A Facebook Marketplace Coffee Table Makeover

Once upon a time, there was an oak coffee table with clean French lines just waiting for her own dazzling makeover. This is the true story of an oak coffee table gone bad and the girl who ultimately gave her the makeover she was looking for.

I have to admit, I am starting the slow ride to a FB Marketplace addiction. I just can’t help it. There are just sooooo many goodies waiting for makeovers that people are offering for next to nothing! So when I spotted a $20 oak coffee table with some French lines…I just had to jump.

She was in terrible shape when I got her. A yucky orange color with layers and layers of poly on. Her legs were pretty beat up, but the nice thing about a solid oak coffee table? They are pretty indestructible really. So, this little marketplace coffee table makeover was destined to happen.

After I met the nice lady that sold her to me for $20, I stopped by one more thrift store on the way home. When I walked out from the thrift store I forgot she was in the back and when I popped the back of my van open she slid down into the parking lot almost taking me out in the process. So I heaved her back up in the van after having her fall flat out into the parking lot. Now that’s tough. Her I mean. Okay, well I’m kinda tough too I guess.

I stripped the top and sanded it down to the raw wood. Then I used a new to me technique and really love how the top turned out. I used a brass brush to “comb” the grain after sanding it down to raw wood. Then I brushed on Annie Sloan Dark Wax all over the top. Then I used steel wool to take off the wax just leaving the wax in the grain. I put three coats of matte poly on the top to protect her.

I used Saltwash on the bottom of the coffee table. I painted the whole bottom white and used some Saltwash to mix in with the white chalk paint. Then I gave the whole thing a coat of Annie Sloan Paris Grey. After it dried I sanded it back to reveal all the white texture underneath. I love how it turned out. It gave me that old feel without being straight up chippy.

I love the relaxed feel and she can withstand feet being propped up, race cars, and whatever else the family throws at her. This is our main place to hang out as a family and I don’t ever want anything to feel too precious that my kids don’t feel comfortable. I hope you have an awesome day! I would love to know what you think of how she turned out!

Nancy