striking Green Entry Table + Tips for Chalk Paint

This furniture walkthrough stays in the order the work happens.

Wondering how to use chalk paint on furniture? See this vivid green entry table makeover and get all the chalk paint tips! 

See more in this chalk paint vanity makeover, and read Picking the Right Paint for Painting Furniture for more tips. 

Next up in our #TurningTablesDIY week, we are thrilled to welcome a sweet friend, the very talented Rhoda from Southern Hospitality. Be sure to pay her a visit to see her striking home and the home tours she posts! Plus, look at all of the #TurningTablesDIY posts here and be sure to subscribe by email or RSS and follow along over on Facebook so you won’t miss a single one of the memorable posts we have coming up!

Green Entry Table Chalk Paint Makeover

Hello and I’m so happy to be here on Bekob with Cassity. Cassity and I go back a few years in the blogging world and it’s an honor to be here sharing with you all today.

I’m Rhoda from Southern Hospitality and I’ve been blogging for 9 years. I started off as a heavy decorating/Handmade blog and have since evolved into a lifestyle blog, sharing plenty of Handmade and decorating along the way, but also recipes, travel and fashion.

I renovated a 1979 house inside and out and shared that process every step of the way on my blog, so that’s been a fun journey. I have always loved a good Handmade project and since most of us aren’t rich, saving some bucks by yardsaling and thrifting has always been part of my decorating arsenal.

Today’s project is a yard sale find from years ago and that’s where I’ve found some of my best pieces to makeover.

You can also look at some of my other popular paint projects on my blog, like painting old chairs to make them over and even a bit of distressing and using stain to seal (below picture). Great way to spruce up those old pieces, as I’m sure you already know.

Here’s a pretty bookcase I found yardsaling and made it over to go with my bright office space and I added the beadboard backing too. Adding a fun color on the back adds a nice pop!

Let’s get to the green desk project!

Tips for Using & Finishing Chalk Paint
by Rhoda from Southern Hospitality

I’m a big thrifter over the years and have collected some great pieces from yard sales. I found this one at a yard sale for $25 and it’s a Henredon piece. It was originally a brown wood color and I decided to paint it black several years ago. I loved it like this for many years, but it was time for a change.

Here is all you’ll need for your project:

1. Can of chalk paint, color of your choice
2. Can of Satin Varnish or another water-based varnish of your choice
3. Small foam roller
4. Small paint brush

There are many chalk paints on the market now, so you can choose the one you like the best. I’ve used several of them and have really enjoyed this brand.

See more about Annie Sloan chalk paint here and here.

I got some Maison Blanche chalky paint and went to work. I decided on a fresh green color, called St. Anne’s and got everything set up. I love using chalk paint for furniture projects, because you don’t have to sand and it sticks really well. Remove drawers and hardware before you start painting.

Many DIYers use wax on their painted furniture pieces and I’ve used wax before, but I prefer a solid finish on most of my pieces and adding a Satin Varnish on top is a great way to protect the chalk like finish and give it a little sheen. I love using this varnish from Maison Blanche too.

Want to restore to a wood finish instead of paint? See How to Refinish Wood Furniture

Prepare your piece for painting by protecting the floor or you can move your piece to the garage or another area.

I poured out my paint in a paper plate and used a small foam roller and small paint brush. You’ll need both to get into the crevices and use the foam roller on the flat parts.

This goes pretty fast. Don’t worry about covering too heavy, you’ll need to do a couple of coats to cover anyway. Watch out for drips and wipe those up right away.

Once the first coat is one, it will look a little splotchy, but that’s OK. Let dry overnight or a few hours and then do a 2nd coat.

My desk had some detailing on the legs, that I had painted gold originally, so I left that part untouched, so the black and gold could shine through.

It looks good to have some detailing on a piece like this.

After two coats, it’s much more covered, but go back and look for any areas that might need touching up.

Your finish will feel like chalk, very dry to the touch, but that’s where the varnish comes in. It’s a water based Satin Varnish and cleans up easily. I also used the foam roller and paint brush to apply the clear varnish.

After the varnish went on, I added back the original brass knobs and my piece was ready to accessorize.

I love the pop of cheery green that the desk adds to my space and I’ve added more green around the room, too. It’s a nice mix of greens and blues in my space, very happy and cheerful.

I use a variety of things to decorate and vintage paintings are some of my go-to to collect.

I had a black lamp in the room, so I took a paintbrush and painted it green as well. It’s always a good option to sprinkle an accent color around the room.

And here’s an aerial view of my room now. I love the mix of blues and greens with my vintage wood pieces and also the painted pieces I’ve mixed into the room.

It’s fun to get a new look just by painting a piece of furniture and it’s one of the easiest things you can do to update your space on a modest-cost.

I’ve been painting furniture for years, way before I started blogging and it’s my go-to way to update anything! I’d love for you to stop by my blog, Southern Hospitality, for lots more decorating and project inspiration.

Thanks for sharing, Rhoda! Love that pop of green. Bekob, be sure to pay Rhoda a visit over at Southern Hospitality.

See more #TurningTablesDIY posts here and be sure to subscribe by email or RSS and follow along over on Facebook so you won’t miss a single one of the memorable posts we have coming up, like this solid straightforward building plan:

More tips for furniture makeovers:

• The Right Paint: How to Paint Furniture with Latex, Chalk, Milk, Oil, and Spray Paint
• Must-Know Tips to Prep Refinished Furniture
• How to Refinish Wood Furniture (With Very Little Sanding!)