DIY Project: Solid Oak Kitchen Table Makeover

If you know me, you know I'm never one to break the bank -- for anything. After buying my first home, I made it my goal to furnish my home as beautifully and as cost-efficient as possible. So far, I think I've done a fabulous job.

I mean, let's face it. This is  my home, and I love every single inch of it (but not always on the same day!). Truth be told, if other's don't like it, that's okay -- they don't live here. I do.

One of the first pieces of furniture I purchased was a Solid Oak kitchen table. I got it from my cousin for $100. I never saw it up close and personal, so when my parents got it to my house, it wasn't in the greatest condition. It looked pretty rough. The table itself wasn't in poor condition, but the chairs were horrid. The seats were basically stripped of their finish. But that's okay -- I like a challenge.

I won't go through the in's and out's of sanding and re-staining furniture. I'll give you a few tips:

• Get a stain and finish in one -- it makes life a whole lot simpler and a lot less time consuming.
• Use FINE sandpaper (no less than 150 grain [the larger the number, the finer the sandpaper])
• Always, always, always sand in the direction of the wood grain. Otherwise, you'll be able to see every movement the sandpaper made. (read: do NOT sand in a CIRCLE.)
• Wear gloves when staining furniture, otherwise your hands will be a sticky mess through MULTIPLE handwashings.

I wanted to share this post simply to let you know that beauty doesn't require a hefty price tag. 

 This it the poor condition of the chairs. As you can see, it looks as though all of the finish had been completely worn off the chairs. All of the chairs were like that. 

 

 This is the table top and a chair inside my garage. Don't judge me, I just moved. 

 

This is the table base before it was stained. The table and chairs were a pretty light oak. 

(And yes, that is my mother. That woman wouldn't miss a DIY project if someone paid her.)

 This is after one coat of MinWax Stain and Finish in Mission Oak. As you can see, I prefer a little darker stain.

 

 This is a side by side of the chair before and after. 

As evident here, the stain I chose was quite a bit darker than the original color of the table.  

Finally, this is what the finished product looks like inside my humble abode. 

So for $100 table, around $25 worth of supplies, and about 5 hours of my time. I am very, very happy with the finished product. The chairs may eventually have to be replaced, but the table itself will probably last until the cows come home. I love a good piece of solid oak furniture!