HOW TO RESTYLE YOUR KITCHEN TABLE WITH HALF A MAKEOVER IN HALF THE TIME!
Hi beautiful SI family, thanks for joining me today! Is your kitchen table looking old and tired, or a little beat up? Here’s how to get a brand new look with half the work in half the time!
Like many of us, my kitchen table wears many hats. It’s used for food prep, storage, gatherings, games, crafts, meals, and more. I’ve owned this pedestal table for ten years or so. I still love it. But for the last few years, it’s been looking sad.
The white paint had chipped off down the center. And there were some weird colored stains that I could never get out. I don’t know what they were or where they came from. It’s one of those kitchen mysteries. Like the time my cinnamon disappeared for weeks on end.
Sometimes I can overthink things or have an all or nothing mentality. I’ve been looking at my beat-up tabletop for months now. I was considering a bunch of colors and got caught up in decision paralysis.
Then it hit me. I’m really happy with the color of this table… white is very me.
Why not do HALF a makeover in half the time and just freshen up the top!
THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.
SOURCE LIST
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- My Painted Kitchen Table
- Cheap Chip Brush
- Sandpaper | Shop Towels
- CitriStrip
- Mineral Spirits
- Plastic Scraper
- Applicator Pad
- Tobacco Road Gel Stain
- Gator Hide Topcoat
HALF A KITCHEN TABLE MAKEOVER
STEP #1
I started by removing the four screws that held the top to the bottom. Separating them made it much easier to clean and stain.
STEP #2
The pedestal was cleaned using a water-vinegar mixture and a dollar store brush to get into all the nooks and crannies. Amazing what a good cleaning can do. The pedestal looks brand new!
STEP #3
I used CitriStrip to remove the paint from the tabletop.
I poured a good amount to cover the entire surface and then spread it with this cheap chip brush.
After 20-30 minutes, I removed the gunk with this plastic putty knife. Then I repeated the process a second time to get the majority of the finish and paint off.
After all the paint was stripped off, I poured some mineral spirits onto the top and cleaned up all the residue wiping it down with a shop towel.
STEP #4
After giving the table a light sanding, I stained the top with two coats of this Tobacco Road Gel Stain. It’s water-based and easy to use. I have a quick demo of me using this water-based gel stain here.
I squirt some gel stain onto this applicator pad and run it along the wood grain in long even strokes. Then using a shop towel, once I applied the gel to half the table, I wiped off any excess and repeated the process on the other side.
TIP~ These applicator pads ARE washable and reusable when working with water-based products. They apply the product beautifully minimizing unevenness and leaving a smooth finish. You can see the applicator pad in action here.
STEP #5
For kitchen or dining tables (high traffic) I like to use a heavy-duty poly. Some of my favorite brands I’ve used are General Finishes, Varathane, Minwax, and lately, I’m addicted to Dixie Belle’s Gator Hide. Most topcoats are water-resistant but Gator Hide is waterproof. Perfect for surfaces that get spills or cleaned and wiped down continuously.
Gator Hide can be brushed or applied with a sponge. It also sprays perfectly! I sprayed 3 coats with a super light sanding between.
Here you can see how the water beads up on the Gator Hide topcoat which makes spills super easy to clean.
Oh, and I’d like to thank the talented Sara from Surrey Lane Home for this table styling idea! What a great way to showcase a freshly stained tabletop!
I hope this half makeover has inspired you! Half a makeover with half the work can make ALL the difference!
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK OF THIS MAKEOVER’ … OR FEEL FREE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE… I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration and Happy Painting friends!
Denise XO
RELATED POSTS::
How To Apply Gel Stain (video)
Waterbased Gel Stain Demo (video)
How To Strip Layers of Furniture Paint
DIY Pro Stain Finish
Black Wash Finish | Nightstand Makeover
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Hello, love this project!! I want to get the Gator Hide finish but can’t find it anywhere.. seems sold out everywhere. Maybe it’s discontinued. But what would you recommend as a replacement. I’m getting the same gel stain as you 😊
Hi Savannah and thank you! YES, I’m waiting to get my hands on some more Gator Hide as well. I don’t think it’s discontinued but they were having trouble sourcing during the pandemic. I really hope it starts selling again soon as well! As an alternative, I been using this waterbased clear coat in satin.
