Be brave, paint your dining room furniture...

When we moved to Japan 6 years ago we had two kids.  When we came back from Japan we had 4 kids, 2 of who were almost teenagers.  This was the dining room set we had in storage.  This was it fully expanded with leaves.  Not big enough but we also had lots of other things to purchase on our move back to the states and a $1000 dining room set was not on that list.  Then I remembered this post I'd seen on Sarah's blog about painting your dining room furniture.  So I sold this set on Craigslist for $100 and started searching for a set that was big enough that I could paint.

I found this set.  Table and 8 chairs for $125.  Perfect!  When you start searching on Craigslist or yard sales you should have in mind something specific you want and how much you are willing to spend.  I knew I wanted a big table that was rectangle.  I also wanted ladder back chairs and seats with pads on them that I could recover.  Plus I wanted something that was good quality solid wood.

This was a Broyhill set that was in good condition and perfect for my painting project.  I followed Sarah's directions.  I sanded the top of the table a lot and lightly sanded all the chairs.  Then painted it all Satin Black with oil based paint from Sherwin Williams.  No priming!!  I lightly distressed it and then put a few coats of Polyurethane just on the table top.

 Ta-da!  This is 6 months later and it's held up great!  I didn't prime at all either.

I covered the chairs with Amy Butler Love laminated fabric in Sandlewood Periwinkle.  I love it!  The laminated cotton washes off so easy.

The table was $125.  The paint, brushes and polyurethane were about $60.  It took me 1.5 quarts of the black satin so I still have lots leftover for other projects.  The fabric for the chairs was $30.  So total was $215.  But I sold the other table for $100 so I got a huge table and chairs for $115!  I think the thing I love the most about it is that I feel like the kids can do projects on the table and color and paint and I don't worry that they will ruin it or scratch the finish.  Plus if they do then I can always do touch ups.

Someday soon I will hang curtains in this room!