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DIY Kids Art Table

September 30, 2015 By Erin Spain 84 Comments

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by HomeRight. All opinions are my own.

You all know I love a good challenge, and I’m very excited to be participating in this month’s Thrift Store Challenge sponsored by HomeRight. The objective is to show you how easy it is to transform a piece of furniture, so if you see an old diamond in the rough at a thrift store, keep an open mind and know that it can easily be transformed into something great. Paint can work wonders! Seriously. Armed with my HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer and the awesome new Homeright Spray Shelter, I set out to turn an old, worn out dining table into a fresh new kid’s art table for my boys to enjoy.

Here it is “Before”:

Thrift Store Challenge: Old dining table becomes cute kids' art table.

This ancient dining table has been sitting around our house forever. In fact, my boys started using it as an art table in the playroom not too long ago, but it was too high to use with their cute little kid chairs. The finish was damaged and there were all kinds of splotchy paint and stain splatters on it from years of wear.

First, I measured how much shorter their kids chairs are than the original chairs that came with the table. The height difference was 3-3/4″, so I unscrewed and removed the table legs and used my miter saw to cut that much length off the bottom of each leg. (A hand saw would work fine too.) Then, I reattached them and had a table that was the proper height.

How to transform an old dining table into a cute kid's art table.

Next, I set up my Homeright Spray Shelter in the driveway, but since it’s been raining nonstop here in Atlanta, I moved it into the garage to paint.

The HomeRight Spray Shelter is a must for furniture paint projects!

The Spray Shelter can be put together by one person, but an extra set of hands makes setup a breeze. My husband helped me set it up and we had it up in just a couple of minutes. It protects your surroundings from overspray — simply throw a tarp or large drop cloth on the ground inside the spray shelter and you’re good to go.

The HomeRight Finish Max & Spray Shelter make furniture paint projects a breeze.

I love the HomeRight Finish Max for a quick paint project. I sanded and primed the table, and used BEHR Marquee in White. After the table was dry, I taped off the bottom 10 inches of the legs, covered most of the legs above where I was spray painting in plastic and spray painted them in Rust-Oleum metallic gold.

Transform an old dining table into a cute kid's art table.

I plan on waxing the top of the table with Minwax Finishing Paste to protect the surface since it is sure to take a beating, and I’ll probably add felt pads to the bottom of the legs so the table doesn’t scratch the wood floor.

Now my boys have a cute kid’s art table to use for creative projects and drawing their many pictures!

Thrift Store Challenge: Old dining table becomes cute kid's art table.

I love how paint can completely transform a piece of furniture. (By the way, check out how we organized our playroom, plus here is info on the chalkboard wall and the cute kid’s chairs.) The boys love hanging out here and creating art.

Old dining table becomes cute kid's art table.

Turn an old dining table into a cute kid's art table!

HOMERIGHT FINISH MAX & SPRAY SHELTER GIVEAWAY!

Enter to win a HomeRight Finish Max Paint Sprayer & a HomeRight Spray Shelter!

Enter to win a HomeRight Spray Shelter and a Finish Max paint sprayer! To enter, wait for the Rafflecopter box to load below (email subscribers may need to click over to the web version of the blog) and follow the instructions. Giveaway ends Wednesday, October 4 at Midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THESE POSTS:

  • DIY Lego Table IKEA Hack
  • IKEA TARVA Hack
  • Interactive Chalkboard Gallery Wall
  • The 20 Toy Rule: How We Decluttered Our Playroom & Simplified Our Life
  • or check out my Project Gallery here!

*This post contains affiliate links. 

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Thanks for visiting!

-Erin

Filed Under: Decorating, DIY, Furniture, Furniture Makeovers, Giveaways, Home & DIY Blog, Kids' Rooms, Playroom, Popular Posts

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Comments

  1. Carmen Skyles says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:17 am

    How slick is that spray shelter. It looks like a breeze to use and I would love to win one! Great transformation on your little art table!

    Reply
  2. Ann says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:23 am

    Love the table! The color on the legs is a nice touch.

    Reply
  3. Gwen says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:59 am

    Don’t have the budget for a new dining table, so i’d love to update our current one. Thanks!

    Reply
  4. [email protected] Stroll Thru Life says

    September 30, 2015 at 10:28 am

    This has been on my want list for a very long time. I would love to win the sprayer. I love your table makeover, so fabulous and creative.

