I love the transformation of this old wood table into something modern and chic using stencil and paint.

Sometimes it surprises me how a little paint can give so much life to an old piece of furniture. You apply a little bit of color and suddenly, you have a renewed, fresh and unique new piece.

That's exactly what happened with this used coffee table I found for $5 at a local thrift store. I wanted to paint it in a nice color that stands out against the walls so I chose a vibrant and beautiful blue shade named Surfer (SW 6946) from Sherwin Williams.

Before I started painting I thought it would be interesting to make a design on the top of the table. I decided to use a geometric stencil since I have seen a lot of tables with this modern look lately.

Check out the material list and steps to renew an old piece of furniture using this technique below.

MATERIALS:

1 Quart of Interior Acrylic Latex Paint. Color: Surfer (SW 6946). Sherwin Williams Emerald line. Semi-gloss
1 Quart of Interior Acrylic Latex Paint. Color: Pure White (SW 7005). Sherwin Williams Emerald line. Semi-gloss
1 Quart Multi-Purpose Latex Primer/Sealer
1 Brush 3”. Sherwin Williams Contractor Series® Nylon/Polyester blend Trim
1 brush 1 ½ "(Premium XL Polyester Angle Sash Brush)
1 Mil 9′ x 12′ Plastic Drop Cloth. Like this one here
3M™ Pro Grade No Slip Grip™ Sandpaper. 220 Very Fine. Similar to this one
1 Sherwin-Williams® Foam Brush (1”)
1 Scotch-Blue™ Painter's Tape for Multi-Surfaces
A stencil sheet. Your favorite design.
Foam brush similar to these ones
Paper napkins
Pencil and ruler

How to Transform a Piece of Furniture using Stencils:

1. Protect your workspace.

Use a plastic drop cloth to cover the floor (Sherwin Williams 1 Mil 9′ x 12′ Plastic Drop Cloth) that way you can paint freely without worrying about making a mess.

2. Sand the table.

Choose the thickness of the sandpaper depending on your project. Since my table was quite worn, a fine grit sandpaper (3M™ Pro Grade No Slip Grip™ Sandpaper. 220 Very Fine) was enough to remove most of the old finish. Sand it until you see that the wood feels soft and when you remove almost all the finish that was there before.

.3. Apply the primer.

Use a primer to cover all imperfections in your piece of furniture. I used a Multi-Purpose Latex Primer/Sealer, which works great on any surface and isn’t too expensive. Apply at least two layers of primer.

4. Sand the layer of primer a bit before painting.

I found that if you sand the layer of primer a little bit before you start painting, you can remove bubbles or grains that got stuck there. The result is a much softer and smoother surface.

5. It's time for color!

Apply two or three coats of the color using a 3" brush to cover the top of the table and an angle brush 1 ½" for details and corners.

I recommend the semi-gloss finish for furniture because it is easier to clean and protects the surface from liquids, grease and dust.

6. Paint your design using the stencil.

First, measure, mark and tape the stencil.

Then, soak the foam brush with paint and remove the excess using a paper napkin. When the brush is almost dry, begin to apply color to the stencil by gently pressing it against the surface. Gradually cover the whole design.

Wait a few minutes for it to dry and apply one or two coats.

Repeat the process until you cover the entire table or, you could leave a border around the table, like I did, that frames the entire design.

I can’t believe it's the same table!

It looks really modern and of course, unique and original. Now, can you imagine decorating one of your old and boring pieces of furniture with this technique? It would be awesome!

This post was created in partnership with Sherwin Williams. All pictures and opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that allow me to create new and special content like this for Live Colorful.

How to Paint with Stencil a Wood Table