I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Espe I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Especially the floors! 
Head over to Paintingbythepenny.com for a step by step guide on how to paint a harlequin floor pattern, the products we used, how to achieve a crisp paint line, and the mistake I made during the process 🫠. 
#paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #floorpaint #newblogpost #bathroomdesign #bathroomremodel #vintagebathroom
Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨ •Painted t Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨
•Painted the walls using left over paint (Color Sherwin Williams Greek Villa) 
•Painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating 
•Upgraded curtain rod, towel bar and toilet paper holder 
•Replaced vanity knob & pull
•Sanded & installed shelves higher 
•Purchased and thrifted items on shelves 
•Purchased accent table & cut it to size 
•Purchased new rug and shower curtain 
•Hung a new plant baby to bring it all together 🪴
Sometimes all you need is to upgrade some of the small items, paint and thrift some decorative pieces and you have yourself a brand new bathroom! 
#bathroommakeover #budgetfriendlymakeover #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #paintedfloors #bathroomideas #bathroominspiration
This bathroom has been through a couple different This bathroom has been through a couple different changes. Mainly wall colors and if I knew how good the floors would have looked painted too, I would have done it a long time ago! 
I painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating and it has completely transformed the look of this bathroom! 
#bathroomdesign #bathroomupgrade #vintagebathroom #paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #bathroom 
#bathroomremodel
Which room is your favorite? I really can’t deci Which room is your favorite? I really can’t decide between bedroom 2, the Kitchen, breakfast nook or Living room. 
Each room means something special. One I was able to put together mainly using FB marketplace items, the other had the biggest transformation in terms of look, and others just came together so nicely that it’s hard to pick a favorite! 
#apartmenttransformation #bedroomdesign #kitchendesign #breakfastnook #livingroomdesign #apartmentdecor #apartmenttherapy
After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, I received lots of questions about the desks we built on the sides. 
I gathered some measurements and did some research on standard desks sizes. Took into consideration the IKEA Alex drawer we purchased to fit underneath and then grabbed our tools and some plywood! 
We’ve never built desks before and I’d say it turned out pretty good for our first time! 
#diyproject #builtindesk #desk #officedesk #officedesign #deskbuild #diywoodproject
Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and th Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and there were some mixed reviews on how we did it 😅 
So how are the radiators holding up now that they’re being used? Well so far so good! They look great and work just fine, no chemical smells, or peeling! 
I love how they look in our home! For details on how to refinish steam radiators visit Paintingbythepenny.com
Even if you purchase furniture online, you can mak Even if you purchase furniture online, you can make it unique to you! 
We purchased this Murphy bed online at Bredabeds.com and added trim, painted it, and changed the hardware. 
Now it looks like something we built! 🪚💪🏼
#murphybed #guestroom #woodtrim #sherwinwilliamsriverway #builtins #officedesign #guestroomdesign #diy #diyprojects #bedroomtransformation #bedroommakeover
This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I ca This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I can’t believe we were able to install cabinets and build shelves and desks around a Murphy bed. 
Makes me wonder what else we can do! 
Took us many months to complete but we did it! Now I’m looking around the house like what else can we build 🤔😅 
#beforeandafter #guestroom #office #guestroomdesign #transformation #murphybed #officedesign
Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an i Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an item! Sometimes it just needs a simple refresh and it looks brand new again! 
We find solutions and makes things work around here, especially when it’s free! 
#wallart #homedecor #easyfix #walldecor #interiordesign #framedart #livingroomdesign #diy
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Painting by the Penny

Refinished Furniture, DIY, & Interior Design

Furniture · August 11, 2021

How To Refinish Furniture: Dining Table

Dining tables can be expensive, especially if you want a long solid wood table to gather around with friends and family. I purchased this incredible dining table on Facebook Marketplace for $75 dollars. It required a lot of sanding and just a little paint to make it look beautiful again. Here’s how I refinished this table and a step by step tutorial so that you can learn how to refinish your own!

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 

What you’ll need:

Krud Kutter (or any TSP cleaner) 

Dust Mask

Oribital sander

Sand paper & sanding sponges 120 & 220grit (can be found at your local hardware store)

Tack cloth or rag

Paint brush

Painters tape

Paint

Foam brush

Polycrylic

Step 1:Repair & Clean 

Clean the table well and make any repairs that need to be made first. To clean my pieces I use Krud Kutter. You can also use dish soap and water or any TSP cleaner. Make sure to get all of the dirt and grime off. Even though I plan on sanding, I always clean my furniture a bit (especilly if there’s visible dirt and grime). After cleaning, allow your piece to dry well.