    Reply
  5. Erin Ellis says

    September 30, 2015 at 10:45 am

    This is just what I need to makeover a table that my grandfather made in the 40’s!

    Reply
  6. Kelli Fox says

    September 30, 2015 at 12:08 pm

    I have a HomeRight sprayer – now I just need to get the shelter! Thanks for the give away!

    Reply
  7. Kelli Fox says

    September 30, 2015 at 12:11 pm

    AND! – GREAT job on that table! I love love love the gold legs 🙂

    Reply
  8. Gina says

    September 30, 2015 at 12:25 pm

    Oh how awesome!!! I want to repaint every door in the house on top of multiple furniture projects I have swirling around in my head. This would surely help.

    Reply
  9. carol clark says

    September 30, 2015 at 1:05 pm

    there is an old dresser i would love to redo and some old windows i would like to paint also

    Reply
  10. Jenn says

    September 30, 2015 at 1:29 pm

    I wish I had a spray shelter last weekend! I was spray painting and it rained all day. I too live in the Atlanta area. It’s nice to see sun today 🙂

    Reply
  11. Jessica nickerson says

    September 30, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    My husband would loooove for me to have that spray shelter! That way everything wouldn’t be covered in a fine mist of my latest color choice : )

    Reply
  12. Meghan B says

    September 30, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    I would do a bookcase for my daughter!

    Reply
  13. Lizee Mcmillian says

    September 30, 2015 at 4:06 pm

    I would start with doors!! EVERYTHING needs a fresh coat of paint, and I’m married to a carpenter, who refuses to work in his own house!

    Reply
  14. Anne Pik says

    September 30, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    My living room will be the very 1st (much needed) project.

    Reply
  15. Aubrey C. says

    September 30, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    This looks amazing! I love the gold legs 🙂

    Reply
  16. Dee says

    September 30, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    I have a large toy box that I want to re-do to store blankets, This would be such a big help.

    Love your table, especially the gold legs. You did a great job!

    Reply
  17. Vic says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    The sprayer would come in handy for many projects!

    Reply
  18. Michelle CROSSAN says

    October 1, 2015 at 8:06 am

    Love this!

    Reply
  19. Cheryl says

    October 1, 2015 at 9:01 am

    I would love to tackle a dresser.

    Reply
  20. Donna in SC says

    October 1, 2015 at 10:06 am

    Terrific giveaway! I could sure use both the paint booth and the sprayer…THANKS for the chance to win one!

    Reply
  21. Hannah says

    October 1, 2015 at 10:19 am

    This would be awesome to win! My hubby and I love DIY furniture restoration and renovating our old house. We’re wanting to restore an old drafting table for an eclectic dining room. I love the gold detail on your table! 🙂

    Reply
  22. DJ says

    October 1, 2015 at 10:28 am

    I would love to paint my back deck.

    Reply
  23. Ansley Cox says

    October 1, 2015 at 11:08 am

    I am SO excited for the chance to win the HomeRight Spray Shelter & Finish Max Paint Sprayer!!! I wanted them as I read your blog post…your project looks great! There are so many projects that need to be completed, especially because we just moved to a new house and I have a lot of things to paint and want to avoid any messes. Thank you for offering this contest!

    Reply
  24. amy tolley says

    October 1, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    i have an older table and chairs that could use a facelift this set looks amazing

    Reply
  25. Nicole H. says

    October 1, 2015 at 9:13 pm

    A built in drawers unit under a window seat… This looks awesome!

    Reply
  26. Yami says

    October 2, 2015 at 12:26 am

    Okay so I have to admit, I saw the picture before I read what it was and actually thought you were using a camping tent for a minute! Love that shelter, I need one in my life!

    Reply
  27. Em Mahr says

    October 2, 2015 at 7:14 am

    I’d love to refinish and paint 2 white chairs for my front porch.

    Reply
  28. Tiffany Sheridan says

    October 2, 2015 at 2:14 pm

    I LOVE the gold legs! I am just about to do my own table makeover and now I’m seriously considering doing the same thing to mine! And I love how easy the tent can be put together! That would make painting projects much more enjoyable!

    Reply
  29. Mic says

    October 2, 2015 at 4:40 pm

    This is awesome!! My dad would love something like this when he works on his fix-it projects all year long!

    Reply
  30. Amanda @ Burlap and Babies says

    October 3, 2015 at 1:57 am

    Oh I so need those! I have a coffee table and desk that would be great projects to use the shelter and sprayer on.

    Reply
  31. Julie Waldron says

    October 3, 2015 at 10:31 am

    My daughter has a vanity table that needs re done.

    Reply
  32. Julie Waldron says

    October 3, 2015 at 10:33 am

    I gave you the wrong twitter name it’s @farmermomwife

    Reply
  33. Tara Cooper says

    October 3, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    The art table turned out great!

    Reply
  34. Robyn L says

    October 3, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    My mother in law just gave us an old dresser that I need to paint and this would be ideal for this project!!

    Reply
  35. Tina W says

    October 4, 2015 at 12:59 am

    I have a pair of 80s bookcases in a bleached oak finish that I have been dyiing to paint!

    Reply
  36. Diana Leyh says

    October 4, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    I love that you didn’t go all kiddy, if that’s a word, lol, I love it and I have to get the sprayer! Awesome job!!

    Reply
  37. theresa j says

    October 4, 2015 at 2:46 pm

    My husband brought home tables and chairs that need painting

    Reply
  38. theresa j says

    October 4, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    I have about twenty chairs that need to be painted

    Reply
  39. Kathy D says

    October 4, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    would loce to be able to paint some old dressers for my boys rooms

    Reply
  40. Minta Boggs says

    October 4, 2015 at 3:16 pm

    I would love to try and fix my dining room chairs!

    Reply
  41. Gina Ferrell says

    October 4, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    I have an old armoire I would love to redo.

    Reply
  42. Donna Kozar says

    October 4, 2015 at 4:04 pm

    I have a table that needs to be painted.

    Reply
  43. Debra Lee says

    October 4, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    This would make painting a dresser in my garage a breeze.

    Reply
  44. Serena Powell says

    October 5, 2015 at 12:43 am

    I have a dresser that is in dire need of a makeover.

    Reply
  45. Alexis T says

    October 5, 2015 at 7:56 am

    My husband is a “junker” always bringing home “projects”. Right now I have an old sewing machine table that is planning on being re-purposed into a bathroom vanity table. This would most certainly come in handy!

    Reply
  46. esme says

    October 5, 2015 at 12:28 pm

    I would repurpose some furniture at my parents house and paint their shed.

    Reply
  47. Beth G. says

    October 5, 2015 at 2:48 pm

    I would paint my kitchen cabinets!

    Reply
  48. Birdiebee says

    October 5, 2015 at 4:47 pm

    I have some old wooden chairs as well as a dresser to paint.

    Reply
  49. Maureen says

    October 5, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    I would like to remodel my daughter’s bedroom for her birthday. My husband built her a shelving unit that we could paint as a surprise.

    Reply
  50. Jennifer Finn says

    October 5, 2015 at 9:58 pm

    to paint my old end table and chairs

    Reply
  51. Marnie G (Derrick Todd) says

    October 6, 2015 at 2:26 am

    If I won, I would love to tackle this hutch that I purchased at an auction.

    Reply
  52. Stephanie Phelps says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:24 am

    I would love to repaint our interior doors with it if I won!

    Reply
  53. Sharon Schoepe says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:33 am

    This is just what I need. My daughter’s furniture is in serious need of a girly redo

    Reply
  54. rachel says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:35 am

    My first project: A changing table into a potting table project then with that experience under my belt: our kitchen table!

    Reply
  55. Evija says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:48 am

    The makeover looks amazing!!! I really need this in my life as I have a shed full of unfinished projects!!! Fingers crossed!! x

    Reply
  56. Diana Hatch says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:50 am

    I have some doors that need to be painted

    Reply
  57. Tara says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:54 am

    We have a table almost identical to the one you transformed that my 10-year-old uses as an art table – I’d love to pretty it up, maybe even use some chalkboard paint on the top for extra artsiness.

    Reply
  58. Tandi Cortez-Rios says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:13 am

    If I won, I would love to paint my kids a table. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    Reply
  59. Kimberly says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:36 am

    I have a garage full of projects just waiting for me lol. I think the first thing I would paint is a set of vintage wooden doll furniture for my daughter.

    Reply
  60. Katie Bellamy says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:45 am

    I have a couple dressers I need painted!!

    Reply
  61. Barbara Blanton says

    October 6, 2015 at 10:42 am

    An old dresser that belonged to my grandmother

    Reply
  62. jeremy mclaughlin says

    October 6, 2015 at 11:13 am

    This would be great for my dining room table.

