Hand-Me-Down End Tables Get a Neutral-Toned Makeover

This trio of hand-me-down end tables received an updated neutral-toned makeover with the help of some stain and elbow grease.

My daughter and son-in-law just recently finished a gorgeous home addition and renovation, so it seemed fitting that these end tables got a makeover to fit in with their updated surroundings.

Sure, it would have been much easier to just buy some new tables, but these three tables hold some sentimental value.

The larger table was a new purchase for our first home back in the early 90s. Below is the best photo I could find of it from back then. It was a golden oak, which was the trend at the time.

Twenty-some years later when my daughter moved into her first apartment, I gave her the end table, and she painted it black.

The two smaller tables were kept from my parents’ house after we sold their estate.

I am partnering with Dixie Belle Paint Company for this post. Paint and stain were generously provided to me by Dixie Belle, but all ideas and creations are my own. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Strip & Sand

We wanted a lighter and brighter look for these pieces, so I sanded down just the tops of the two smaller pieces. The dark paint came right off using my Ryobi Corner Cat Sander.

The larger end table was a different story and turned out to be one of the most labor-intensive furniture makeovers I’ve done to date.

No matter how much sanding we did, that black paint just wouldn’t budge. Time to break out the Citristrip.

Even so, it was slow-going, and required lots and lots of sanding.

We used a Dremel to get into the small spaces.

To presere the wood inlay and achieve a neutral-toned finish, I used Dixie Belle’s Voodoo Gel Stain in Natural and applied it with an applicator pad.

Using a small Artist Brush, I applied Black Gilding Wax in the decorative crevices to highlight them.

The top of the table had an inset brass accent which made the table really look dated. I first applied Slick Stick to give the paint something to stick to, and then painted the brass with Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint in the color Caviar.

Already it’s such a better look than the oak or the solid black that it was previously, don’t you think?

Small Side Tables

The bases of the small side tables were already black, so I left that part alone.

To achieve a neutral-toned finish on the tops, I applied a mixture of three different Voodoo Gel Stains in Natural, Tobacco Road, and Up In Smoke.

Finally, I applied more Black Gilding Wax to the black-painted brass to add a bit more luster, and gave all three pieces a coat of Satin Clear Coat using a foam brush.

More Modern and Updated

After these hand-me-down end tables got their neutral-toned makeover they look brighter and more modern– perfect for my daughter’s remodeled home.

It makes me happy that these tables can continue to be used in our family rather than sent off to the landfill or thrift store.

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This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

Supply List:

• Caviar Chalk Mineral Paint
• Voodoo Gel Stains
• Slick Stick
• Gilding Wax
• Artist Brushes
• Satin Clear Coat
• Applicator Pad
• Foam Brushes

More Furniture Makeovers

• How to Paint and Distress Furniture
• Thrift Store Table Makeover