There’s something timeless about a warm white finish, especially when it’s paired with beautiful wood tones and classic lines. In today’s guest blog, LeeAnn from Creative Moments is sharing how she refreshed a pedestal dining table using Dixie Belle Paint products to create a soft, natural look that feels both inviting and lived-in. From prep to finishing touches, this project highlights how simple it can be to bring new life to a well-loved piece while keeping its character intact.

Warm white pedestal dining table with a natural wood top, styled with a soft table runner and greenery, surrounded by black dining chairs in a bright dining room.

(The following is an excerpt from Creative Moments. Read the full article here)

I purchased this dining set from a friend because I wanted the pedestal table and press back chairs for my own home.

Oval pedestal dining table with a warm stained wood finish, featuring a split top design and turned base, photographed in a workshop setting.

While the solid oak pedestal is in great condition, the wood veneer tabletop is in rough shape and clearly needs a complete makeover.

Close-up of a wooden pedestal dining table base with a warm stained finish, showing the turned center column and curved feet on a workshop floor. Top-down view of a wooden oval dining table with a warm stained finish, highlighting the natural wood grain and plank-style tabletop.

Step 1: Prep

First step was to apply EZ Strip paint and varnish stripper with a Dixie Belle premium chip brush.

Round wooden dining table outdoors with cleaner spilled on the surface and a paintbrush nearby, showing the start of prep work before refinishing.

Spread it around in a thick layer and let sit until the finish softens.

Oval pedestal dining table on a wooden deck, scrubbed with cleaner and covered in white residue as part of the prep process before painting.

Using a metal scraper, remove the finish and stripper.

Close-up of an oval wooden dining table as old finish is scraped away by hand during the stripping and prep stage before refinishing.

To neutralize the stripper and remove any remaining finish, scrub the top with clean water and a scrub brush. Then wipe away the excess water with a towel and allow the surface to dry completely.
Hands wearing gloves scrape and smooth the surface of an oval wooden dining table as remaining finish is removed during the refinishing process.

While scrubbing, I also cleaned the pedestal and underside using Dixie Belle White Lightning Cleaner mixed with water, then rinsed everything thoroughly and dried it with a towel.

Next it was power sanding with my orbital sander starting with 80 grit paper. I progress thru 100-120-150 to removed all old finish and smooth the wood veneer carefully. Take your time as this is is where hurrying can cause big problems.
Hand using a power sander on the edge of an oval wooden dining table to smooth the surface during the furniture refinishing process.
The entire surface was then hand sanded smooth.
Hand resting on a sanded wooden dining table leaf, showing the smooth grain and natural wood tone during the refinishing process. Sanded round pedestal dining table on a deck, with table leaves separated and a sander resting on the surface during the refinishing process.
The top is looking amazing all down to bare wood.
Close-up of a round dining table edge being refinished, with a hand using a scraper while a sander and putty knife rest on the tabletop during prep work. Hand sanding the rounded edge of a wooden dining table top during refinishing, focusing on smoothing the oak grain before finishing.
The table extension slides were sticky and to easily fix this Dixie Belle Big Mama’s Butta was brushed on with a dedicated Dixie Belle La Petite brush. This makes them move smoothly and smell good too.
Hand holding Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax and a wax brush next to a sanded wooden dining table top, preparing to seal the natural wood finish.

Step 2: Stain Table Top

I wanted a natural wood finish on the top so applied a clear stain finishing oil I had on hand.
Gloved hand wiping Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax onto a sanded oak dining table top, showing the rich natural wood grain as the finish is applied.
A light sand with a Dixie Belle sanding sponge after each coat was dry.
Hand holding a sanding sponge while smoothing the edge of a natural oak dining table top, highlighting the wood grain during surface prep.
I applied four coats to achieve the exact look I wanted. Then, I buffed on Dixie Belle’s Best Dang Wax in Clear to give the top a soft, satin sheen.
Finished oak pedestal dining table with a warm natural wood finish, showing the extended leaf and visible wood grain in a workshop setting.

Step 3: Prime Table Legs and Paint

Moving on to the base, using a medium oval Dixie Belle synthetic brush I painted the pedestal and table edge in 2 coats of clear Dixie Belle Bonding BOSS. This product is a “primer” that seals, prevents bleed thru and adds grip to the smooth wood surface.
Close-up of a wooden pedestal table base as Bonding BOSS is applied with a Dixie Belle brush, enhancing the warm wood tone in a workshop setting.
When dry for 24 hours the color went on. Endless shore; a warm white in the Dixie Belle silk mineral paint line was brushed on with my favorite angled mini Dixie Belle synthetic brush. Tipping the pedestal upside down allows to get all the surfaces and edges for a nice professional finish.
Pedestal dining table base mid-makeover, with part of the base painted a warm white and the rest showing natural wood, set on newspaper in a workshop. Dining table pedestal base fully painted warm white, flipped upside down on a newspaper-covered work surface during the furniture makeover process.
The table edges had the same treatment.
Close-up of a dining table edge showing the contrast between the natural wood tabletop and the warm white painted apron during the furniture makeover process.
Two coats were brushed on in total for perfect coverage.

I aimed for a clean, crisp finish on this table without adding any distressing or aging. Because of that, Dixie Belle Silk Mineral Paint was the perfect choice—it includes a built-in top coat and creates a smooth, satin sheen.

Pedestal dining table base painted in warm white, resting upside down on a workbench with newspapers underneath during the furniture refinishing process.

Isn’t it lovely?
Finished pedestal dining table with a warm natural wood top and a soft white painted base, styled in a bright dining room with hardwood floors. Finished pedestal dining table with a warm natural wood top and a soft white painted base, styled in a bright dining room with hardwood floors.
The new light yet warm update gives a modern farmhouse feel to the dining table.
Finished pedestal dining table with a warm natural wood top and a soft white painted base, styled in a bright dining room with hardwood floors.
This pedestal table makeover is a great reminder that subtle changes can make a big impact. LeeAnn’s thoughtful use of Dixie Belle Paint products allows the natural beauty of the piece to shine while giving it a clean, updated feel that works in so many spaces. Be sure to visit Creative Moments to see the full process and details behind this project, and get inspired for your own warm white furniture refresh.
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Dining Room, Furniture Makeovers, Guest Author, How To