DIY Chevron Painted Useless Table

This cute little DIY chevron painted useless table is one of my very first blog projects, from 2009.  Around here we call small, occasional tables like this a “useless table” because we thought they were pointless until we realized one could be a perfect receptacle for stuff we drop down when we enter the house.  The irony is, we can’t live without it now.  So we’ll say, “Just drop it on the useless table,” but with love, not scorn.  I picked up this solid wood antique piece for $8.00 at a yard sale this summer.  But with our wood cabinets, wood floors, wood side tables . . . just too much wood.  Plus it had paint splatters and tons of scratches and marks.  So, I painted it with a very trendy chevron design!  Scroll down for before and after pics, plus a little summary of the process. 

“Before” – sorry for the blurriness!

“After”

How to Tackle a DIY Chevron Painted Table:

1. First, I cleaned the piece well, to remove grime and dirt.
2. The I use a damp cloth to remove any soap reside and let it dry.
3. I started sanding with my old belt sander but I went through 2 belts – I wish I’d used chemical stripper first!
4. Disappointed by sanding, I switched to a chemical stripper to remove the rest of the finish.
5. I followed up by hand sanding anywhere the stripper or belt sander could not reach
6. Then I cleaned the surface and taped off the pattern. 
7. I applied left over paint from painting our walls (and trim and doors!) with a brush and wiped with a rag for a slightly white washed look on the top. 
8. The rest of the piece got two opaque coats of paint. 
9. I waited 24 hours in between coats. 
10. I plan to add a clear coat to protect the natural wood, but I have to admit that I like the raw look!

Need help with the chevron pattern? I also taped off a chevron pattern for a DIY canvas so here’s a closer look:

Here’s a better look at the finished DIY chevron painted useless table: