$10 Tables Makeover With Americana Decor Metallics

This post is sponsored by DecoArt. I only work with brands I know, use, and love, so you can trust that the information I share is reliable.

$10 Tables Makeover With Americana Decor Metallics

If you’ve ever checked out any of my past furniture refinishing projects, you know that I’ve been a big fan of DecoArt and their Americana Decor paints for a while. That’s why I am so excited to be partnering with them today to share some of their amazing new paint lines with you!

In addition to their line of fabulous chalky finish paints, DecoArt is rolling out four brand new Americana Decor paint new lines that are sure to have something to meet nearly all of your project needs:

• Metallics
• Satin Enamels
• Outdoor Living
• Color Stain

These products are so new that they don’t even have landing pages up yet on DecoArt’s website, but the links above will take you to their product description pages, where you can learn more about how you can use these paints and what colors they’ll come in.

Metallics…

Today, however, I want to talk specifically about working with the Metallics line. Metallics are a great way to give pieces a unique look and make them pop in a room. If you’re more conservative with your approach to color and decor, don’t worry—using metallic colors to accent pieces is also a great and very trendy option.

The Metallics are perfect for both subtle accenting and full-coverage applications.They go on quite transparent and can be easily layered to achieve a uniform metallic finish with an even sheen. Offered in 14 colors, the Metallics line cures to a durable finish and is available in 8-ounce wide-mouth jars.

I was able to get my hands on Champagne Gold, Sterling Silver, and Pewter, and I used Pewter for the project I’ll walk you through today. I thought its depth and blue undertones would pair nicely with one of the lighter blue/gray Satin Enamels paints I tried out. So I painted three nesting tables that I scored at my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for $10…what a bargain! Here are two of them before I got to work:

Here’s what I used for this project:

(Affiliate links below; read more about those here)

• Three nesting tables
• Americana Decor Metallics in Pewter
• Americana Decor Satin Enamels in Smoke Grey
• Water-based primer
• Fine sandpaper for between coats—I used 220 grit
• Chip brushes (I used 2 inch), Frog Tape, and a drop cloth

And here is how I made over my $10 nesting tables!

(Remember to wear a mask and eye protection while sanding and working with wood, and wear an appropriate mask while working with paints, stains, and finishes. Follow the directions and warnings from your particular brand. Do not use any tools without proper training, precautions, and supervision.)

Step 1: Lightly sand

The Americana Decor Metallics paints adhere best to surfaces that are either lightly sanded or primed, so if the piece you’re working on is sealed or finished, you’ll want to do a little prep work. Here’s how they looked when I got my hands on them:

As you can see, the tables had a layer of laminate that was a little beat up and has some minor bubbling, so I actually sanded the tops of each table down completely and primed them. This won’t be necessary for all projects; I just wanted to ensure I had a blemish-free space to paint. For each table’s legs, I just did a light hand sand and quick coat of primer.

Step 2: Paint first coat

Using my chip brush, painted the first coat of paint on the medium-sized table. (I did the large and small tables using the Satin Enamels color in Smoke Grey—I’ll do a separate post detailing the Satin Enamels application process!) As you can see, the Pewter color is actually quite blue. If you want an opaque finish, this is not a one-coat paint, so know that going in.

Here’s the first coat after it dried.

Step 3: Lightly sand and add more coats

The paint’s directions recommend lightly sanding between coats to achieve the highest possible metallic sheen, so I gave my table a quick once over using 220-grit sandpaper, then I wiped it down and brushed the second coat on. With this color, two coats might be fine for some projects. However, there were still a few streaky areas on my piece and a few white primer spots sticking out, so I did another light sand and applied a third coat.

Here’s the third coat…perfect!

Step 4: Add a dipped effect

I wanted to do a dip effect on the legs, so I taped them off using Frog Tape. Then I used Pewter to accent the legs on the small and large tables that I’d painted using the Smoke Grey paint. Vice versa on the medium-sized table that I painted Pewter.

Here is the first coat of Pewter going on:

Taping tip: Carefully peel the tape off as soon as you’re done painting the first coat. That way, you’ll ensure you get a nice clean line. For the second coat (and third coat, if you need it), just re-tape the leg and repeat. Easy.

And here are the final painted tables!

I’m so happy with how these turned out! Remember, the Metallics line paints (and the Satin Enamels line paints) cure to a durable finish and do not require a final top coat like the Americana Decor Chalky Finish paints do.

I hope this post has inspired you to try out the new Americana Decor Metallics line! I enjoyed working with it, and I think you will, too. If you can’t wait to get your hands on these paints, Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft started carrying the Metallics line in March. Metallics will also be coming to A.C. Moore by June 24th and will eventually be available in the DecoArt Online Store.

Happy painting!

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