IKEA Console Table Makeover: White Paint With Black Distressing

This IKEA HEMNES console table makeover gives this plain pine table a fresh, modern look with crisp white paint and faux black distressing.

My granddaughter asked me to paint this console table for her, and I was happy to. I did tell her that painting furniture with lots of shelves is one of my least favorite things to do. But, you know, you do anything for your grandchildren!

Today is the Furniture Fixer Upper Tour, one of my favorite days of the month. Four of my furniture-flipping friends and I each share a new furniture makeover. Click the links at the bottom of the post and see if you can pick a favorite.

My granddaughter, Tenley, bought the table from a friend. It was in great shape and just needed a refresh.

Supplies for the Project

Dixie Belle Bonding Boss
Dixie Belle Silk All-In-One Mineral paint, color Salt Water
Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint, color Caviar
Wood Block
Paintbrush

How to Paint an IKEA Furniture

Most IKEA pine furniture has a clear lacquer sealer, so I primed the HEMNES console table before painting to help the paint adhere properly.

Step 1: Prime the IKEA Console Table

I brushed on one coat of Dixie Belle Bonding Boss primer, color gray. I find gray primer works best under most paint colors, even white.

Step 2: Paint the Console Table

Tenley knew exactly how she wanted the table to look. She had a photo of a piece I painted many, many years ago. I didn’t even remember painting the piece she showed me.

She wanted it stark white, with faux black distressing using paint. You can find many new pieces in furniture stores with this finished look.

My favorite white paint color is Salt Water from the Dixie Belle Silk Paint Line. This is an all-in-one paint product, so you don’t need to prime or seal the paint. As I mentioned earlier, I did apply one coat of primer just to be safe since the pine was sealed with lacquer.

This is how the console table looked after one coat. I applied a second coat and moved on to the next step.

Step 3: Add Faux Black Distressing

This is the fun part. You see those black streaks that are kind of like faux distressing? I can show you how to do that the easy way.

I use a wood distressing block from FolkArt to achieve the faux distressed look. They no longer make this block. But, you can use a block cut from a 2×4 or similar piece of wood. It just needs to be as flat on one side as you can make it.

Once you have your block, spread the paint over the block with a small artist brush. I used Dixie Belle Caviar (black) for this project.

This step is important. Wipe off some of the paint with a paper towel. A layer of heavy paint will leave large streaks of paint on the furniture.

I forgot to take a photo of me using the block so the one above is from a prior project. I also have a video showing the same technique I used on a dining room table.

How to Faux Distress Furniture With Paint: Video

How to Create the Faux-Distressed Paint Finish

While working on the table, my granddaughter and I were messaging back and forth and I was sending photos. The photo above shows how I faux-distressed the furniture with black paint, running the block horizontally and vertically over the table. It seemed a bit much and Tenley thought so too.

It wasn’t a problem to paint over the black distressing and redo the black, running the block vertically only. This looked much better. I finished the table by distressing the sides and bottoms of the shelves.

On one side of the table, for a slightly different look, I didn’t distress the front edge of the tabletop, the sides (leg parts), or the top apron.

Step 4: Style the IKEA HEMNES Console Table

My granddaughter and her husband moved to Texas, and I didn’t get many shots of the console table before they loaded it onto the moving trailer. The ones I have are not the best and do not show the distressing very well.

Tenley is having a baby in January (my first great-grandchild, eek!), and this table will be in the nursery. I’m so excited, but kind of bummed to0 because they are 15 hours from us. Guess I’ll be flying a lot in the future.

The console table will make a great storage piece for all the baby essentials. It is more than 5 feet long, so it has plenty of room for nursery storage.

If you have a few minutes, leave a note for me. I love hearing from you.

Furniture Fixer Upper Tour

Now it’s time to take the tour. My lovely friends have worked extra hard on their makeovers this month, and it shows. Yes, I’ve already seen the makeovers, and you are in for a treat! Click the links below the “before makeovers” photo collage.

Furniture Fixer Upper Tour Links
Painted Oak Hutch Makeover – Confessions of a Serial DIY’er
How To Paint A Bathroom Vanity To Look Like Wood – Salvaged Inspirations
Vintage Side Table Makeover – My Repurposed Life
Restaining Furniture Hacks – A Ray Of Sunlight
How To Paint A Pine Console Table from IKEA – Petticoat Junktion (you are here)