A Simple and Easy Way to Upcycle a Garage Sale Table

Here’s a simple and easy way to upcycle a piece of neglected furniture, and still make it look like it’s been around forever, but in a really good way!

My husband was at a garage sale and found this old, beat-up end table for $5.00. When he brought it home, I told him he paid too much for it (cue the laughter)!

If I was going to give this end table any chance at all to stay in our home, and not be dropped off at the nearest Goodwill, I had to think of a way to make it look old and vintage, but still upcycle the poor little thing.

I decided to use glue and paint to create a chippy finish and sand the edges for a worn look.

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Supply List

• Table or other piece of furniture
• Dark Stain or a dark paint color
• White Paint ( I used Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint Linen White AND a basic latex paint)
• Elmer’s Glue ( all-purpose or wood)
• Optional: Dark wax
• Sanding Sponge

Tools Recommended

• 2″ Paint Brush
• Foam Brush
• Metal Putty Knife

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Sand Lightly

By sanding the piece lightly, it will help the paint adhere to the surface.

Step 2: Apply a Stain or Coat of Dark Paint

Applying a dark stain or paint will help highlight the areas that will crackle, and will give the table more of an aged look. I have done this DIY on another piece of furniture that was all white.

When it started looking chippy and peeling a bit, the finish wasn’t notable from a distance because it was all the same color. If the table already has a dark base, you can skip this step.

Let dry.

Step 3: Apply the Glue

Apply a layer of glue with a foam paint brush to the areas you want to have a “chippy look”. Covering the area with a thick layer of glue will create a bigger “crackle”.

For a more realistic look, I tried to mix it up a bit. I applied thicker layers in some spots, and thinner layers in others. All-purpose glue was used here, but you can use wood glue as well.

Step 3: Apply a Coat of Paint

Make sure to paint the table when the glue is still tacky and starts to skin over, after a few minutes. Apply a single layer of paint to cover the layer of glue.

As the glue dries under the top coats of paint, the paint will shrink and crack.

I tried an experiment with this upcycle project. First, I used Rust-oleum chalked Linen White paint on one side of the table. Then on the other side, I used a basic white latex matte paint I had leftover from my shiplap walls. I wanted to see which paint worked better for this DIY table project.

I found for me that the latex paint worked better with the glue. And it was less expensive. You may even find some lying around your house or garage.

Step 6: Sand and Wax

If you want a more antiqued and vintage look in certain areas, apply some dark wax for a finished coat. Wipe any areas you want to wax, with a wet rag, to help apply too much wax.

Use the wax sparingly. I chose not to wax this particular end table.

Sand any areas that you want to look worn, concentrating on all the edges and corners.

And here it is. My simple and easy upcycle project. The end table still shows its age but in a more dignified way.

What’s great about this upcycle DIY technique is that you can experiment, and change the look to meet your personal preference. A scraper can be used to take off more of the chippy pieces created by the glue. You can apply the glue thicker or thinner, depending on how much “crackle” you want to be seen.

If you have any questions or additional suggestions, feel free to share them in the comments below. And be sure to share this blog post link with anyone who may find this DIY project interesting.

Until next time,

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