    Reply
  63. June Ebinger says

    October 6, 2015 at 11:17 am

    I’VE BEEN WANTING TO REFINISH A CHILD’S ROCKING CHAIR FOR A LONG TIME

    Reply
  64. Danielle M. says

    October 6, 2015 at 11:19 am

    Oh! I’d be a painting fool with these! I have a picnic table that needs redone as well as a kitchen table…shelves for my daughter’s rooms waiting to be done… so many things!

    Reply
  65. Donna Cheatle says

    October 6, 2015 at 11:35 am

    I have a bunch of projects on my to do list! One of them is a set of decorative tables (for my daughter’s bedroom) that need painted!

    Reply
  66. Danielle Jones says

    October 6, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    I would love to use this on some of my sons bedroom furniture. We are in the process of changing his room to a more grown up hunting themed room. He has a couple of dressers that were wanting to paint and his iron bed needs a new color as well.

    Reply
  67. Missy says

    October 6, 2015 at 1:47 pm

    If I win I would paint my dresser. I love it but it needs updated,

    Reply
  68. mechele johnson says

    October 6, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    I would tackle my bathroom vanity. It is dark 1970’s wood color and I really want to brighten it up.

    Reply
  69. Trish Dowling says

    October 6, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    i would love to tackle a bookshelf in the garage.

    Reply
  70. Melinda Stephens says

    October 6, 2015 at 3:58 pm

    I have so many things to paint. I think I would start on some of the detailing on my porch, like the upright supports. This would work so much better than a paintbrush.

    Reply
  71. lissa crane says

    October 6, 2015 at 4:31 pm

    The first project I would love to tackle would definitely be painting my old wooden dresser for my daughters “big girl” room! She has a pink theme and I would love to redo it for her to match her future new room!

    Reply
  72. Kimberly Bauer says

    October 6, 2015 at 4:46 pm

    I would love to paint my daughter’s bunkbeds.

    Reply
  73. Pamela says

    October 6, 2015 at 4:53 pm

    I would love to do a similar project using gold spray paint, but I would like to do a set of wine glasses and decanter with gold on the bottom third.

    Reply
  74. jenny stratton says

    October 6, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    I would love to redo my kitchen furniture.

    Reply
  75. chickie brewer says

    October 6, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    It would have to be a small tale I have in the bedroom.

    Reply
  76. Leah Shumack says

    October 6, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    I have an ottoman that I want to redo for a Christmas gift!

    Reply
  77. Dawn S. says

    October 6, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    We bought two end tables earlier this summer at a garage sale that are in serious need of a good coat of paint! I’d love to use this shelter for that project – and thanks for the reminder to get it done! 🙂

    Reply
  78. Liza Vladyka says

    October 6, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    i need a new bed 🙂

    Reply
  79. Pam C. says

    October 6, 2015 at 8:39 pm

    We have a small end table with a shelf that we are planning to paint blue. This would be terrific for that project.

    Reply
  80. Julie says

    October 6, 2015 at 9:34 pm

    I would love to repaint my dresser ..Love that table so cute…

    Reply
  81. Fiona N says

    October 6, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    I would love to tackle the bathroom!
    Thank You for the chance

    Reply
  82. Angela Saver says

    October 7, 2015 at 12:00 am

    The project I would tackle would be painting a few chairs I need painted!

    Reply
  83. Jean says

    August 13, 2021 at 1:35 pm

    Hi Erin. How has the tabletop held up over time with the Minwax paste wax top coat? I am making over a thrifted desk in blues and greens and plan to paint the top white. All my research has said not to use paste wax for pieces that will be heavily used. Water-based polycrylic is recommended but I’m concerned about possible yellowing/uneven application plus I don’t live in the US so not all recommended brands are available to me. I do have leftover Minwax PW from a previous project and wonder if I could use that instead. I really don’t want to have to waste money buying various top coats searching for one that will work for me. Return policies are different where I live – once you’ve open a consumable product, you can’t return it any more.

    Reply
    • Erin Spain says

      October 24, 2021 at 4:48 pm

      We don’t have the table anymore, but I would agree if it’s going to see a lot of wear and tear then Polycrylic is best. I’ve never had a problem with it yellowing over time since it’s water-based. That tends to happen more with polyurethane.

      Reply

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