

I’m so excited about this first step in the dining room makeover project. By refinishing the table and replacing the rug I can already see a transformation!

We chose to get rid of the original bench that went with the table. I loved the look but no one in my family seemed to like sitting on it, so I thought it was time to switch it out. I’d love to find metal accent chairs for either side of the table, I just can’t seem to find the right size!

While I would absolutely LOVE to put alternative flooring in the dining area, it’s just not in the cards for this house. So for now, I’ll have to use a pretty rug to help keep the carpets clean :)

DIY Farmhouse Table Makeover

About 

Taryn Whiteaker is the voice of style behind TarynWhiteaker.com (formerly Design, Dining and Diapers) ! Taryn is a previous PR/Marketing professional who got back to her creative roots after becoming a mom and now shares her passion for home decor and design for the world to see. Taryn lives in the greater Seattle area with her husband and three kids and loves coffee, the outdoors, and exploring with her family.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. kim says

    August 18, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    I’ve been wanting to do the same thing with mine and am wondering what paint you used for your chalk paint? I have zero experience with the stuff! :-)

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      August 19, 2014 at 7:51 am

      I’ve only done a few pieces with Chalk Paint, I generally use Annie Sloan but this time I went with Amy Howard Brand. I liked it, it definitely took some getting used to because the texture was different than AS. But it is a little cheaper. I used Metropolitan Gray, it is pretty much white with just a very subtle tint.

      Reply

  27. Kristin says

    September 21, 2014 at 11:28 pm

    Taryn, I’m dying because I have this exact same table and this is exactly what I want to do to it. Like, EXACTLY. You have mad skills girlfriend. It looks amazing!!!

    Reply

  30. John says

    October 28, 2014 at 8:13 pm

    Did you also sand the lower portion (legs) of the table before painting or only the top that was stained? Thanks on advance for the help.

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:05 pm

      Hey John! Because I used chalk paint on the legs, I did not sand them down, I just cleaned them. Chalk paint does not require sanding, but other paint would. Hope that helps!

      Reply

  31. Becky says

    January 20, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Was this table real wood, or was this some kind of veneer on top? Im asking b/c I want to do the same to my table top (the legs/ chairs are already black, but I think its veneer on the top. Thanks in advance

    Reply

  32. Tara says

    March 11, 2015 at 2:33 am

    I just wanted to say, thanks to you, I now have a beautiful restored table. I showed my husband this, and with in 4 days it was done. We had a lacquered pine table, so we had to do a lot of sanding, and my husband being an anal cabinet maker we sprayed the table white and also a top coat over the stain to try and protect it a bit from the kids.
    Anyway thank you for sharing this! I now love my table again!

    Reply

  33. Ceri Howe says

    April 16, 2015 at 5:09 am

    I’m about to embark on a giant dining room makeover…and this is bee-yoo-tee-ful!!! Can I ask what color is on your wall? I’ve been looking (and trying ) several…but can’t find what I want….and yours looks exactly like what I want!

    Reply

  34. Diane says

    July 10, 2015 at 5:08 am

    I love it and hoping to use the same table colors. Did you add any stain to to the chairs or are they the original color (the seat part) Did you use a brush or roller on the furniture?

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      July 10, 2015 at 11:53 am

      Hi- the seat part and the top of the table is Minwax Dark Walnut Stain. Everything I did on the table and chairs is talked about in the post :)

      Reply

  37. Viviana says

    October 13, 2015 at 2:37 pm

    Beautiful! I am so in love with how the table came out. I am going to do something similar with my table. I really hope it comes out just as great. The only difference with my chairs is the faux leather, what do you think would be a good option for a cover up in this case?

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      October 18, 2015 at 2:44 pm

      You could easily recover the seat cushions! Hobby Lobby has a ton of great farmhouse style fabric choices. I would go with something light, like a duck cloth or canvas.

      Reply

  38. Lora says

    October 22, 2015 at 5:05 am

    Did you sand the surfaces you covered with paint? Or only the parts that you stained? Getting ready to do my table and chairs and not sure if I can skip sanding parts that will be painted…

    Reply

    • Taryn says

      October 24, 2015 at 3:25 pm

      Hi! I only sanded the seats and the tabletop. If you use chalkpaint you don’t need to sand the painted parts. I do recommend giving it a good clean though.

      Reply

  39. Melissa says

    April 30, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    Love this and can’t wait to try on my table and chairs that are similar! Can you tell me about how much paint you used? I’ll have to purchase it online and see that it comes in 8oz and 32oz cans.

    Reply

  40. Melanie says

    July 29, 2016 at 11:05 am

    I am obsessed with your blog! I am starting my own blog, mainly organization, but want to get into DIY as well. Basically, I want to be like you when I grow up! :) What an inspiration and creative person you are, thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  44. Jill says

    October 3, 2016 at 9:14 pm

    Can you tell me exactly what brands of stain, wax, and gloss you used? Want to do this exact thing but I need everything laid out for me cause I have no idea what Im doing! Thanks!

    Reply

    • Taryn Whiteaker says

      October 3, 2016 at 9:48 pm

      Hi! For the painted base I used Amy Howard Chalk Paint in Cosmopolitan, with Annie Sloan clear wax on top. On the table top, I used Minwax Dark Walnut Stain with Minwax Satin Polycrylic . Hope that helps!

