When it comes to flipping furniture painting it white is probably the quickest and easiest option. I bought this older antique style dining table on the Facebook marketplace for $15 and I planned to stain the top and paint the bottom white. However, I quickly realized the tabletop was laminate and my plans quickly changed.
I had flipped this exact table shape before and planned on doing the same thing, dark stained top and white all underneath, but since I could not stain it I choose to do an all-white makeover. I actually really liked this white dining table makeover and I am totally going to do this easy process again sometime!
Let us go over quickly what tools and equipment I used and then I will explain the makeover process step by step. If you are interested I made a video too, it is located lower down in this article!
Tools and Equipment Used:
- Bosch Palm Random Orbital Sander
LEOBRO 72 PCS 5 Inch Sandpaper Sheets
- Premier Interior Paint (Pure White) – Purchased Locally
Triple Thick Polyurethane
Premier Montauk Nylon Polyester Paint Brush
Antique White Dining Table Makeover (Step by Step)
STEP 1: CLEANING AND PREPARATION
Before beginning any project I need to gather the supplies I am going to use. Either have things ordered in through Amazon or buy stuff locally. Locally is convenient but the prices are much higher. After I gather all of the required items for the project make sure you have an area that is suitable for this project. I use my garage because things get really dusty very quickly.
After I set up, I start to clean the table. I use a microfiber cloth and make sure all the dirt and dust is off of the table. Then you are ready for step 2.
STEP 2: SANDING
After a quick dusting, I grab my orbit sander and sand what I can. This means the top of the table usually, however, like I mentioned this table was laminated on top so I just quickly sanded the tabletop with 80 grit sandpaper so the paint would hold better to the surface. Laminate is shiny, so paint sticks best when you dull it down. Then I sanded the edge of the tabletop with 220 grit carefully because it was like a wood veneer (fake wood) and it sanded quickly. Then I finished the top edge by hand for a smoother finish.
After each sanding, WIPE AWAY ALL DUST!
Next, I used the orbit sander along the apron of the table. The apron was all real wood, so I sanded away the old dark stain with 80 grit paper until it was bare wood. I then finished it with 220 grit paper for a smooth finish.
Finally… the legs, I used the orbit sander on the flat areas of the legs with 220 grit paper. I detached the legs from the table to make things easier. Next, I sanded the rest of the legs by hand to keep the Queen Anne Style legs in good condition, I used a 150 grit sheet of sandpaper I had.
After sanding I really had to clean up the garage, so I plugged in my shop vacuum and cleaned up the mess. I have certain attachments on my vacuum that I use directly on my table to clean up any debris. It is not needed but certainly does not hurt.
STEP 3: PAINT AND PRIME
Now it was time to pop open the paint can. I gripped my premier paintbrush and started to apply a relatively thin layer of my pure white paint as a primer coat.
I HIGHLY recommend using pure white paint, it will look much better than an antique white. Antique white looks almost too dark and doesn’t match the new modern designs in homes today.
I painted the top of the table, then the apron (sides), and lastly the detached legs. I waited until early the next morning to apply coat number 2, which would cover the table to perfection. Read your paint can to see how long you need to wait for the paint to dry. Also, consider the humidity and temperatures because they greatly impact your drying times.
STEP 4: TABLE PROTECTION
After all this work (really only a few hours of actually working), it was time to add protection to the table. I choose Rustoleum Triple Thick Polyurethane because I find it dries quickly and is quite durable. I will brush one layer and then I determine whether or not it needs another coat.
Always Brush With The Grain Of The Wood (Or All The Same Way!)
I only used one coat of triple thick on this table. However, I also brushed a very thin layer of it on the legs and the apron to give it a stronger hold against chipping. Either matte or satin finish is what I use, I think it suits furniture and especially this table best.
STEP 5: POST TO SELL
Some of you might be here to flip furniture for yourself, but if you are like me you want to sell your furniture at the best possible price. Now you can’t sell your items if they are actually junk. Look at your facebook market place and try to judge what it is worth. I looked around and decided that $125 would be a good start. I also have a truck so I said delivery available for a small fee, so if it isn’t far you can bring it to them for an extra buck.
Here is a huge tip for the marketplace: POST TO SELL!
What does that mean? Make the posted photos stand out! The first thing I did to take photos was that I brought it inside my house and placed it in a clean corner. Make sure the lighting is ok and the area is clean. If your background is garbage and messy people will think twice about the item. Take a look at my first photo:
I think this photo makes the table look antique and gives it a rich feel. It isn’t a professional photo, I used my iPhone and took a bunch of photos and chose what looked most intriguing. I posted the photos in the night and I woke up to a message saying that someone wanted to buy the table at full price but wanted it delivered. So I sold it for one hundred and twenty-five dollars with a twenty five dollar delivery, $125 + $25 = $150. Which was pretty good considering what I paid for the table.
I will get into more financial details about the entire flip below and after the video area.
Total Project Costs
Let’s take a look at some of the costs I had in this white dining table makeover project. To become a furniture flipper it is similar to any type of business. First, there are initial investments that need to be made. Then we have variable costs that are going to be our materials used in every flip. Down below let us look at the projects total profit, the selling price minus the variable costs and table price.
| Fixed Costs/Initial Investments | Variable Costs |
|
|
Projects Total Profit
Sale Price – (Variable Costs + Table Cost) = Project Total Profit
$150 – (10+5+15) = 150 – 30 = $120
Without my initial startup costs, this project I profited 120 dollars! Not a bad flip considering the original cost of the table.
Conclusion
I hope this furniture flip was interesting or inspired you to start a new project. Don’t forget to check out my youtube channel Furniture Flippa, where I post all of my furniture flips so don’t miss out!
See the Youtube channel here www.youtube.com/channel/furnitureflippa
Also, tag along here and don’t miss any upcoming flips! I am in the middle of flipping a complete dining room table set with 4 chairs, I will have it available below when finished. Plus each flip I do will have more than just photos, I want you guys to see videos of the entire process!
Anyways, I would like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below! And let me know, What is your next big project?
