I still cannot get over what a difference it makes to refinish furniture with paint. From an outdated coffee table to a sleek modern black-painted coffee table with gorgeous cane webbing, this DIY project is an excellent example of total furniture transformation that is both gorgeous with new life and budget-friendly.

I love so much of the MCM look. After all, some of these styles were things I grew up with. Well, along with country blue and mauve Home Interiors ducks. Some of the staples of MCM furniture have made a huge resurgence in the last several years. Cane webbing, cane, rattan, wicker, and bamboo are all materials that are in high demand.

Some pieces of furniture where I have seen these elements popping up on DIY projects are a nightstand, dressers, headboards, and cane furniture. Many people are using DIY cane webbing on many types of projects as well. Drawer fronts, an Ikea hack, a storage cabinet, and cupboard doors are a few of the projects I have loved.

an interesting fact about me

Speaking of MCM, an interesting fact about me is my family had a booth in our kitchen growing up. Like our kitchen table was a restaurant-style booth. FROM LONG JOHN SILVER’S. I kid you not! Like royal blue vinyl with those weird pirate flags stitched into the seat back! Welp that is awkward to share! lol!

MID-CENTURY MODERN CANE WEBBING COFFEE TABLE FIND

This guide will walk you step by step through the entire process of upcycling this cane-webbing coffee table. Several months ago, my wife and I stopped at our local ReStore. This place is totally hit or miss. Sometimes they will have some decent furniture at affordable prices. Other times they are trying to sell pressed board end tables like French Provincial antiques from the 1700s.

We found this gorgeous walnut, rectangle coffee table with a glass top and cane webbing bottom for only $15. It was amazing. My thought was to sand this cane webbing coffee table to a natural finish and paint the cane webbing to freshen it up.

As I sanded, the beautiful Walnut grain started to pop even more before. Once most of the cane webbing coffee table was stripped, I noticed the grain pattern popped a little too much. It had a weird tiger stripe effect that I couldn’t get past. So, unfortunately, I had to make a mid-project switch and went with black paint to complete the makeover. More on that later.

KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR

Two of the most significant pieces of advice I can give you are knowing what you’re looking for and knowing where to look. You should be able to find old furniture for a makeover at just about every thrift store or garage sale you come across. However, not all furniture is worth the price and the hassle of the redo. Some furniture will be pressed wood (particle board) and cheaply manufactured.

There is nothing wrong with attempting to redo cheap furniture, but most of the time, the result will not be nearly as good, the piece will not last long, and the process will just be complicated due to the issues with cheaper furniture. On the other hand, if you can find a furniture piece that is solid wood and durable from a reputable manufacturer, your chances of long-term success with the furniture makeover go way up. Check out my post on how to paint a nightstand for an example of a high-end piece of furniture bought for $12.99 at a thrift store.

Know where to buy

Knowing where to buy is also important. Look at your local thrift stores and check for the quality, quantity, and furniture cost. I have a few that I love. Knowing what you’re looking for and where to look will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.

Before You Start your cane webbing coffee table makeover

This is the stage of the furniture makeover when you need to decide precisely what you want the finished product to look like. Are you sanding and leaving natural wood exposed? Maybe strip and stain. How would the piece look painted? Possibly chalk paint with a clear wax sealer? So many things to contemplate, and now is the time to make some of these decisions.

MATERIALS AND TOOLS needed for this coffee table redo

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

Orbital sander

Sandpaper

Paintbrush

Paint sprayer

Foam roller

Poly

Spray paint

Clean The glass top coffee Table

I have started using Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. The product does a great job of cleaning and degreasing. The best part is that it is much safer for the environment than other harsh cleaners and degreasers.

Removing the glass was my first step. My goal was to avoid another mishap with a glass-top coffee table. Check out my post, A complete guide to how to chalk paint a coffee table, for more about that situation. I thoroughly sprayed the entire piece and wiped it down to ensure the coffee table was free of dust or debris. Another product you can use to make sure you get all of the dust is a tack cloth.