      Reply

  45. Lindsey says

    November 9, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Beautiful~ can you explain why you used the Clear wax? I redid some stools and used chalk paint, then sanded to rough up the edges, then put on a dark antiquing wax, then finished with clear polyurethane. Chalk paint mentions using clear wax but I don’t understand what exactly it does. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Taryn Whiteaker says

      November 10, 2016 at 10:01 am

      Hi Lindsey!There are several different kinds sealing method you can use when working with Chalk Paint, it just comes down to personal preference and how you will be using the piece. When sealing a piece with Chalk Paint, you can use furniture wax or polyurethane or polycrylic. There are several different shades of wax you can use, they all do the same thing just have a different look. Clear wax just enriches the color of the paint but leaves a clear finish and the dark wax will darken the paint and give it more of an antique look. Also, you don’t need to use a polyurethane on top of that, you would generally choose one or the other. I typically use polyurethane when staining a piece of furniture, and I use polycrylic on top of painted or stained pieces that could potentially have water spilled on them because polycrylic leaves a hard protective finish. I hope that helps!

      Reply

      • Diana Guajardo says

        April 17, 2017 at 8:59 am

        Hi Taryn,
        I love your finished table. I am about to stain the top of my table and I don’t want to mess it up. I’ve read your almost all the comments and replies as well as your step by step instructions and I want to be sure I understand correctly what I’m reading.

        First you stained the table top with 2 coats of stain, Second you added the Satin Polycrylic to table top, Third you finished off the table top by applying the Annie Sloan wax

        Please let me know if that’s correct?

        Thank you so much!
        Diana

        Reply

        • Taryn Whiteaker says

          April 17, 2017 at 9:46 am

          Yes! You have it exactly correct. You don’t necessarily HAVE to do the wax since you are using the polycrylic, it just adds an extra layer of protection since it will be used so much.

          Reply

  48. Shalyce says

    March 10, 2017 at 9:53 am

    We have this exact table and chairs set. Your blog post gave us just the inspiration we needed as I was having a hard time visualizing the modern lines in a farmhouse style finish. Yours looks BEAUTIFUL! We are partway into the project. The table top and seat pans are now stained. (So much work! but lessons learned.) Now we need to seal. I’ve seen various opinions on polycrylic vs polyurethane on the stained wood surfaces. As well as polycrylic vs wax on the chalk painted finishes. How many coats of the poly did you do? I’ve seen suggestions of two to three coats. How has your table and chairs withstood the test of time? Is it your every day, heavy-use table with kids, meals, homework, etc? Is there anything you would have done differently knowing now what you didn’t know then? I would love to hear from you!

    Reply

    • Taryn Whiteaker says

      March 11, 2017 at 8:06 am

      Hi! I highly recommend using a Polycrylic on a surface that will have water spilled on it and is a piece that will be used often. The ‘crylic’ leaves a hard protective finish that allows the water to bubble up on it and not absorb into the wood. I recommend doing a couple of coats of it. I do know some people who will wax on top of the polycrylic for an even tougher finish, I did not but you can definitely do that. You will probably need to re-wax and buff it every 6-12 months. We do not have this table anymore, we have since moved and didn’t take the table with us, so I can’t tell you exactly how it held up. Sory! I hope that helps!

      Reply

  49. Sarita Baker says

    April 29, 2017 at 10:56 am

    I am about to refinish the exact same table! I love the stain you chose. I am going to go with cream for the legs as my trim is cream. Thanks for all your tips.

    Reply

  50. Danielle says

    May 23, 2017 at 4:18 pm

    Did your table have a leaf? I have almost the same exact table, but with an attached leaf. Just wondering how much harder it will be to work with that?? :/

    Reply

  52. Tiffiny says

    June 25, 2017 at 4:23 pm

    I love this step by step. I am going ti be attempting by table soon, but Im doing as much research as I can ;-) I was wondering you used. Polyurethane over the stain. What are the benefits of also using the AS wax?

    Reply

  53. Alexia says

    August 1, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Hi, I love this!!! So I pretty much have everything that I need. This is the first time I’m doing this but I’m a bit confused with one thing, did you only sand once right at the beginning?
    You didn’t have to sand down after the first or second coat of dark walnut? I’m wondering how you got that neat uneven look!! ( Instead of all same dark walnut color ) please let me know!:)
    Thank you so much in advance!!

    Reply

  54. Thena Gibson says

    January 15, 2018 at 6:23 am

    Did you sand the table”s legs and sides, or did you just apply the chalk paint directly to that to get the distressed look?

    Reply

  56. Dacia says

    March 7, 2018 at 10:42 pm

    Did the strain turn out more brown or grey? It looks grey in the pictures, but walnut is usually brown. I love the two tone, but am looking at grey, not brown. Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks!!

    Reply

    • Taryn Whiteaker says

      March 8, 2018 at 12:31 am

      Hi! The Dark Walnut is definitely brown! If you want gray you could try Classic Gray by Minwax :) If that is too gray, you can actually mix the two for a darker gray look. I have done this in the past and it works great, you just have to play with the ratio.

      Reply

  58. Christian says

    August 29, 2018 at 5:31 am

    This is a really gorgeous makeover. I’m currently looking for a dinning table, and I’m curious about the table, itself. I understand it was purchased ~10 years ago, but could you tell me where you got it? or who made it?
    Thanks!

    Reply

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