An ill-advised trash-picked painting project
Sometime this past semester, I was driving to school one day when I saw a little table out for trash pickup.
I was like, "Ohhh, hey, hey, hey, not on my watch!", turned my van around, and picked it up.
It sat untouched for the rest of the semester, like most non-school things in my life. Ha.
It definitely needed a refinish because the previous paint job was dirty, but also sloppily done.
So after I graduated, I started sanding it, and that's where things went sideways.
First of all, the paint seemed like some kind of latex wall paint, and it was getting gummy when I tried to sand it. Strike one.
Then, even worse, it started peeling up in spots, sort of like stretchy rubber cement. That left an uneven surface, which meant I was going to have to actually remove all the paint rather than just scuffing it up.
I scraped some of it off, but that was too laborious to do on the whole thing.
So I decided to use paint stripper, which is not my most favorite thing to do.
This table had an unfortunate number of exposed surfaces that needed to be stripped, so it was not a quick task.
Finally, I could proceed with the priming and painting, which was honestly the easiest part.
And since I already have primer and paint here, this part cost me nothing out of pocket.
Also, the nice thing about the priming and painting is that it can be done indoors with a drop cloth. That is way better than trying to work outside at this time of the year.
And here's what it looks like in the end:
Remember how I sorta regretted working on that free rain-damaged Ikea chair, just because it ended up being so much more time-consuming than I anticipated?
This table felt kinda like that.
But on the other hand, in both cases, I did save an item that someone else was just going to throw away.
And I did end up with a nice-looking, useful item in both cases.
Also: I worked on this table before taking my NCLEX, and I listened to NCLEX review lectures while working on it.
So the time I spent was not a waste.
In the end, it's all good. Still, if I could go back, I'm not sure I would have trash-picked this particular item!
P.S. I did finally finish the scuffed table too; look for it in a post soon. 🙂
Well done, Kristen. Very much looking forward to your post about the finished scuffed table.
I am so impressed with your perseverance! I would have noped out a quarter of a way into that project (in fact, I probably wouldn't even have tried!) The table looks great, although I get the frustration. I'm also looking forward to seeing the scuffed table!
Your table is beautiful and you did save it from the landfill. The universe thanks you.
Yesterday I listed two small table we had curb picked a couple months ago. They would be great refurbishing projects since they are solid wood but we just don't need/want them.
DH his currently rehabbing 4 IKEA chairs that were put out with trash last week. We will share them once they are repaired as we didn't want them to go to the landfill.
Oh, I love the color you used on it. I think with time and use you may consider it a good investment of your free time. Some projects are like that - harder than you initially thought they would be, based on similar ones you've done. But you were persistent and now have a nice table. (:
Remember: we don't do these things because they are easy. We do them because we thought they would be easy.
Haha so true. And also because we are too stubborn to quit.
@Kristen, yes!
@Carla G, Ha! Thank you for this. It rings so true for me.
I can't wait to see the scuffed table - I'm interested to see if the vintage glass drawer knobs that I handed off to you (also saved from trash day) end up in the transformation, or if it went a different direction!
And I'm impressed you kept working on that table - your perseverance is off the charts (I think I would have given up at the stripper point).
They did!!!!
One can never have enough cat stands-
It looks sophisticated!
@JNL, Chiquita really sets off the look!
@JNL, the table is Chiquita-tested, Chiquita-approved!
@JNL,
Chiquita has claimed *this* table as her own. 🙂
I glad you picked it up, it turned out great!
That's a lot of labor, but it sure does look beautiful now!!
I like that paint color! Cheers for saving something from the trash.
That is a stellar transformation and a lesson in perseverance. Gorgeous!
If only foresight was as clear as hindsight, right? It does look nice and I particularly like the lower shelf. That turns a simple table into a display case.
Excellent! I don't know if I would have gone that far to re-do the table, since I already did almost the same thing once before and declared I'd never do it again. Still, your table looks really nice now, and I'm sure Chiquita is very thankful you got it finished for her.
The table I found that turned into a beast to re-do was a three-tiered small round table with turned legs that had lots of grooves cut in them, all coated in thick layers of paint. I ended up having to use stripper, too. But it is now a nice white bedside table in my guest room, so that's good - I just don't know that I want to ever try something like that again.
YES. Once you have worked on one of those ornate pieces, you never look at a project piece the same again.
Which is why I thought this would be so easy. Lots of straight lines! But I was not expecting the terrible stretchy, peeling paint.
@JD, @ Kristen - I haven't rehabbed furniture, so this is useful to think about how to look at a piece and see if it would pose particular problems, like lots of detail work.
So I'll ask a question to you experienced rehabbers. I have two of those shiny brown Queen Anne style wooden file cabinets that I'm thinking to paint to give them a more forgiving surface, e.g. so you can put things on it without worrying about scratches, so I can use them as nightstands. Would that shiny surface pose any particular issues? Or just sand & prime and paint with Kristen's favorite Benjamin Moore Advance paint?
