In this post I’ve shared how easy it is to chalk paint a dining table top to last. I’ve also shared my favorite top coat or sealer for a sturdy finish for any DIY project.
Everyone knows that one of the easiest types of paint to refinish furniture is chalk paint or chalky style paint. I love chalk paint. It’s so easy to work with, and it’s also so forgiving. The biggest question is “does it withstand a lot of traffic, toddlers, dinners, kid snacks, and life?” If I use a clear wax on the table top will it withstand the abuse of the daily routine? There are so many questions that you need to consider when preparing a surface like a table top or dining set. Does chalk paint used on an old table top hold up well? Let me show you how I used chalk paint to refinish my moms table top and how I sealed it. Spoiler alert; I didn’t use wax.
Let me show you the table BEFORE I added any chalk paint to it.
The first thing my mom asked me before she decided to paint the top was,
Can you paint over Stained or varnished Wood without sanding?
YES! The key here is finding the right type of paint to use like chalk paint or chalky style paint.
I’m no stranger to a chalk paint table makeover. As a matter of fact I’ve chalk painted many furniture pieces over the years. I chalk painted an antique desk and here I refurbished a bookcase with chalky spray paint.
Side note; if you are new to chalk paint you might want to look over my post titled all you need to know about chalky style paint.
That being said, I feel like I’ve had enough experiences (and made enough mistakes, LOL) to learn what works when it comes to chalk painting a high traffic surface, especially for this dining table makeover.
Before I dive into “how”, you need to know “what” you are painting.
Even though chalk paint and milk paint is said to cover any surface, I would still do things a little differently if this wasn’t a solid piece of wood furniture. For example, if this was a laminate table top, I would probably use primer first. See more about painting laminate surfaces here.
Let’s discuss this lovely table;
This is a beautiful old Pennsylvania House Queen Anne Cherry table that had seen better days. My mom loved the look of the wood, and everything still looked ok but the table top. Her decor style is more of a British colonial style with pops of vibrant colors.
The color palette in her home consists of mainly black, cherry wood and cream.
Now that you know her colors, you can understand why we are going to paint the top of the table with a black matte chalk paint. We will leave the table legs that beautiful cherry wood color.
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How to use chalk paint on a dining table top and make it last
We decided to use Valspar Chalky Finish paint mixed in a black color. She wanted a two toned table with a black top and cherry tones everywhere else.
Side note; I believe they have discontinued this chalk paint. I’m not for sure about that, but I can’t find it anywhere anymore. A very similar type of chalk paint (same style and similar cost) is Rust-Oleum’s Chalked line. My all time favorite chalk paint is Annie Sloan chalk paint though!
I won’t go into all the details on HOW TO CHALK PAINT a piece of furniture because I’ve already detailed a post that you can check out below.
You can see in the BEFORE picture that mom had already taken blue painters tape and wrapped the edges with it.
How to chalk paint a cherry wood table top to last
- Prep the surface by cleaning it well with a lint free cloth and sanding with a fine grit sandpaper
- Apply painters tape around the edges if needed
- Use a bristle brush or round brush to apply the first coat of chalk paint
- Sand in between coats to ensure a smooth finish making sure to clean the dust in between coats
- Apply at least two coats of paint to flat surfaces and possibly another coat if it’s hard to reach areas
- For best results on a high traffic surface, apply a top coat (Polycrylic is a great one) once the desired finish is achieved with chalk paint
A few notes about how to create a lasting finish for this chalk painted table;
- We used a bristle brush to apply the chalk paint. If you are painting the entire table and would prefer to use a paint sprayer, I’ve got a post detailing how to use a paint sprayer to apply chalk paint.
- I used a fine grit sanding block to sand in between the paint coats. I find the sanding block easier to use than sandpaper when using it on a flat surface.
- The most important part about creating a durable finish on top of chalk paint is the top coat. Keep reading for more details.
This is what the table looked like after the second coat of paint (the paint is still a little wet FYI).
After the two coats of black chalk paint were dry, I did a little more sanding. The sanding ensures a smoother, “buttery” finish and removes any brush strokes if there are any. I worked in small sections making sure to sand the surface evenly. Sanding will create a “chalky substance” so make sure to clean the surface well after you sand. Using a tack cloth is the best way to ensure you’ve removed any extra dust on an old piece of furniture.
The trick to creating a durable chalk paint finish for everyday use on a table top is a good top coat.
I said before I wasn’t going to use wax. In my opinion, wax does well for sealing chalk paint (which is it’s sole purpose) but not necessarily for repelling water or holding up to high traffic.
Best Top Coat or Sealer on top of chalk paint
This is where I opted to use a Polycrylic sealer from Minwax instead of wax. This is my go to sealer for a more durable finish.
Just to be transparent, here is where I ran into some issues the first time I applied sealer.
Not all my projects are cupcakes and rainbows and I always try to be real with y’all. 🙁
Let me show you what happened after I applied the first coat.
This wasn’t a new can of sealer. Apparently it crystalized at some point and this is what it looked like after it dried. Ugh, I should have thrown that can away before I used it.
Note to self (and all my furniture flipping friends); if the can doesn’t have an absolute seal on it, throw it away!
Back to the drawing board….or should I say sanding board.
We sanded it down with an electric sander to the layer of black chalk paint.
Finally looking better! Now it’s time to add a coat of NEW sealer.
We added two coats of sealer and decided to stop there. I always suggest at least two coats for a table top or surface that gets a lot of traffic.
Ready to see this beautiful Queen Anne Table finished with chalk paint?
I think the chalk painted table top really blends well with her decor style. The end result is exactly what I had hoped for.
Doesn’t matter if it’s white paint, black paint or purple paint, a fresh coat can transform any surface! What do you think? I think this two toned style would also look great for a coffee table too.
If you enjoyed this post I would love for you to share it to Pinterest. Make sure to check out our other furniture makeovers too!
