I found this sewing table at the thrift store, and its details instantly caught my eye. But when I took a closer look, it was obvious this table had seen its fair share of wear and tear. So we’re going to show you how to paint a table black and give it a much needed makeover.

One of my favorite painting furniture ideas is to use a classic color like black, and we’ll be doing just that with this table. Let’s transform it into a statement piece for your home with just a few simple steps.

sewing table before painting with text overlay

This sewing table clearly needed some love – the wood was chipped and worn out in some places. But those imperfections didn’t stop me from taking it home! I knew I could give it a fresh look with some new paint.

And what better color to choose than black? Aside from being classic, it’s also incredibly versatile and can work with any style or color scheme. There are so many black painted furniture ideas out there, and I couldn’t wait to add my own spin to this table.

So if you’ve got a sewing table or something similar that you’re thinking about sprucing up with some black paint, you’re in the right place! I will guide you through the process step by step and give you some inspiration for your own black painted furniture.

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for Painting a Table Black

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Removing Veneer from Table

The top of this sewing table was covered in veneer, and it was chipped and cracked all over. I decided to remove the veneer completely for a smooth and even surface for painting. Here’s the insanely easy way to remove veneer, just how I did it.

removing damaged veneer from the top of a table

After we removed the veneer, there were some rough spots and gaps left behind. So we used Bondo Wood Filler to fill them in. Check out our Bondo wood repair post for the steps on how to use Bondo. We also have a Bondo Wood Filler review if you are new to this product and curious about how it works and compares to other wood fillers.

After the Bondo dried, we sanded it down until it was smooth and level with the surrounding wood. The goal is to get the Bondo flush with the wood so that when it’s painted over, there won’t be any noticeable bumps or uneven areas.

sanding the top of a table after repairing with bondo

Cleaning and Priming Table

After tackling the veneer, we moved on to cleaning the rest of the table. We sprayed Krud Kutter all over the surface and wiped it down with a damp rag. We need the table clean and free from any residue or dirt for the paint to adhere properly.

krud kutter and clear shellac to prep a table for paint

Next, we applied 2 coats of primer – we used clear shellac in a spray can. It’s one of the best primers to stop tannin bleed, which helps so much with stains that might seep through the paint. So make sure to use the same primer or another one from our list to avoid this issue.

Painting a Table Black

We decided to make our own chalk paint for this project, instead of buying a pre-made one. It’s super easy and cost effective, plus you can mix and customize it to the shade you want. But for this makeover, we just went for black.

We got black Behr latex paint and mixed it with calcium carbonate powder to make the chalk paint. Following our homemade chalk paint recipe, that’s mixing 5 tablespoons of calcium carbonate with water first, then adding it to 1 cup of paint. Stir well and make sure there are no lumps!

Once the chalk paint was ready, I painted 2-3 coats onto the table for full coverage with my Wagner FLEXiO 595 sprayer. We love this sprayer because it gives a pro and flawless finish, and if you’re going to be painting furniture often, it’s definitely worth its price. We talked all about it in our Wagner FLEXiO 595 review, so check it out if you’re thinking of getting one yourself.

Sealing Black Painted Table

After we let the fresh black paint on the table dry for a few hours, we moved on to sealing it. Our post on sealing painted furniture covers how important this step is, as well as how to choose the right topcoat for your project. For this black painted sewing table, we used waterbased polyurethane in satin finish for the durability and sheen it gives.

pouring waterbased polyurethane for topcoat into paint sprayer container

We still used our Wagner 595 sprayer for the topcoat – that’s the way I like to do it as I find it faster and easier, but you can also use a brush or a spray can topcoat like Minwax Polycrylic. We sprayed 2-3 coats of poly for full protection.

Don’t know the right wood sealer for your project here’s what to use to seal wood before painting!

After sealing, we let the table dry for a few days before using it, however, we were still extra careful with it for a month until the paint completely cured. We didn’t want to risk any scratches or dings on the fresh paint job, so we made sure to handle it gently and avoid putting any heavy objects on top of it.

But after that month was over, we had a beautiful, sturdy, and sleek black painted sewing table! Isn’t it such a transformation from the old and worn out one? It would definitely fit perfectly with any home, from farmhouse to modern. Black is actually one of the hardest colors to get perfect, but you can follow our how to paint furniture black guide to make sure you get the best black finish possible.

Painting this sewing table black was seriously a fun and rewarding project. And you can do it too! Just follow the steps and tips we shared here, and you’ll have your own gorgeous black painted piece. You might even learn a skill like making your own chalk paint, which can be handy for your future painting projects.

close-up view of sewing table after painting it black

full view of sewing table after painting it black

More Before And After Makeovers

Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.