Paint the cane webbing

Because of the woven pattern of cane webbing, it is essential to make sure you get good paint coverage on both sides of the cane webbing. I used Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel in an almond color with a satin sheen. Blue painter’s tape was used to tape a clean line between the cane webbing and the wood on the coffee table.

Once the table was taped, I sprayed the cane webbing with almond spray paint. Use long, smooth strokes; I sprayed four light coats to get nice, even paint coverage. This was repeated for the other side of the cane webbing. So, both sides of the cane webbing received four coats of spray paint.

Black paint makes this cane webbing renovation.

Now that the cane webbing is painted almond, I taped the cane webbing so I could paint the coffee table. I did not prime this mid-century coffee table due to the paint I chose. I used satin sheen Behr Ultra Scuff Defense in Cracked Pepper. This is a paint and primer in one, so there was no need for additional primer.

I applied three coats of paint with a foam roller and paintbrush (for the hard-to-reach corners). I used medium grit sandpaper/sponge between each coat of paint for any imperfections. This cane webbing coffee table makeover is almost complete. Here comes the sealer.

Apply Sealer To The upcycled DIY Coffee Table

I wanted an ultra-smooth finish with the top coat sealer. So, I sprayed the polyurethane on the painted coffee table. Removing the tape around the cane webbing allowed me to spray the table and the cane webbing with polyurethane.

I sprayed three coats of Verithane satin sheen polyurethane. This gave me great coverage and excellent durability. I like this product due to its water-based nature, which makes it really easy to clean up. Just like that, this project is done.

Final Steps

All that was left was to clean the glass inserts that go on top of the table, and this cane webbing coffee table makeover is finished. I hope you enjoyed following along. This was a fun and straightforward project to complete. I would love to hear what you’re working on.

Financial breakdown of this MCM glass-top coffee table

Cost $15
Paint $3
Spray paint $3
Poly $2
Total $23

Sold for $200

Profit $177 (This could have gone for quite a bit more if listed on Etsy, but I wanted to move this quickly, so I listed it on Facebook Marketplace. It sold within two hours.)

Can cane webbing be painted?

Is Chucky from Child’s Play weirdly adorable? YES! Of course, you can paint cane webbing. Whether it is old cane webbing that needs to be refreshed or maybe you just want to change the color of the cane webbing, you can be creative and give it an update. Cane webbing is a delicate and versatile material, so I suggest always spraying it to ensure you do not damage the cane webbing during the project. Using a paint sprayer is an option, but spray paint is a perfect choice. Don’t be afraid of painting your cane webbing project! You can do this.

Is cane webbing in style?

Cane Webbing was a staple of mid-century modern furniture. It has never gone out of style due to its natural texture and beautiful look. This styling element will never go out of style and has seen a big resurgence over the last few years. Cane webbing is here to stay, so don’t be afraid to buy vintage cane chairs to redo or add cane webbing to dresser drawers to change the look of an older dresser.

How to makeover a coffee table?

Updating a coffee table can be a game changer for a room. Whether painting, stripping, adding cane webbing, or just changing up the decorations on top of the table, you can immediately update your space. The easiest option is to restyle the coffee table. Maybe add some coffee table books, a candle, a smaller picture, and a plant of some type. The more labor-intensive option is to repaint, strip, or add a styling element to the table, like cane webbing or burlap.

Print

Cane webbing coffee table makeover

Step-by-step instructions on a cane webbing coffee table makeover

Cook Time 5 hours hours

Author Gary & Kasey

Ingredients

Instructions

• Thoroughly spray the entire piece with an all-purpose cleaner and wipe it down to ensure the coffee table is free of dust or debris.
• Spray the cane webbing with almond spray paint. Use long, smooth strokes. Spray four light coats to get nice, even paint coverage. Repeat for the other side of the cane webbing; So, both sides of the cane webbing received four coats of spray paint.
• Apply three coats of paint with a foam roller and paintbrush (for the hard-to-reach corners). Use medium grit sandpaper/sponge between each coat of paint for imperfections.
• I sprayed three coats of Verithane satin sheen polyurethane. This gave me great coverage and excellent durability.