*If you need to take your table apart so that its easier to work on make sure to put all of your screws and any hardware in a ziplock bag. That way you won’t worry about losing any screws when its time to put the table back together. 

We removed the leaves from the top and the legs to make it easier to work on.

Step 2:Sand

Before sanding, be sure to check what type of wood your table is made out of. Some tables are solid wood, while others have a thin layer of veneer on the top and then particle board or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) underneath. Some tables are made out of manufactured wood and can’t be sanded. Do your research before you start sanding. You can sand veener, but very carefully. Veneer is pretty thin and if you sand down too much you can cause irreversible damage.  

Once you’ve identified that your table can be sanded, start sanding your table top with 120 grit sand paper using an orbital sander. Be sure to wear a dust mask when sanding. I used my SurfPrep 3inchx4inch electric sander which is a little pricey but I’m always refinishing furniture so it’s worth the investment. 

Be careful when sanding the corners and edges of your table with your oribital sander. It can chip away some of the wood or sand too much of the veneer. For the areas that you plan on painting, you do not have to sand down to the raw wood. You’ll just need to scuff sand with a sanding sponge so that your paint bonds well. The edge around the top of our table is made of MDF so that was scuff sanded by hand and painted. 

Use your sanding sponges for areas that the orbital sander can’t get to. The legs on our table had lots of curves so we sanded what we could with our electric sander and did the rest by hand. To get into the little tight areas I cut a piece paint stirrer and wrapped sandpaper around it. The sanding doesn’t have to be perfect as you want some character to show. Don’t stress if some areas are lighter than others.

Step 3:Clean

After your piece is completely sanded, clean it again. You can clean the sanding dust off using a vacuum and a tack cloth (which is what I do) or you can use a rag. Make sure to clean it well so that your poly goes on nice and clean.

Step 4:Paint

Depending on the finish of your wood and what color you paint, you may have to prime too. Some types of wood release lots of tannins that cause bleed through after it’s painted. For more on that, check out my post on 4 Things to Consider Before Painting Furniture.

You can use BB Frosch paint transformer which you can mix with any latex paint. Other popular paints for refinishing furniture are Melange Paints, Country Chic Paint, Fusion Mineral Paint, Shakteau Interiors, & Dixie Belle Paint.

I mixed BBFrosch paint transformer with a sample of Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige. Check out my post on using BBfrosch for painting furniture. I used painters tape and taped around the area I was going to paint. I painted around the table top and the bottom detail on the legs using my Zibra brush. My favorite brushes to use are Zibra, Wooster, and Pro Grade (all could be found on my Amazon store front)

Step 5:Poly

The last step is applying poly. When applying poly I always apply at least 3 coats. Follow the instructions on the back of the can. Apply your first coat and let it dry for at least 2 hours in between coats. Drying time depends on the humidity in the room. Sometimes it may take longer to dry.  

After your first coat of poly is dry, sand using a 220 grit sanding sponge (this ensures proper adhesion of the next coat). Wipe off the sanding dust well, then apply your next coat. Repeat the steps and apply as many coats as you’d like. For higher traffic pieces at least 3 coats is recommended. 

If you are sanding a piece down completely and are NOT painting any part of it, you can do a oil based or a water based poly ( I like to use water based). If you are applying poly over paint make sure it is water based. Oil based poly can yellow over time so avoid oil based when applying over paint.

I used Minwax Water Based Polycrylic in satin. I poured a small amount of poly in a bowl and used a round painting sponge to apply it to the top. For the legs, I used a foam brush because its easier to get into the curves. You can apply polycrylic with a synthetic bristle brush or a foam brush. Do thin even coats and do not over brush. Watch for drips. 

To apply the poly we put the leaves back on the top. Look at how long this table is! A total 102 inches long!

Here is the final look!

Can you believe this is the same table? (I removed the two leaves to stage and take photos)

If you have a solid dining table that you would like to refinish, give it a try! I hope you found these steps to be helpful! Let me know what you think. 

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Comments

  1. Bond Corp says

    August 19, 2021 at 11:00 am

    Such an informative article! All the information provided by you is really very helpful. By using tack cloth you can easily remove small dust particles from the surface and it also gives you smooth paint finishing. Thank you for sharing! Keep posting!

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      August 19, 2021 at 6:56 pm

      Thank you so much for your kind words! I love using a tack cloth!

      Reply
  2. Chetna Patel says

    February 17, 2022 at 10:05 am

    This table looks fabulous! I have been wanting to change my kitchen table for the longest but can’t decide on paint or stain or color 😕. Love this color do you think it will hold up to everyday use?

    Reply
    • Joanna says

      February 18, 2022 at 11:16 pm

      Hi! Thank you! If it’s a solid wood table then I say sand and stain for sure! Maybe add some color on the legs? Any table can hold up well if properly refinished and protected with several coats of polycrylic.