Saludos desde Honduras , centro america una magnifica guia para restauracion , me ha servido de mucho
Hi Marco! ¡Hola desde Toronto y gracias por pasar! ¡Estoy tan feliz de que encuentres útiles estos tutoriales! 🙂
You truly are an inspiration, Denise! I love all your postings &, once I’ve completed
some basic decorating in my apartment, I’ll try painting various furniture pieces,
per your wonderful tutorials . Thank you for sharing!
Blessings..
Thank you Mari Lynn! I can’t wait for you to try but fair warning, it’s kind of addictive. 😉
Redoing a table that has white rings. Have you refinished a table with this problem? Not sure if I can sand them away.
Hi Shelly! The white rings are usually from water or hot plates and affect the topcoat. If you were to sand it down or sand the top coat off, it should look much better. 🙂
Try placing a few paper towels over the white ring & then ironing it! I know it sounds unlikely but it removed a white water mark from my table top. At worst, you can still sand etc
What did you do to the chairs?
The chairs are the same white as the bottom pedestal on the table so they are a perfect match. I’m thinking of recovering the seats with new upholstery but I haven’t gone out looking for new fabric yet. 🙂
Love it! So pretty with the white base; so fresh it looks like you repainted it. Keep your wonderful ideas coming; look forward to your posts!
Thanks, Jackie! It reminded me I need to give things a really good scrub down every now and then…lol.
What a wonderful fresh-up you have given this pretty table. The wood stain top has brought it into the 21st century! That’s for sharing.
Thanks Lis!!! 🙂
Perfection!!!! Once again. I bow to you.
Thanks so much, Diane!
Love it, so fresh! And your work sink almost looks like marble now, LOL”
Marble ya…LOL! I hope you’re keeping cool and enjoying this summer weather my friend. XOXO
Your half makeover looks like a total makeover. Really love the stained top. Sometimes we just need a reminder that the whole piece doesn’t necessarily need to be redone to be beautiful again.. Thanks for the post.
Exactly! I need to remind myself and remember this… then maybe more of my home projects would get done! 😉 Have a great evening Joanne! XO
Very beautiful Denise and you always so cleverly stage your projects and this time of course you didn’t disappoint! I like how you show off how your products perform, in this case the Gator Hide. Thank you keep ’em coming and God bless!
Thanks so much, Melanie! And I have to give the styling idea (tabletop against the wall) to Sara from Surrey Lane Home. I saw it on her IG page and thought it was a brilliant idea for a freshly stained table!
What a difference in your table. Love the combination of the stain and painted pedestal. It looks totally difference. I also liked seeing your work space! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Sue! XOXO I’m super pleased with the paint and stain combo too. What took me so long…lol.
The new tabletop just makes it look so sophisticated! I haven’t tried the Voo Doo gel stain but when I find something to use it on I want to try it. I do love Gator Hide! Beautiful job!
Thanks my friend! I’m liking the new look MUCH better too and the Voodoo Gel stain is really nice to use because it’s water-based. No smell. No mess. No fuss. Have a super day!😘
I refinished a table and used polyurethane on top. Could I sand lightly and use the Gator Hide on it
Thank you
Cindy Smith
Hi Cindy! Yes. If you were to give your existing topcoat a light sanding for the Gator Hide to adhere to it will work nicely. Just be sure that your polyurethane is 100% dry! That said, polyurethane (I’m guessing is oil-based – not water-based) is very durable and holds up well. 🙂
As always, your work is amazing!!! I’ve done 2 pieces now. Not exactly the looks you have done, but practice makes perfect! We recently bought a new sofa. The old sofa is going to charity but, a small money saver for people who are changing furniture. Keep a set of you old pillows from the previous couch. They can buy pillow covers for them to match there new decor. It’s a quarter of the price, instead of buying new accent pillows. Plus, you can wash them and change them out for the seasons. Thought I would share this. Maybe people already know, but it seemed worth posting to me. 🙂
I’m all for salvaging, upcycling, and reusing and repurposing so I LOVE your cushion idea! Kudos to you on your makeovers Angela!… we’re kindred spirits. 😉
It looks terrific!–like a brand new table. Congrat’s on a great idea and a super job!
Thank you Caye! 🙂
Looks like a new table!! I need to get a sprayer! Did you sand and/or strip the inside edges of the middle of the table so when the leaves are together you don’t see any white down the middle?
Thanks, Crystal! I didn’t strip the inside leaf edges of the table. But while I was staining, I left them open so some of the stain got on the edges. Same for when I spray topcoat. Great question! I should have added that into the post, so thank!