The post Cane Webbing Coffee Table Makeover – A complete tutorial appeared first on How To Refinish Furniture.

We are nearing the completion of a massive renovation project in our home. While working on our son’s baseball-themed bedroom, we ran across a fantastic shade of blue—Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore. Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy will be the color of the focal wall in his bedroom. My wheels started to turn. I love this gorgeous navy shade and this rattan coffee table. What if I paired them together? I already had the Hale Navy paint sitting in the garage, so I decided this would be a perfect match. This paint color will give this old piece of furniture a more modern look. I can’t wait to see this one.

This time I decided to switch this up a bit, though. I LOVE chalk paint. It is so easy to use—almost no way to mess it up. I did say almost!! I wanted a smooth finish on this table since it has more intricate details. So I turned my paint sprayer into a chalk paint sprayer. Chalk painting a coffee table with a paint sprayer speeds up the project and gives a better finish.

materials needed to Chalk Paint the Coffee Table:

1. Cleaning solution (water-vinegar mixture of TSP cleaner)

2. Screwdriver or drill

3. Tarp

4. Chalk paint

5. Paintbrush

6. Foam paint roller

7. Paint sprayer

8. Matte Polyurethane

As you can see, this coffee table is quite detailed. While I love the look of stripped furniture in its natural state, this piece would take more time to strip the stain than I was willing to invest. It also was very traditional, and I was looking for a more modern painted coffee table. With the rattan, chalk painting the coffee table would highlight the texture and bring out the natural hues on top.

Prepare your piece to refinish before chalk painting.

Even though chalk paint usually does not require sanding the surface to prep it, I like to take that extra step to ensure a great bond between the chalk paint and the furniture. I used 150 sandpaper to give a quick scuff sand to the whole piece before proceeding. I used a microfiber rag to wipe the piece free of dust before cleaning.

There are store-bought products, such as TSP, but a homemade cleaning solution of water, vinegar, and blue dawn dish soap work well if you don’t have that available. I use a 1-to-1 ratio of water and vinegar with just a couple of drops of soap. Make sure to get all the exposed surfaces of the entire table clean. Paint will not stick to dirt, grime, or grease, so preparing your piece first by cleaning it is crucial.

Since this was a rattan coffee table, I had to see how I would paint around the rattan. Taping this would be a pain. I looked under and found that I could remove the rattan insert with a few screws, which created a blank canvas to paint the crest of the coffee table. I removed the glass top and started to work (more about this later). This allowed me to paint the entire piece without having to tape anything! That’s always a great thing!

Ready! Let’s Chalk paint this coffee table blue!

The beauty of chalk paint on furniture makeover projects is that furniture pieces like this coffee table can be transformed quickly. There is very little prep work required. No primer on this one!

Chalk painting this coffee table was a straightforward job once I removed the rattan. Before painting, I used a tarp under the furniture to keep my driveway free of overspray. My driveway has a few paint shades from previous projects. Oops. Thankfully, those were all lighter colors that blend, but I knew Hale Navy paint would stick out like a sore thumb on the driveway.

Chalk Painting the coffee table blue

I decided to spray this piece to avoid brush strokes and give it a professional finish.

If using homemade chalk paint, now is the time to mix it up; otherwise, thin the chalk paint appropriately and add the store-bought chalk paint to the tank of the paint spray gun.

With my paint sprayer, I have to thin the paint out more than if I was rolling or using a paint brush. I found that 1/4 cup of water is sufficient to get the right consistency.

