I’ve always been fond of furniture that has a painted antique-look, which is also referred to as “shabby chic”. The downside is that shabby chic furniture is a bit pricey. Good for you if you get to find one among garage sale items…but this rarely happens.
I got tired of trying to find the perfect shabby chic furniture that I decided to create my own. I had the perfect sized side table to work on anyway. So, off to the paint shop I went to purchase a can of chalk paint (had to ask for assistance from the sales staff though since I was in a rush when I made the purchase).
Materials:
1 old wood side table
Paint brush
Chalk paint
Rubber gloves
Drop cloth or newspapers
Sandpaper – 180-grit
Clean damp cloth
Procedure:
Prepare your work space by placing the drop cloth or spreading the newspapers on the floor to prevent you from accidentally damaging your flooring. I recommend doing this in your garage for better ventilation.
Make sure the side table is clean by wiping it with the damp cloth. Let it air dry.
If your side table has a drawer, tape off the handles so you don’t need to remove it while painting.
Mix the paint according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Apply the first coat of paint using the paint brush beginning at the top. Paint the legs last.
You can apply 2-3 more coats of paint depending on your desired look. Allow enough time for the paint to dry before applying the next coat.
Once completely dry, lightly sand the areas of the table using sand paper to give it a distressed look.
Remember that you are giving the table a distressed look, so you just need to sand the table in areas where it would get naturally distressed.
Needless to say, I was very happy with the results of my little project. I am already looking forward to a long weekend where I can shabby chic my kitchen cabinet!