How to Paint Wood Tables

Wood tables, whether old or new, can easily be painted any color you choose. Painting a wood table should not take more than a few hours. Preparing the table will take as long, if not longer, than the painting process; good preparation is absolutely necessary for the paint to adhere properly and look good. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Spread a drop cloth on the floor and place the table on the cloth. This will protect your floor from paint and primer drips.

2

Sand the entire tabletop with a coarse-grained paper, followed by a fine-grained sandpaper. Wipe the tabletop down with a cloth and then turn the table upside down so it rests on its top.

3

Sand down each table leg. Wipe the legs off with a cloth, or brush them off with a dry paint brush. Put on protective glasses and a mask and spray an even coat of primer on the legs.

4

Open and stir the paint. After the primer has dried, paint a thin coat of paint on each table leg, one leg at a time. Let the paint dry completely before applying the next coat.

5

Carefully flip the table to the upright position. Dust off the tabletop with a clean cloth. Spray the top and edges with primer. When spraying corners near the table legs, hold a piece of cardboard under the lip of the tabletop to prevent primer from getting on the freshly-painted legs.

6

Stir the paint again with a wooden stirrer. Dip the brush and paint the top surface of the table. Paint a thin coat with the grain of the wood.

7

Gently sand the first, dried coat of paint with fine-grained paper. This will help the second coat stick better and remove minor paint imperfections. Wipe off the dust with a cloth and paint a second coat. Repeat the process and add a third coat of paint if two coats don't achieve the look you want.