A STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL ON HOW I APPLIED GOLD LEAF FOIL TO A THRIFT CONSOLE TABLE | YOUTUBE VIDEO
Hello sweet SIfamily, thanks for joining me. If you love a little gold glam as much as I do, this post is for you! I’m sharing a step-by-step tutorial on how to add gold leaf or foil to your painted furniture… or ANY project that could use a little shine. I can’t wait to hear what you think of this before and after!
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I’m also joining my TTT crew and sharing links to their projects below. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve created and I hope you join me on today’s tour as well!
Here’s the Console Table I started with. When I spotted it in the Restore it had an old Vizio TV on it and was surrounded by unattractive furniture. When thrifting, I like looking for the gems hiding amongst the junk.
And is it just me, or do these pieces ALWAYS look so much better once you bring them home?
This table has such gorgeous details. I was looking forward to highlighting them even though I wasn’t exactly sure how I was going to do it.
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WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Console Table – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Shop Towels
Bosch Sander
Bonding Boss Primer
Water Misting Bottle
Stick With Me Glue
Artist Brushes
Dixie Shine Gold Foil | Gold Leaf
Paint Brushes
Collard Greens Chalk Mineral Paint
Gator Hide Topcoat
Blue Topcoat Sponge
GOLD LEAF VS GOLD FOIL
In this makeover, I’m using gold leaf and gold foil interchangeably but you may be wondering what the difference between the two is. Gold leaf and gold foil are thin sheets of gold, but they DO have a few differences. Gold leaf is made from hammering real gold into almost translucent thin sheets which makes it very delicate to work with. Gold foil, on the other hand, is thin sheets of lower-quality karat gold mixed with other metals/materials and it’s not quite as thin or delicate as gold leaf. Because of this, there is also a price difference with gold leaf costing more than gold foil.
Thickness
- Gold leaf is typically much thinner than gold foil. It can be as thin as 1/250,000th of an inch (0.1 microns), making it almost transparent.
- Gold foil is thicker compared to gold leaf. It can vary in thickness but is generally thicker than gold leaf, making it less transparent and easier to work with.
Appearance
- Due to its extreme thinness, gold leaf can appear almost transparent when applied to surfaces, giving it a unique authentic look.
- Gold foil, being thicker, may have a more opaque appearance, depending on its thickness and application method.
WHAT CAN I USE GOLD LEAF ON?
You can use gold leaf or foil on almost anything! Gold leaf and gold foil can be used on large or small projects. Today I’m sharing how I applied it to the details of a painted table. But it can also be used on art, frames, jewelry, crafts, scrapbooking, furniture, nail art, and if the gold is pure enough, even food! With the proper adhesive, it will adhere to plastic, metal, glass, wood, and ceramics.
WHAT TYPE OF GLUE IS REQUIRED?
To apply your gold leaf or foil, a special gold leaf adhesive or gilding adhesive is required. Regular glue will not work.
CLEANING
I started by giving this table a good cleaning. I sprayed it with White Lightning Cleaner and used a Dollar Store brush and sponge to get into all the crevices. I made sure to use another sponge rinsed in clean water to wipe off all the residue.
SANDING
Using my Bosch Orbital Sander and 150 grit sandpaper, I scuff-sanded the top.
The rounded legs and scroll details were scuff-sanded by hand.
PRIMING
This table had a Pier One Imports sticker on the underside and I know working from similar pieces, the cherry stain on this type of furniture does cause bleed-through. To prevent this from happening, I brushed on a coat of Clear Bonding Boss. After two hours of drying time, I added the second coat. Then I left this bonding and stain-blocking primer dry overnight.
PAINTING
I wasn’t sure what color to paint this piece so thank you to everyone who chimed in last week in the comments section. Various shades of GREEN were mentioned so that’s exactly what I went with. I chose this rich dark Collard Greens Chalk Mineral Paint and applied two coats for full coverage.
To get a brush stroke-free finish on the curved legs, I used my slap-it-on paint technique which you can see here.
APPLYING THE GOLD LEAF FOIL
Now for the FUN PART! Once my paint had dried, it was time to add some gold leaf foil to highlight all these gorgeous details.
To apply gold leaf, a special glue called “gold leaf adhesive” or “gilding adhesive” is needed. This adhesive is designed specifically for use with gold leaf and ensures proper adhesion and a smooth finish. Here’s how to use it:
Prepare the Surface
Make sure the surface you’re applying the gold leaf to is clean, dry, and free from any dust or debris. It can be a painted or stained surface or raw wood, plastic, glass, paper, or ceramic. If you have the proper glue, the gold leaf can stick to almost any surface.
Apply Adhesive
Using a brush or a soft bristle brush, apply a thin, even layer of gold leaf adhesive to your surface. Be careful not to apply too much adhesive, as this can cause the gold leaf to wrinkle or bubble. Also, if you need to mask some areas off, painter’s tape works really well. This will keep the glue exactly where you want it.
Let it Dry
Allow the adhesive to dry until it becomes tacky. The drying time can vary depending on the type of adhesive used, but in my case, the glue gets tacky within 15-20minutes. The glue typically goes on milky and becomes clear when its tacky enough to apply the gold leaf or foil.
Apply Gold Leaf
Carefully place the gold leaf or gold foil onto the tacky adhesive, gently pressing it down with a soft brush or your fingers. The gold leaf will adhere to the surface.
Burnish
Once the gold leaf is in place, use a soft brush or a piece of cheesecloth to gently burnish the surface. This helps smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles and ensures good adhesion. In the case of gold foil, I used a burnishing sponge as the gold foil is a little thicker and stronger than the gold leaf and can hold up to stronger burnishing.
