Have you ever found a piece of furniture you absolutely love that just needs a little TLC? That’s how I felt when I saw this gorgeous side table at a vintage sale. I think it was love at first sight! The price was outstanding – under $100. Ladies, if you’re hunting to a great bargain, barn sales & flea markets are the way to go.
I had THE perfect spot for the side table all picked out in the farmhouse. At first, I wanted to paint it. But when I thought about the beautiful wood that was (hopefully!) hiding under the varnish, I knew I wanted to see if I could bring back its natural beauty.
Below, see how I took a great vintage find from a 5 to a 10, with just a little elbow grease & a heart to see it restored!
STEP one: Remove doors & drawers
To effectively remove all paint and lacquer from ALL sides of the doors and drawers, I first took out the drawers and doors, and set the separate pieces out to be worked on.
Even if the paint isn't visible, it's important to clean off the nooks and crannies so that your piece is as beautiful and close-to-original as possible.

STEP Two: Plastic wrap
I covered the piece with Citristrip varnish remover and covered it in plastic wrap. The plastic helps keep the varnish moist, so that the chemical begins to peel the paint away from the wood more effectively.

STEP Three: Paint removal
Scrape down all remaining paint and wipe down with denatured alcohol with steel wool...
I HIGHLY recommend wearing gloves! My skin gets so dry and cracked from the dry winter air, and I try to save it as much “extra” irritation as possible when tackling a DIY project.

...this will help reveal that fantastic, shining wood underneath!
STEP Four: Sand
Sand off any imperfections (I just use Walmart-grade sandpaper; whatever you have on hand will work. If needed, you can repeat steps two through four.

STEP FIVE: Linseed
Wipe down with linseed oil (this one works great) - the oil helps bring out the natural texture and grain in the wood. Put in the work to add that fabulous new-find glow to the piece!

STEP Six: top coat
Cost with a top polyurethane coat (I recommend this brand). I used a flat finish because I wanted it to look vintage.

And you're done! Enjoy your beautiful side table and the vintage flair it adds to your space. Have YOU planned a weekend DIY, friends? Let me know if you try this tutorial in the comments, or via Instagram, @maplecreekmarket! Happy Friday!
Blessings,
Ginny
Shop the side table details!
Cake (Everything Dawn), Wooden sign (Currently Chic), Cake stand (Pioneer Woman)
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