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Joanna, a Latina who is passionate about making homes beautiful through furniture, design and DIY! Follow along as I share all my tips and tricks and the behind the scenes. I hope to inspire you as much as you all inspire me!

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I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Espe I’m still swooning over this bathroom 😍. Especially the floors! 
Head over to Paintingbythepenny.com for a step by step guide on how to paint a harlequin floor pattern, the products we used, how to achieve a crisp paint line, and the mistake I made during the process 🫠. 
#paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #floorpaint #newblogpost #bathroomdesign #bathroomremodel #vintagebathroom
Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨ •Painted t Budget Friendly Bathroom Makeover ✨
•Painted the walls using left over paint (Color Sherwin Williams Greek Villa) 
•Painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating 
•Upgraded curtain rod, towel bar and toilet paper holder 
•Replaced vanity knob & pull
•Sanded & installed shelves higher 
•Purchased and thrifted items on shelves 
•Purchased accent table & cut it to size 
•Purchased new rug and shower curtain 
•Hung a new plant baby to bring it all together 🪴
Sometimes all you need is to upgrade some of the small items, paint and thrift some decorative pieces and you have yourself a brand new bathroom! 
#bathroommakeover #budgetfriendlymakeover #bathroomdesign #bathroomdecor #paintedfloors #bathroomideas #bathroominspiration
This bathroom has been through a couple different This bathroom has been through a couple different changes. Mainly wall colors and if I knew how good the floors would have looked painted too, I would have done it a long time ago! 
I painted the floors using Rust-oleum Home Floor Coating and it has completely transformed the look of this bathroom! 
#bathroomdesign #bathroomupgrade #vintagebathroom #paintedfloors #harlequinfloors #bathroom 
#bathroomremodel
Which room is your favorite? I really can’t deci Which room is your favorite? I really can’t decide between bedroom 2, the Kitchen, breakfast nook or Living room. 
Each room means something special. One I was able to put together mainly using FB marketplace items, the other had the biggest transformation in terms of look, and others just came together so nicely that it’s hard to pick a favorite! 
#apartmenttransformation #bedroomdesign #kitchendesign #breakfastnook #livingroomdesign #apartmentdecor #apartmenttherapy
After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, After sharing that we purchased a Murphy bed kit, I received lots of questions about the desks we built on the sides. 
I gathered some measurements and did some research on standard desks sizes. Took into consideration the IKEA Alex drawer we purchased to fit underneath and then grabbed our tools and some plywood! 
We’ve never built desks before and I’d say it turned out pretty good for our first time! 
#diyproject #builtindesk #desk #officedesk #officedesign #deskbuild #diywoodproject
Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and th Over the Summer we refinished our radiators and there were some mixed reviews on how we did it 😅 
So how are the radiators holding up now that they’re being used? Well so far so good! They look great and work just fine, no chemical smells, or peeling! 
I love how they look in our home! For details on how to refinish steam radiators visit Paintingbythepenny.com
Even if you purchase furniture online, you can mak Even if you purchase furniture online, you can make it unique to you! 
We purchased this Murphy bed online at Bredabeds.com and added trim, painted it, and changed the hardware. 
Now it looks like something we built! 🪚💪🏼
#murphybed #guestroom #woodtrim #sherwinwilliamsriverway #builtins #officedesign #guestroomdesign #diy #diyprojects #bedroomtransformation #bedroommakeover
This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I ca This transformation still blows my mind! 🤯 I can’t believe we were able to install cabinets and build shelves and desks around a Murphy bed. 
Makes me wonder what else we can do! 
Took us many months to complete but we did it! Now I’m looking around the house like what else can we build 🤔😅 
#beforeandafter #guestroom #office #guestroomdesign #transformation #murphybed #officedesign
Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an i Don’t let a small flaw deter you from using an item! Sometimes it just needs a simple refresh and it looks brand new again! 
We find solutions and makes things work around here, especially when it’s free! 
#wallart #homedecor #easyfix #walldecor #interiordesign #framedart #livingroomdesign #diy
Can you cut bamboo shades? Yes, yes you can! Thi Can you cut bamboo shades? 
Yes, yes you can!  This is a quick and simple solution for those odd sized windows. 
Some of the windows at the Airbnb were a little tricky because the width was in between sizes so when ordering the bamboo shades, I went up a size and then we cut it using a miter saw. 
Now it’s a perfect fit 🙌🏽
#windowtreatments #bambooshades #tipsandtricks #diy #homedecor #windowshades #mitersaw #bambooblinds #diysolutions #windowdesign
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