When painting with a chalk paint sprayer, use long sweeps from side to side. This technique will ensure good coverage, and an even coat is applied. Avoid over-spraying the same area as it could result in paint that does not dry evenly and leaves an orange peel-looking finish. It’s better for your coats to have a little paint than too much paint. I gave this rattan coffee table 3 coats of Hale Navy paint in an eggshell finish.

After my first coat of paint, I used 200 grit sandpaper for a light sanding. Again, I sanded after the second coat of paint as well.

Tip: There are many different chalk paint brands that you can purchase. I’ve used homemade chalk paint on various projects such as this one. I’ve included the recipe for my own chalk paint below in this post.

How to seal the Blue Chalk Paint Coffee Table

The final finish needs to be as smooth as possible, so I decided to run polyurethane, as the top coat, through the paint sprayer. I allowed a couple of hours for the coffee table to dry. Once the blue chalk paint was dry, I sprayed four coats of polyurethane on the navy blue coffee table to seal it.

What finish of Poly Do You Use?

I prefer a matte poly on most chalk paint furniture makeovers I’ve completed. It gives a nice sealed finish to chalk-painted pieces of furniture, especially.

Note: The poly was still drying in this picture. There was a wet spot on the table closest to where I was standing.  Once dry, it’s time for the glass. Welp, that would be a nice way to finish this table, but we ran into an issue. Well, actually, one of my daughters did the running…right into the glass leaning against the wall. BAM, there goes the coffee table glass.

The piece still looks amazing. We just rolled without the glass. It looked good as is, and I didn’t want to add any extra cost to this project.

Can you use chalk paint in a sprayer?

I can’t answer for every paint sprayer brand, but most (HVLP) high volume, low-pressure sprayers should handle chalk paint. The chalk paint may not need to be thinned before painting, depending on the sprayer’s brand, price point, and features. I thin the chalk paint a bit for my paint sprayer before adding it to the tank to ensure the chalk paint sprays evenly without clumps or drips for a nice smooth finish.

How do I make Homemade chalk paint?

The recipe I’ve always used for DIY chalk paint is 1 cup of paint, 1/3 cup of water, and 1/3 cup of Plaster of Paris. This mixture provides a nice consistency for the chalk paint and gives excellent coverage.

If you want more information on chalk paint options that can be purchased, check out chalk paint best brands.

Is it better to use a paint sprayer or brush for furniture?

All depends! Before going out and buying a paint sprayer, I’d ask myself how often I’d use it. I had previously purchased a cheap sprayer that was not useful at all. If you are going to use a paint sprayer, look for a high-volume, low-pressure sprayer. Sometimes, it is quicker and easier for small projects to break out the brush or roller than set up and clean the paint sprayer. A paint sprayer will give you a smoother and more professional finish, but a brush or roller can also do the job.

Can I use chalk paint on a coffee table?

YES! Chalk paint is so easy, and it is very durable. It’s almost impossible to mess up your chalk paint project. Make sure to seal it since coffee tables usually get a lot of use from decorations to people using them as a foot prop. Make sure to protect its surface!

Do you have to sand before using chalk paint?

NO! It isn’t necessary. You can apply chalk paint directly over a clean surface in most cases. This feature makes chalk paint so easy and appealing to most DIYers. If you prefer to sand first, a quick scratch sand on the surface is sufficient.

Don’t be afraid of refinishing furniture. DIY furniture makeovers are a highly cost-effective way of updating any room. Pick a piece of furniture that can transform your space. Pinterest is a great place to discover project ideas if you aren’t sure where to start.

More Chalk Paint Makeovers

• Chalk Painted End Tables
• 15 chalk paint furniture ideas

More Refinish Furniture with Paint Tutorials:

• 80’s Dresser Makeover Guide
• Painted Mid-Century Dresser 
• How to Paint a Nightstand

I would love to see what projects you take on!!

The post A complete guide of How to Chalk Paint a Coffee Table appeared first on How To Refinish Furniture.