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    Home » Painted Furniture » Painting Thrift Store Furniture

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture

    This post may contain affiliate links

    I almost missed the Furniture Fixer Upper Tour! I thought it was next week. Good thing I was painting thrift store furniture from my shopping trip a couple of weeks ago. And it's also a good thing Jen, Girl in the Garage, asked early yesterday morning if I had my photo for the tour ready. Nope, not quite finished with my project but I'll get on it...... and I did.

    painting thrift store furniture white and distressing the paint (7)

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture

    The tiered table is one of a kind. I haven't run across a piece even close to this one.

    junk finds and projects from Petticoat Junktion (9)

    The table looked really rough when I spotted it at the Salvation Army Thrift Store. But, I did love the look of it and even though the price was $30 I snatched it up. After working on it a while I was questioning my decision.

    furniture fixer upper makeovers by diy bloggers

    As I mentioned earlier it's Furniture Fixer Upper Tour day so be sure and visit my furniture painting buddies after reading the tutorial on my table.

    bleed through on painted furniture (3)

    The first thing to do was clean up the table. It's hard to see without a close-up photo but the paint job is a mess. The paint is thick and discolored and you can see very obvious brush marks. Also there is a lot of unevenness where I think there was missing veneer. All in all not something fun to work with. 

    bleed through on painted furniture (2)

    I cleaned the table with Simple Green and it was obvious from the cleaning and the red stain on the rag that I was going to have problems with stain bleeding through the paint.

    bleed through on painted furniture (4)

    And I did. The photo above show the bleed thru after two coats of primer. At this point I was ready to trash the project and take the table back to the Salvation Army Store.

    Glidden Gripper Primer

    But I just kept right on working. I always use Glidden Gripper Primer which I think is now PPG Gripper Primer. A lot of times I have the primer tinted gray because to me gray is so much better and easier to cover under just about any paint color....except white of course.

    bleed through on painted furniture (1)

    I applied one more coat of Glidden Gripper then decided to start painting.

    Beyond Paint For Furniture Painting

    I chose Beyond Paint in Off-White because it has primer built in and I was hoping the paint would cover the red/pink bleed thru.

    tiered table from the thrift store

    And after two coats of Beyond Paint the red bleed thru was gone. The table had 5 coats of paint and primer not counting the top of the table which had a thick coat of paint to start with. I decided to distress the table.

    Let's face it. The table top and bottom shelf were not nice and smooth after all the stain loss and the earlier paint job. So distressing the thing could only make it better.

    I used my Ryobi battery powered sander so no cords which makes it nice. I made a video of me sanding the table. It's short and sweet and speeded up x2. I don't ever move that fast except in videos. Using a power sander is the best when you want to take off a lot of paint. In this case the paint was so thick that I didn't get much off except on the feet and the three leg pieces in the middle. The video is less than one minute. If you can't view the video you may have an ad blocker enabled on your browser. Turn it off just temporarily. Video below.....

    How To Use A Sander To Distress Painted Furniture

     

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture (6)

    And this is what the table looks like now. I love white distressed paint. My last furniture project, the long bench, is also painted with Beyond Paint, Off-White, and distressed. I love it too. You can find Beyond Paint on Amazon here.

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture (1)

    I'm taking the table to the booth to sell so I set it up in Miss Sofi's bedroom for the photo shoot.

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture (8)

    You do know us bloggers are crazy. We do all kinds of things to get a photo. My house is a mess a lot of times because I take decor from other rooms, move furniture, set up lights.....just to get a few photos. 

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture (7)

    That picture on the bottom shelf is of granddaughter Tenley who is 17 now. She was hugging on to my Mother at my brothers wedding. That photo gets my heart every time I see it.

    Don't forget to subscribe to my emails so you don't miss any new projects. Sign up form at the bottom of the page. Thanks!

    painting thrift store furniture white and distressing the paint (8)

    The succulent planter is a project I made this week too. If you missed it you can find it here....Silver Plate Succulent Planter Idea With Seashells.

     

    painting thrift store furniture white and distressing the paint (5)

    The circle trim on the legs is the first thing that caught my eye when I spotted the table in the store. It distresses so nicely.

    Thrift Store Furniture Makeover

    Thrift Store Furniture Makeover

    Before you head out on the Furniture Fixer Upper Tour please leave a note and let me know what you think about the table. Click the pink text links below the "before makeovers" photo collage.....

    furniture makeover projects

    How To Paint Cane Webbing Furniture - Salvaged Inspirations

    Upcycle Mirror French Style - Girl In The Garage

    Antique Hexagon Pedestal Table Makeover - Confessions of a Serial DIY'er

    Painting Thrift Store Furniture - Petticoat Junktion (you are here)

    Thanks for being here, Kathy

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michele

      April 27, 2021 at 9:58 am

      Very neat table....what a great piece for a conversation started. Beautifully done,,

      Reply
    2. Ramona

      April 27, 2021 at 7:48 am

      Beautiful project. We had a chair that bled through like that. Many coats of paint applied.
      That is the second table like that I have seen. I just ‘met’ the first one in October. I used to care for a 96 year old woman in her home. She had one, she said it was the first piece of new furniture she had bought with her husband when they were married.