Remove the Excess
Once the gold is burnished onto the project in the areas the glue adhesive has been applied, the remaining gold leaf or gold foil can be removed by pulling it up and off the project. If using real gold leaf, brush the excess off with a brush. The flakes are very fine so you may want to make sure there are no fans or breeze in your work area.
Seal & Protect
To protect the gold leaf and prevent tarnishing, you can apply a clear topcoat over the surface once the adhesive has fully dried. Again, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the sealant you’re using. I used Gator Hide and applied it with this easy-to-use blue sponge.
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THE FINISHED LOOK
Here’s the finished look…
When the light hits it, it shines beautifully.
And a closer look at the gold gilding on the details!
The dark green paired with the gold highlights has turned this console table into a regal beauty.
I can’t wait to hear what you think of this NEW LOOK!
YOUTUBE TUTORIAL
Here’s the full step-by-step YouTube tutorial. Our #siyoutubefamily is already a community of 46.1K so don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t done so already! So exciting, thank YOU! 🙂
And now for some Trash To Treasure FUN!
You’re going to LOVE what my creative Trash To Treasure ladies do! 🙂 Below are the BEFORE photos. Visit the links underneath to see the amazing AFTERS and learn how they did it! I’m heading over to take a peek as well! x
1. ARTSY CHICKS RULE
2. CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL DIYER
3. PRODIGAL PIECES
5. SALVAGED INSPIRATIONS (HAPPY YOU’RE HERE!)
Here’s another look at this gold-gilded console table before and after.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS GOLD LEAF TABLE MAKEOVER OR FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU. IT MAKES MY DAY! 🙂
Happy painting my friends!
Denise x
RELATED POSTS::
HOW TO GOLD LEAF | PUMPKIN MAKEOVER
GOLD VELVET CHAIR MAKEOVER
GOLD ENGLISH IVY DRESSER
DIXIE BELLE SHINE GOLD DRESSER
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Hi Denise! Collard greens is one of my all time favorite colors and that gold just pops on there. What an amazing upcycle. Thank you for sharing how to use the gold foil .
It’s one of my faves too! Thanks so much Cheryl! XOXO
This is a great piece Denise, very elegant. I did not see any comment on the gold bands around the table top or legs. Was this regular gold paint or is this also done with gold foil?
Great question Celia!😃 It was ALL done with the gold foil – the legs, the trim on the top and all the detailing. I believe I took video of it on the various parts of the table (coming this Saturday). 🙂
I am SO excited to see Collard Greens! I had been wondering about this color for ages and am thrilled to finally see what it looks like on a piece of furniture. Your gold leafing enhances the color beautifully and the overall result is brilliant. You really did that trim justice and made the table a standout. Well done.
Hey Cyndel! Ya, I’ve used collard greens on a few projects and love it. It mixes really nicely with other greens too as seen here on one of my favorite trunk projects!😊
That is most definitely a regal beauty now!! xo
Thanks so much Nancy! I so loved your makeover as well! XOXO
Wow! That’s really beautiful!
And thanks for a very informative tutorial.
Thanks Toni! And my pleasure, I had a lot of fun with this one.😃
Hi Denise. I love the gold paired with the dark green. Beautiful.
Thanks so much Monique! XOXO
Wow!! Love it! I save every one of your makeovers and have even purchased some tools due to your usage of them. I have plans later this fall to redo some chairs using the palm sander and spray tool you were using. Glad I found your posts on email.
I’ll bet you’re going to be super happy with your newly refinished chairs this fall Fran – it’s a great project! And thank you! I’m so glad you like the gold table. XOXO
That’s beautiful! Understated elegance! You are a true inspiration.
Hi Leslie, thanks so much! I’m so happy you like it!🤗
That table looks wonderful! So glad that you glammed it up.
But now, for clarity’s sake, did you use gold foil or gold leaf? I get that the foil is a bit tougher than the foil, and it’s what I would choose to use because it’s probably a little cheaper also. But I got confused on the interchange of foil and leaf for this project. Is there a noticeable difference between the two? Could both be used on a project if necessary?
Forgive me if I’m annoying by asking. You are one of my favorite designers and I have followed you for quite a few years. Whatever you say, in my book, GOES!
Hi Caye! Ask away, I love your questions!They are very helpful so keep’em coming!🤗💙 For this project I used the gold foil. And you are correct, it’s tougher than gold leaf and cheaper to buy. There is a difference in the finish which you can see on this project here – where I used gold leaf. And for sure, you could use both on a project. Side by side the difference between the two would be noticable though.
XXOO Thank you! I wondered if there was a difference between the two.
🤗 💙 🤗
GORGEOUS
Thank you Rebecca!🤗
Wow! It’s gorgeous. Thanks for the tutorial.
I’m glad you like it Lizzy! Thank you my friend.🤗 🤗
This really IS a regal beauty now! I love how the Dixie Shine highlighted those gorgeous details! XOXO
Thanks my friend! And no gold leaf flakes up the nose…lol, I seriously had that happen before.😂
Gorgeousness! The gold and green are so elegant and serene together. Thanks for demystifying gold leaf!
Thanks Barbara, I’m so glad you like it! And thanks for the suggestion(s) last week, much appreciated!! XOXO
This is a regal makeover Denise. You’ve inspired me to try a gold makeover! Thanks for sharing and making it look easy!
Thanks Nicki! If you give it a try I’d love to hear how it all turns out!🤗
WOW! That is stunning! And now I’m inspired to try gold-leafing or gold-foiling. 🙂
Thanks Cyndi!🤗 And you’d love it, it’s a TON of FUN!
You always have such patience with your pieces, Denise. It’s certainly paid off because it’s lovely.
Aw thanks Larissa! And I think you’re the queen of patience and creativity with your pieces so this is a huge compliment my friend! XOXO