I'm getting inspired...
Oh, I always try to take off the sheen first. You don't need to get down to bare wood, but it helps the primer and paint to stick better if you get rid of the gloss and have a nice matte surface to work with.
@Suz,
I'm not as experienced as Kristen, but I have done some shiny stuff in the past. I used a de-glosser or sanded, then primed and painted with products designed to stick to shiny surfaces. My son-in-law painted bathroom wall tile with a product called something like STIX by, I believe, Benjamin Moore, and the paint is still there. A professional painter recommended it to him.
@JD,
There's a paint you can use on bathroom tile?? Mind. Blown.
I'm also not as experienced as Kristen, but I agree with your advice to Suz. I've done some small projects with shiny surfaces, and did basically what you mention, with good results.
@Liz B.,
I have no idea why my comments are posting twice. Apologies.
@JD, Thank you, that's good to know (paint that handles bathroom tile can surely take on this glossy top)! And thanks Kristen - I would definitely sand, but it's good to know that it doesn't have to be completely bare.
It looks absolutely fantastic! Glad you were at least able to listen to your NCLEX test prep, to use the time.
That table is beautiful, especially in that shade of green. Two tiers for Chiquita-perching is icing on the cake!
That same solid perseverance that got you out of an abusive situation, that got you through nursing school with a 4.0, is on display with this tough rehab project. You are consistent throughout.
@ErikaJS, hear, hear!
My husband brought home 2 rough outdoor tables that looked like miniature picnic tables with peeling paint. When I started prepping one to paint, the wood kept splintering. It had many pieces of wood to scrape on all sides, and I just said “Buh-bye, you poor old worn out thing.” I kept the other as it is, and it is just another piece of junk in the workshop that will have to be dealt with some day.
Remind us with a link about the scuffed table—I can’t remember it!
Here ya go! https://www.thefrugalgirl.com/come-see-my-5-scuffed-furniture/
@Kristen, thank you! I love it when you aren’t at work, taking a test, or in school because of that immediate gratification in replies! Ugh, that piece is a beast.
Hahah, I know, I'm either super fast or super slow, depending on what's going on that day.
I am just sitting here at home refreshing the board of nursing page waiting for my results!!
@Kristen, since you are just sitting there doing the Refresh Dance, check your email. I sent you a few thoughts after Monday’s post.
@Kristen,
So…so…SO! Surely you’ve heard by now, right?!?!
I disappeared because I met up with my two study buddies (they took their NCLEX exams this am!).
I'm back now and I'm happy to say: I PASSED. 🙂
@Kristen, CONGRATULATIONS!!!
@Sophie in Denmark, Adding my congratulations!! I'm glad there's one test at least where the results come back quickly (even if you knew in your bones you were set)!
@Suz, adding mine too! Congrats!! Wonderful news!
@Kristen, congratulations!!!!
@Sophie in Denmark, and Kristen,
Yippee yahooooo!! Congratulations, I knew you'd pass!!
@Kristen,
Hurray, hurray, hurray!!!!!
I was thinking about that scuffed table the whole time I was reading your post.
I love it,color & design.
Chiquita is adorable,cats are characters they have to give their approval on everything!!!
You've inspired me. Someone was giving away a decent looking cabinet but when I picked it up it was in not quite perfect shape, so once the weather cools down I'm going to use your tips to give it some new life!
Yes that definitely was white Latex paint on the table. I think that the wood looked like Cherry before your sanding. Teen has oversized arm chair made of cherry wood & we purchased a cherry buffet table from Amish few years ago (that will be teen when leave home). But the green is cute & the white chair.
I tried stripping a wooden piece of furniture a few times>>>> one is still in need of being finished (antique buffet table I inherited) & the other I had to seek professional help.
When my (Ex) husband & I bought our house (together) he was (still) living at his parents house (8 years after his first divorce>>>red flag) & had almost no furniture (was using parents extra which was to stay at their house, he lived in one side/not duplex just could close door that makes it look like seperate but actually not). Luckily I had whole house furniture already as we had been on own for many years.
I had to buy his teen a bed (which teen picked what wanted) & bought a antique dresser $5 for husband at yard sale. We loaded the dresser up & took or home. I thought OK I can strip this & clear coat it (natural wood) No Problem>>> boy was I wrong.
After many attempts of sanding by hand, with a sander, stripping liquid & even trying to just paint it on small section to see if would look ok (which not what was looking to do) I ended up taking dresser to professional furniture stripper (to the tune $200---more than 12 years ago). Then the professional shoved it into a corner & forgot about it until I called 1 month, 2 months, 3 months & on until finally went to retrieve the dresser. When I arrived I was shown dresser in pieces (OH!) & told would be stripping next week. I showed up a few weeks later to dresser being dropped into tank with liquid stripping fluid. Another month & husband dresser finally available for pick up. I almost chocked when he told me $200 (& I had waited over 6 months). I loaded the dresser & took home where I did natural stain & one clear coat before I had to move into house because cold/wet weather. The dresser looked better but not the finished product I had hoped to accomplish.
