Sometimes all it takes is a little vision to see what a piece can become. In this guest blog, LeeAnn from Creative Moments shares how she took a dated coffee table and gave it a fresh, updated look using Dixie Belle Paint products. From prep to final details, she walks through her process step by step, showing how the right products can bring out the best in a piece without losing its character.

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

Before and after of coffee table makeover, showing dark wood finish transformed into a painted charcoal base with updated hardware

There’s something incredibly satisfying about taking a piece with “good bones” and giving it a second life. This large, square coffee table is a perfect example—sturdy, functional with its four drawers, and boasting those clean lines we all love. However, like many modern pieces, it features a solid wood frame topped with a thin veneer over MDF. While that veneer is in great shape, it presents a classic DIY crossroads: stripping or heavy sanding is a high-stakes gamble that often ends in ruined surfaces.

To give this beauty a “reloved” look without the risk, paint is the undisputed hero.

Why This Approach Wins:

  • Safety First: Painting protects the delicate veneer from the “sand-through” disasters that happen with MDF.
  • Community Curated: Taking the pulse of my followers helped me find the perfect “middle ground” that feels both trendy and timeless.
  • Durability: A high-quality dark gray hides the “daily life” marks much better than pure black or white.

Prior to the transformation – The seller’s image instantly caught my eye.

Wood coffee table with dark stained top and drawers, shown before makeover on a hardwood floor

I may have overestimated my ability to pick it up alone. This large piece was incredibly awkward to lift and carry from the doorstep over ice and into my car, but I managed to do it with little room to spare.

Wood coffee table with drawers loaded into the back of an SUV, shown before makeover for a furniture project

In my workshop, awaiting its transformation.

Wood coffee table with dark stained finish and drawers, placed in a workshop before refinishing makeover

Step 1: Clean and Scuff Sand

After a quick wipe, the flat surfaces were given a hand sand using this Gator medium/fine sanding sponge.

Hand sanding a wood coffee table top with sanding block, prepping the surface for a furniture makeover

Cleaning the surfaces thoroughly is a very important step. I used a spray version of  white lightning cleaner with a microfiber cloth to get into all the nooks and crannies. This provides a super clean base for the next steps.

Cleaning a wood coffee table with spray cleaner before painting, preparing the surface for a furniture makeover Cleaning a wood coffee table with spray cleaner before painting, preparing the surface for a furniture makeover

To make painting the bottoms of furniture legs easier, I love using these paint pyramids to elevate them and allow for easy access.

Applying primer to coffee table leg with brush, showing paint coverage and drip detail during furniture makeover

Step 2: Prime with Bonding BOSS

Since the original finish on the veneer was so smooth, I brushed on a gray Dixie Belle Bonding Boss using my favorite 2″ angled synthetic brush to ensure good paint adhesion. This product is a primer that also blocks stains, smells, and bleed-through, solving multiple paint problems in one step.
Applying Bonding BOSS primer to wood furniture with a brush, prepping surface for paint during a furniture makeover
I find putting the large piece on its side to start allows better access to the underside edges show above then back on its feet to do the top as shown below.
Applying Bonding BOSS primer to wood furniture with a brush, prepping surface for paint during a furniture makeover
The first coat of Bonding Boss is on.
Coffee table fully primed and ready for paint, showing smooth Bonding BOSS coverage before finishing the furniture makeover
Then it was on to the 4 drawer fronts. Below you can see the top on with Bonding Boss, the second one shows how stain fades when in the sun showing the darker stain under where hardware was and compared to the drawer not in the sunlight on the bottom.
Furniture drawers stacked showing primed and original wood finishes, highlighting prep stages in a furniture makeover
About 4 hours later a second coat of Bonding Boss was brushed on and left to dry 24 hours.
After each coat of primer and paint are dry I always lightly sand them to keep the surfaces buttery smooth.
Lightly sanding primed coffee table surface with sanding block, smoothing finish before painting in furniture makeover Primed coffee table with drawers removed and staged in workshop, showing prep progress before painting a furniture makeover
I’ve been caught in a total “black vs. white” stalemate with my square coffee table, so I’ve officially decided to meet in the middle with a moody, sophisticated dark gray. It’s the ultimate design compromise: you get all the drama and depth of black without the constant battle against visible dust, and it’s way more grounded than a crisp white. With the primer on now and feeling like this “middle ground” might actually be the winner after all.

Step 3: Paint

The charcoal grey color I chose is black sands Dixie Belle silk mineral paint.
Coffee table painted in dark gray finish with drawers removed, showing progress during furniture makeover in workshop
I brushed it on with a clean 2″ angled synthetic brush. this is my go to brush for almost all projects.
Coffee table painted in Black Sands Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint with stained wood drawers, showing contrast during furniture makeover in workshop

Opting for dark gray isn’t just a compromise—it’s a design power move. While black can sometimes feel like a “black hole” in a room and white can be a high-maintenance nightmare for coffee spills, dark gray hits that sophisticated “Goldilocks” zone.

The second coat of black sands going on the left side. The first coat of paint (right) always looks a bit sketchy 🙂

Applying Black Sands Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint to coffee table base, showing smooth dark finish during furniture makeover

The antiqued bronze pulls were washed and dried and to tone them down just a bit I applied black Gilding Wax. After it set for a bitm the pulls were buffed and screwed back in place.

Furniture hardware handles finished with black gilding wax, shown during detailing stage of a furniture makeover

Mission complete! Now to find it’s forever home.

Finished coffee table makeover with deep charcoal painted base and updated hardware, styled in a living room setting

A makeover like this is a great reminder that you don’t always need to start from scratch. With the right approach and products, you can refresh what you already have and create something that feels new again. Be sure to check out more of LeeAnn’s projects at Creative Moments for even more inspiration using Dixie Belle Paint. For another easy coffee table update by Creative Moments, check out our blog, Goodbye Orange Oak – Hello Walnut Rustic Coffee Table.

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