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        April 28, 2021 at 10:04 am

        Thanks for sharing this info. I'm not sure how old the table is but from your story must be pretty old. I took it to the shop and it sold right away.

    3. Janet

      April 23, 2021 at 8:12 pm

      I love that you shared your feeling about the picture if your daughter! It brought a tear to my eye, it “ got “ me too!
      Table turned out beautiful!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        April 28, 2021 at 10:04 am

        Thank you

    4. Marcie Lovett

      April 23, 2021 at 6:33 pm

      I think the last owner donated it after realizing that painting isn't so easy! I don't know how you managed to see the beautiful details; that tragic paint job makes me want to look away. By the way, it's a plant stand, probably early 20th century. Beautiful job, now it can stick around for another hundred years!

      Reply
      • Kathy Owen

        April 28, 2021 at 10:06 am

        I had no idea it was a plant stand but makes sense, thanks. I took the stand to the shop and it sold right away.

    5. susan

      April 23, 2021 at 7:03 am

      Kathy, I LOVE how this table turned out! I would have bought it too! I also use Zinsser Bin Shellac Based Primer Stain Blocker a lot if I think it’s going to be a heavy bleeder and I’ve had some that I think died ?. I would have a hard time giving this one up! You do find the quirkiest pieces! Always look forward to see what you’re working on!

      Reply
    6. Annod Nostaw

      April 22, 2021 at 7:27 pm

      I have had bleeders like that one you have there. I recommend you use Zinsser Bin Shellac Based Primer Stain Blocker. It works well. You can buy it in a spray can or you can buy it in a quart, gallon, 5 gallon bucket. You can also use Spray or roll on shellac.

      Reply
    7. Jen Girl in the Garage

      April 22, 2021 at 7:01 pm

      What a fun, unique table! I love the circles too- beautifully distressed, my friend! xo

      Reply
    8. Lynne

      April 22, 2021 at 6:47 pm

      I love this table! You did a great job. If I lived close I'd be heading to your booth to purchase it. You've inspired me to get out again to search for quirky pieces. I love what they can become!

      Reply
    9. Toni

      April 22, 2021 at 5:41 pm

      When will it be in your booth and where exactly is your booth? I may drive down to take a look. It’s really unique!

      Reply
    10. Rose Lefebvre

      April 22, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      I have never seen a piece like it! I love how you improved it. Such a unique and versatile piece.

      Reply
    11. Angela Carrera

      April 22, 2021 at 2:53 pm

      I love it!!! and although I am (not yet) almost 69 years old, I love to redo recreate, etc...for myself. and some of you ladies are awesome at inspiration, this table turned out great!!! its a one of a kind. never seen another. so...I was thinking the other day, that I would love to have a little hand sander. this one might just be perfect for my little projects. so thank you for sharing!!! Angela (from NJ)

      Reply
    12. Lizzy

      April 22, 2021 at 11:53 am

      It's really cute. I bet a plant mom buys it!

      I wonder if shellac or a shellac-based primer would have worked better to prevent bleed-through. I have a bench that bled-through after a long time had passed. I painted over those areas with 2 coats of shellac and 2 more coats of white paint and it's been fine ever since.

      Reply
    13. Christy James

      April 22, 2021 at 9:49 am

      What a unique table...I would have snatched that right up too! Perfect for plants in a sunroom! XOXO

      Reply
    14. p

      April 22, 2021 at 9:43 am

      Such a cute and Very unique table !! I would surely buy that.
      Maybe a great plant table...?
      Thanks for sharing.
      p

      Reply
    15. judy

      April 22, 2021 at 9:10 am

      that table is so unique. I've never seen one like it. love it...

      Reply
    16. Bev w

      April 22, 2021 at 8:41 am

      You're a trooper! I would have painted it red and called it good! Lol!! Very cool table!

      Reply
    17. Cecilia from Georgia

      April 22, 2021 at 8:21 am

      I hope you are keeping this jewel! Aren't you concerned that there will be bleed through when you distress?

      Reply
    18. LORRI

      April 22, 2021 at 8:16 am

      I laugh at your comments all the time...? love the way you turn sad looking pieces into unique furniture that are beauties.?

      Reply
    19. Denise Zdziennicki

      April 22, 2021 at 8:14 am

      This 3 tier table is amazing Kathy! As soon as you posted the "before" to our FFU I knew you'd do something fabulous...it looks adorable! And love your styling. That pic of your GD is so sweet. XOXO

      Reply
    20. Marty

      April 22, 2021 at 7:51 am

      I haven't seen a table like that either but you made it so it should be front and center in any house! Love it!

      Reply
    21. Nickie

      April 22, 2021 at 6:11 am

      Love it!! What an awesome shaped table!

      Reply
    22. Sharon

      April 22, 2021 at 6:09 am

      I’ve never seen a table quite like this one. I would buy it in a hot second. Just adorable!

      Reply
    23. Holly

      April 22, 2021 at 6:04 am

      Love the table! So unique, it shouldn’t be in your booth long❣️

      Reply

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    Hi, I'm Kathy!

    The creator at Petticoat Junktion and I love decorating my home. My decor is an eclectic mix......

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