Thank you for your wonderful work! All of the instructions came though, but no pics? Can’t wait to see it–never had this trouble before. Thanks!
Thanks so much and sorry for the trouble Frankie. 🙂 Are you able to see them now?
Your table turned out beautiful. I used mineral spirits on a small table after using citistrip and I can still smell the spirits. Will it ever go away?
Thanks, Barbara! 🙂 Hmmm, I’m stumped about the mineral spirit smell. Usually, once it dissipates the smell goes with it but depending on temperature and humidity, that can take a couple of days.
I read that Gator Hide is easier to apply if you 1st apply a primary coat of Satin topcoat . Is that true ?
BTW, I love ALL of your work !!!
Hi Matia and thank you! Yes, the satin clear coat gives the Gator Hide a slip coat. (Because Gator Hide dries fairly quickly) When using a brush or sponge some find this easier but it wouldn’t make any difference when spraying. 🙂
Love this!! Do you know how the person you got the styling inspo from did hers as well? I hope that isn’t rude to ask you that but I would love to do that look with my oak table!!
Thanks Megan! Sara hand sanded and used three coats of Annie Sloan’s White Wax. Turned out gorgeous!😊
It’s gorgeous! It looks like a brand new table. I must try that Gator Hide.
I bought a similar table for myself on FB Marketplace a while back for only $40 bucks. It was a super heavy chunky one with a thick base and claw feet. I painted the base with ASCP in Pure White and the top in Graphite, then lightly distressed the whole thing. To protect the top, I used several layers of a matte poly. .Next time I will try the Gator hide as the poly did not protect completely. Thanks for the tip!
Your table sounds gorgeous Lizzy! And for $40 + paint supplies, WOW! And ya, I’m addicted to the Gator Hide for all my high traffic pieces. It’s durable and really easy to clean.
Love an “easier” makeover!! And this is lovely. I have the same issue with overthinking a project, especially when it comes to paint/stain colours and end up leaving it. Very grateful for your blog and others like it that give me a direction to go in. Thank you.
It’s easy to get in the trap of overthinking, isn’t it? The funny part is my home is a lot of neutrals, greys, whites, beiges… so what I was thinking so hard about — I have no idea.😐
I read most of the article, but none of the pics show up 🙁 Not sure if it’s me or you? I’m rally excited to see your table, as I have one ready to work on right now! Kira
Hi Kira! Everything is showing up on my end but I will go check the backend of WordPress. Thanks SO MUCH for the heads up!
Kira, you’re not the only one. I can’t get the images to show either.
Sorry about this guys. 😟 I’ve had a couple of people email me saying the same thing. Everything looks good on my end but I’ll ask my developer to look into this asap!
I see them now! Thank you! What a gorgeous project!
Ohhhh gooood! Thanks so much for the update Cary Jo!
Kira…I also had trouble getting the pictures to appear; I’m using an ipad. After letting my ipad sit for several hours, I reloaded the website and then it worked.
Thanks for this update Jeannie!
Love the ‘staging’ and obviously love the revamped table. I’ve just finished one with the top being faux marble. You will find it here – http://decorativeideas.co.uk/latest-project-gallery/faux-marble-dining-table
Thank you and amazing job, Denise! Looks authentic… and I love your floral chairs too.🌸
It looks amazing!! I love the two toned look!! XOXO
Thanks my friend. I hope you’re enjoying yourself!🤗
Beautiful update! I love when I get the chance to work on my own furniture. Enjoy your new table. 🙂 xo
Thanks Do! I have SO many home projects to do it’s nice to squeeze them in here and there. XOXO
Thank you so much I have never tried Gator Hide and am excited about a waterproof option. The table looks great nice work.
Thanks, Tristy! And if you get the chance to give it a try, I’d love to hear what you think. 🙂
Hi Denise. What a gorgeous half makeover. You’re absolutely right, the pedestal looks brand new and I am LOVING the wood stained top. It adds warmth, charm, and character I’m sure it’s going to look fabulous in your kitchen. BTW, I always appreciate seeing your work space. It’s so artsy and fun. I’ve had the opportunity to visit a few artists studios over the years (the actual working part of the studio) and I’m always impressed by the creative process. Brilliant:). Thank you for sharing. And again, gorgeous makeover.
Thanks, Monique! There’s a magazine showcasing artists’ workspace. I saw it at Walmart… I wish I could remember the name of it. I loved seeing how others work in their environment too. Very interesting. But for some reason, I don’t think mine is. LOL