Mid Century Modern Side Table Makeover

I’m a sucker for mid-century furniture pieces. I check out Craigslist a few times a week to see if I can score a great deal on an Eames rocker (no luck yet) or another great mid-century piece but hate the often high price tag that goes along with them.

A few weeks ago, my friend Cindy, who is an avid furniture painter spotted this side table for $10 so I quickly responded the listing and picked it up the next day. It was way smaller than I anticipated and didn’t look too promising but I thought for $10 it was worth a try to revive this vintage piece. I got to work and did a few minor repairs, tried out the new Martha Stewart vintage decor paint for the first time, and of course, added a bit of gold. Now I’m absolutely in love with the final piece!

Time: 1 hour + drying time
Supplies: side table / vintage decor paint / gold liquid gilding /  clear wax / painter’s tape / brush / iron-on veneer edging / fine sanding block / utility knife / wood block

Step 1: Use a utility knife to carefully remove the old, rounded plastic edging. The edging was already coming off on the top tier so that was a piece of cake to remove. The bottom tier took a little more effort but once I made  a vertical cut in the edging it was easy to remove.

Step 2: Apply the iron on edging tape according to the directions on the package. I wrapped the iron base in aluminum foil to avoid getting any of the glue on the iron. I found it easiest to apply when I held the extra edging in place with my other hand.

Step 3: As you apply the edging, stop every so often and press it into place. I used a scrap piece of wood for this.

Step 4: Get the first coat of paint on there! Since it dries so quickly, I found it easiest to paint as much as I could in one direction then flip the piece over to paint the legs. Once it’s dry, lightly sand it with a sanding block and then wipe it down with a clean rag to remove the dust. I painted a total of 4 (maybe 5) coats and sanded after every coat.

Step 5: Use painter’s tape to mark off the bottom section. I applied the tape 5″ from the bottom of each leg. Make sure the tape is smooth and firmly adhered then paint the legs gold. I applied 2 coats of the liquid gilding, letting it dry for about 10 minutes before coats.

Once it’s completely dry, apply a coat of clear wax over the entire piece to seal the paint. Make sure you wipe of any excess paint before it dries. Once dry, lightly buff it with a clean rag and then it’s ready to be used in your home!

Decorate | Kate Spade: Places to Go, People to See | Rug

Check out my other #12MonthsofMartha projects, including the geometric wall art you see behind the side table!