Outdoor Table Upgrade with Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan

I have been talking for awhile about updating the table out on my balcony. It is a discontinued Ikea table that once had two matching chairs, but one got smashed during a party a few years ago (and I think I am going to just toss the other chair because I never use it). It is a great gateleg table, but it has definitely being looking a little worse for wear after 4 years outdoors.

The top of the table also got ruined by the melting wax candle incident of last summer. See the big dark spot? Does not come out.

Therefore, when I was contacted to try out Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, I jumped on the chance to update this table! It has a lot of pieces and is a pretty time-consuming project so I knew a good quality paint that would eliminate the primer stage was in order. Plus Chalk Paint® is good for indoor and outdoor use so I knew it would hold up on the balcony.

The colour I picked out was Provence, because I have an undying love of all things turquoise.

Chalk Paint® does not need much prep before applying, but I did have to wash the table down as it was covered in Toronto grime. However, when scrubbing it, the old stain started to peel up so I ended up having to sand it all down to ensure a smooth finish.

Then I dragged it back inside to paint! I chose to paint inside because Toronto is crazy humid and I knew the paint would cure better indoors. Luckily the paint is lead-free, EG-free, odor-free and low-VOC, so it was quite comfortable and safe painting inside. Plus I had the TV to entertain me.

I first painted the legs and bottom. I had to paint the underside because a lot of it is visible when the sides of the table are down. The paint went on great- very smooth and thick, yet dried fast so I could whip out 2 coats in a short amount of time. The paint is interesting to work with, in that you can add water to thin it out, or leave the can open overnight to thicken it up- this allows you to do all sort of finishing techniques. I wanted a nice, smooth finish so I just used it as is. I didn't worry to much about painting over any hinges because this paint sticks to metal too! I like how the visible hinges blend right in when painted.

After I flipped it over, I quickly sanded down any drips that got through the gaps and then painted the top. I used a good-quality brush for the first layer, but then switched to a small roller to get a smooth finish.

The most annoying and time consuming part was painting between all the slats! Took me about one hour to complete and I only did one coat since it isn't a super-visible spot. I did it between coats on the top so the final top coat would be smooth.

Then I let it sit inside for a few days to cure as much as possible. It takes a full 30 days for the paint to cure, but it is perfectly usable after just a few hours of drying! Usually with Chalk Paint® you would finish it with with the Soft Wax, but the wax is not good for outdoor use so I skipped this step. I have another project in the works where I will show the wax!

I moved the table outside after a few days of indoor curing (simply no space in the condo for a big table!), but I am just being careful with placing things on it and wiping up any water until the paint has fully cured (which will probably take longer with the humidity). One day, about a week or two after it went outside, it poured and the table got soaked, but it all wiped right up and the table looked good as new! FYI- the plants are only on here for the photos :)

I'm not going to lie- I love love love how the table turned out! It is a million times better than the weather-beaten wood! I also love the chalky finish- usually people use this type of paint for a distressed look, but I think it really comes off as modern with a clean, smooth finish.

I even set up the table for a meal. I really want to eat out here now that I have such a pretty table to eat off of! Especially with my new plates (which I got after taking these photos). Though I will be careful with the candles to avoid another wax incident!

If you are interested in Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan, check out www.anniesloanunfolded.com and go to the retailers tab. Some retailers offer online shopping, so you should be able to get it from wherever you are in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, or the UK. It isn't a discount paint, but it goes a long way- I used only about 2/3 of a quart to do the whole table.

In the meantime, you should check out the book Quick and Easy Paint Transformations by Annie Sloan. It gives all sorts of tips on painting furniture and different techniques to try- you don't even need Chalk Paint® to try them (though it is recommended)!

And for one lucky reader, you can enter here for a FREE copy of Quick and Easy Paint Transformations! Just enter in the Rafflecopter box below and tell me what project you would tackle first and with which colour from the Chalk Paint® collection!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This contest is open to residents of Canada and the United States and will run until end of day on Wednesday, July 23rd.

Disclaimer: The paint for this project was provided by Annie Sloan Unfolded. All opinions are my own.