I'll be honest, that's the kind of "project" that would end up in the fire for me. Props to you for doing the work but your hourly wage was probably very little.
Oh, definitely. I wouldn't have stuck with it for an hourly wage calculation.
But since I needed to listen to NCLEX review lectures anyway, it's all good! Now I have a table and an RN license. Heh.
@Kristen, and I think doing something with your hands while listening to study material helps imprint it into your brain. Congratulations on passing! Many years ago I sat for the Licensed Clinical Social Worker state exam. Once you pushed the submit button you were told in a few seconds if you passed or not. I remember being so scared to push the submit button I sat frozen for about half an hour before pushing it. It was so scary. But I passed!
I empathize with your hindsight view, Kristen, and agree that the table turned out beautifully after all your work. My husband and I picked up a free Crate & Barrel round dining table this past fall to restore, and it took us many more hours than anticipated due to quite a bit of water damage. We persevered, and the table has been a nice replacement for our previous rectangular table, fitting the space much better. It was worth it in the end, but I remember thinking "gosh, this is taking a long time" back in November!
Is there a second scuffed table in addition to this one? Your post left me confused. Am I missing something?
Meanwhile, I'm waiting with baited breath to hear you passed the NCLEX with flying colors. Which I'm sure you did.
My FFT:
1. Earlier I had bought some dummy closet doors, one pair for $3 each, from Habitat ReStore. I wanted to see what they looked like and see if they worked OK before buying more. We installed them on the closet bifold doors and the closet looks like a million bucks now. So this morning, I went down to ReStore and purchased 8 more pairs. These were new, still in the original package, brushed nickel "dummy handles" from DoItBest hardware company, so $3 apiece is an amazingly low price for them. All the bifold closet doors will have them real soon!
2. The store where I work put a lot of items on clearance, since they're beginning a new quarter. I found a decorative candle holder complete with a tealight-size battery-operated faux candle for 99 cents, and two amazingly decorative photo frames for $3.99. The candle is in my gift closet, and I'm just waiting for a friend's birthday to present her with the frames. Which were originally $19.99.
3. Took a survey from Long John Silver's, so now I can get a 1 pc. fish meal for the cost of a large drink.
4. Was able to sit out on the patio last night and eat supper there bc the temperature was in the 70s. At sundown, I turned on the patio lights (I have a covered patio), which in a previous existence were clear Xmas tree lights donated to Goodwill.
5. Moved 2 of 3 bookshelves into the newly refloored computer room, and in the process of unearthing the books in storage, found a CD player/radio I thought I no longer owned. I'll set it up this evening after work. Will be nice to once again play my recordings!
@Fru-gal Lisa,
Asking because I really don't know - what is a "dummy closet door" and "dummy handles"? You are finding such great stuff at Habitat ReStore!
Oh, no, the other scuffed table was from 2023. You'll get a post on that one next week!
@Liz B., curious also
@Liz B., Dummies are handles or knobs that are mounted on a door, but don't actually turn. They're useful, but they don't have any mechanical function.
It turned out cute!!
I sometimes watch reels on Facebook where furniture rehabbers/flippers find or buy cheap worn out pieces of furniture, and rehab them to sell. Every time I watch, I think "wow, that's a ton of work!"....all the paint stripping, sanding, sometimes glueing/clamping or using wood putty to fill in divots/scratches/etc. Don't get me wrong, the pieces are being saved from the landfill, and given a beautiful new life! I admire their fortitude, and yours, Kristen. That table turned out beautifully! AND it's Chiquita-approved. 🙂
That last photo may be my favorite Chiquita shot ever! Thanks for the chuckle.
Kristen, you did it!!! Congratulations! Celebrate!
Your hard work paid off! The shelf looks great!
My frugal five are detailed here:https://practicalwalk.com/2025/07/09/frugal-five-8/
But the short version is:
1. Cheaper fence pickets bought
2. Cheaper 2 by 4s bought
3. Ate some weeds from the yard
4. Watched free fireworks
5. Ate cucumbers from the garden
Your ability to create a put together and nice-looking home on a budget is such an inspiration to me. I have a shelf in my living room that still has a solar system painted on it for a child who owned it before me. I've kind of felt like I'll just have a jumbled-looking home until I can get to my retirement years...but maybe with some concentrated effort I could change that 🙂 I like the color of the table, and that Ikea chair is stunning!
Awwww, that is a sweet compliment. Thank you!
Yes, paint has helped me to pull together a lot of random things into a fairly cohesive look. 🙂
Love the table!!!
Your table came out great....if you run into that type of paint (latexy) on a project again, try using a heat gun with your scraper....
Ooh, ok!
I really like this table! It looks like it could be used just about anywhere. I have never refinished anything, but maybe someday! I have a mid-c slat bench in my basement stewing. 🙂