Paint a butlers table

Update a retro butler’s table with a simple and classic makeover.

Resene upcycling for good with Sarah Herring - Project 54

Finished project

You will need: Old wooden butler’s table, testpot brushes, Resene Testpot Roller Kit, painter’s masking tape, sandpaper, Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat, Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer, Resene Hot Weather Additive (optional), Resene testpots in your choice of colours - Sarah chose Resene Hammerhead and Resene Zumthor.

Top tip: Painting in hot summer temperatures can be tricky as paint can dry too fast to get a smooth finish. If you are painting when it is hot, add Resene Hot Weather Additive to your paint to help keep the paint flowing while you work.

Before

Finished project

Step one
Always check old furniture items for any repairs they might need before you start painting. This table had a couple of loose screws that needed replacing before Sarah could proceed with any other work.

Step one contd.
Once the table is sound, sand the frame of the table well, remove all the sanding dust and apply one coat of Resene Quick Dry waterborne primer undercoat.

Step two
Once the primer is dry, prepare the table top surface for painting with one coat of Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer. This product ensures that paint will stick to surfaces that are typically too smooth or shiny for painting. Wait for the Resene Waterborne Smooth Surface Sealer to dry.

Step three
Apply two coats of your chosen colour to the table frame using a testpot brush. Sarah chose Resene Hammerhead, a steely grey blue to suit a kitchen.

Step four
Apply your other colour to the table top surfaces, using 2-3 coats. Sarah used Resene Zumthor. Use a testpot brush for the first 1-2 coats, and then appply the final coat with a testpot roller to ensure a nice smooth finish.

Step four contd.
Make sure you wait for each coat of paint to be completely dried before applying another! If you find it hard to paint straight lines at the edge of a surface like this, use painter’s masking tape to ensure a clean line.

Step five
Once all the paint was dry, use small piece of sandpaper to carefully distress the finished paint job to add character. When intentionally distressing the paint on a piece of furniture, you should aim to gently sand areas where wear and tear would naturally occur, such as corners and hard edges. Start cautiously, and increase the distressed areas until you are happy with the result. Finish with a flat sealer to protect the paint, such as Resene Aquaclear.

Upcycling for Good

You can find a huge range of treasures, from ornaments and picture frames, to furniture and toys at your local Salvation Army store that you can easily upcycle with a little Resene paint and some imagination.

"Our Family Stores are full of treasures generously donated by members of the public. We value these donations and try our hardest to re-purpose and sell as much as possible. We’re all about re-using and recycling, so teaming up with Resene on Upcycling for Good was a perfect match. Resene’s products and tips are a natural fit with our pre-loved furniture and accessories, which are usually great quality but could sometimes do with a lick of paint to ensure they fly off the shelves.

Each year, nationally, our stores save 16,000 tonnes from landfill. This initiative increases the value of the donated product, improves the range of goods for our customers, and furthers The Salvation Army’s mission and Resene’s community activity.” Gareth Marshall, The Salvation Army's National Family Store Manager.

View more projects

Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com