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I’ve always wanted to hack an IKEA piece of furniture, and recently I had the opportunity to do so thanks to a friend. Admittedly, I was a bit nervous about experimenting on another person’s item, but, I was confident the technique and tools I wanted to use, specifically, my new HomeRight Finish Max Extra paint sprayer,  would turn her prefabbed table into something oh, so fab!

As to the process…

I first needed a color. My friend’s request? Pale pink.

Check.

Secondly, I wanted to implement a technique that would be totally transformational. I had seen these tables made many times, but, for the life of me, I couldn’t find a tutorial on how to make one.

Wood batten tabletop

Wood batten tabletop. Source: Pinterest.com

I just loved this look, so…I went for it and, with the help of my friend, Steve Cowman, created a plan to make this come to life – with a cotton candy twist, mind you.

Check, again!

Here now, is the tutorial, along with a video which should help you create one of these tables (either hacked or original) that will totally impress you and your friends!

Scroll down for how-to instructions and video tutorial!

Supplies:

• bonding primer

Rust-Oleum 2004 Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 White Water-Based Interior/Exterior Primer Sealer, 1 Qt.

Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 White Water-Based Interior/Exterior Primer Sealer, 1-Quart

• latex paint

• P120 sand paper (fine)

• finishing nails

• 1/4″ by 1 1/2″ batten (or lattice wood)

• wood glue

Gorilla Wood Glue, 8 oz.

Gorrilla Wood Glue 8oz.

• paint brush

• painter’s tape

FrogTape CF 120 Painter’s Tape, Multi-Surface, 36mm x 55m

• clear coat finish

Rust-Oleum Clear Coat, 12oz.

Rust-Oleum Clear Coat, 12oz.

Tools: (Available at Home Depot)

• paint sprayer

Super Finish Max extra Fine Finish HVLP Sprayer

 

 

 

 

 


HomeRight Super Finish Max extra Fine Finish Hvlp Sprayer

• hand sander (or sanding block)

Ryobi 2 Amp 1:4 Sheet Sander

 

 

 

 

 


Ryobi 2 Amp 1/4 Sheet Sander

• compound miter saw OR miter box and hand saw (this second option will take quite a bit longer to do, as there are several pieces you need to cut)

Ryobi 15 Amp 12in. Sliding Miter Saw with Laser

 

 

 

 

 

Ryobi 15-Amp 10 in. Sliding Miter Saw with Laser

• brad nailer or hammer (Yep. I went nuts and bought myself this bad boy tool…)

Home Depot brad nailer

 

 

 

 

 


18-Volt One+ AirStrike 18-Gauge Cordless Brad Nailer (Tool-Only)

Instructions:

1. Lightly sand table. Before applying the bonding primer, take your P120 sand paper and take the shine off the paint. This will make your life so much easier!

Lightly sand table

Lightly sand table.

2. Apply one coat of bonding primer. I used my paint sprayer which left this first coat super smooth. If you don’t have a sprayer, use a quality paint brush, like Wooster or Purdy. Allow to dry at least 1 – 2 hours.

Apply primer

Apply primer.

3. Apply two coats of latex paint to your table. Here’s where a paint sprayer really comes in handy. The finish is professional quality and sooooo fast!

Apply 2 coats of latex paint

Apply 2 coats of latex paint.

 4. Create a pattern or use one you like. Since this was my first time making this type of table, I followed the pattern, or a section of it, from the image above.

5. Piece your batten wood pieces together. I was pleasantly surprised at how EASY this was to create. Follow these steps:

a. Start with a corner and measure up equidistant about 1″ to 1 1/2″ on each side. Or, you can use a speed bevel to make your first mark.

Measure your first wood piece

Measure your first wood piece.

b. Place your first wood piece at this point, then using your table as your marking guide, mark your cut line under your wood piece.

c. Using a 45 degree angle on your miter saw, cut just outside your cut lines. NOTE: it’s better to cut your piece too long, because you can always shave off what you need to make the piece go flush against the side of the table.

Use 45 degree angle to create your cut pieces

Use 45 degree angle to create your cut pieces.

d. Sand, then apply to table using wood glue. Allow to dry before nailing.

Sand each wood piece to smoothen edges

Sand each wood piece to smoothen edges.

e. Continue measuring and cutting your pieces, creating whatever pattern you like. NOTE: for the odd pieces where you’ll need to use a CROSS cut and an ANGLED cut, again, measure long, then shave off what you don’t need. It’s super easy…you can do it!

Continue measuring and cutting pieces

Continue measuring and cutting pieces.

6. Nail wood pieces to your table top. Once your pieces have dried, use a brad nailer or hammer and finishing nails to attach to your table. Tip: nail varying places on your pieces to create an authentic look…plus it’s easier not to have to have perfect hammering lines!

Nail wood pieces to table top

Nail wood pieces to table top.

Angled and straight cut

Angled and straight cut. There will be some pieces that you’ll need to make two different cuts. Be sure to cut long, then shave down as you go to make a perfect fit.

7. Sand your tabletop. Either using a block or electric hand sander, smooth out your table top to designed feel.

Sand table top

Sand table top.

8. Paint or stain your table. This is where you can really use your creativity! I started out painting without painter’s tape, but luckily wised up to how incredibly EASY it was to use it! Seriously…use the tape! Allow paint to dry.

Use painters tape to help keep lines crisp when painting

Use painters tape to help keep lines crisp when painting.

9. Sand to distress. This type of table just calls for a little aging/distressing.

Sand to distress

Sand to distress.

10. Finish with a clear coat polyurethane. I used a spray because I had extra from a previous project. You can also use the brush on as well. Allow to dry, then add a second coat if you’d like. You’re done!

Apply clear coat

Apply clear coat.

But then…I changed my mind!

Oops! Ya Gotta Love Happy Accidents!

Yes…I changed my mind FOUR times before I was happy.

In the words of Bobby Brown…It’s my prerogative!

(Ugh…I can’t believe I just referenced BB! Now, don’t be cruel!)

Oops #1:

The first oops was this one I even styled…kinda like dressing up a pig:

First Upcycled IKEA table oops

First Upcycled IKEA table oops!

Oops #2:

At first, I was gonna go rouge and sand it back down to the studs, but the reasonable (and instinctual) side of me stepped in to stop at just sanding down most of the color. Here’s what that looked like:

2nd oops side view - too shabby chic and two early 2000s

2nd oops side view – too shabby chic and two early 2000s!

2nd oops top view - this just didn't speak to m

2nd oops top view – this just didn’t speak to me.

Even though this was muuuuch better than the bright, disco version #1, it was waaaaay to shabby chic. NOT me and definitely not style-forward. I had to do something, but what?

STAIN! Well, actually, I sanded off almost all the raspberry paint and even more of the other lighter pinks first, then stained it with two different stain colors.

Thanks to the folks at Home Depot, I was able to sample 6 different shades…saved me loads of time and money! DIY TIP: if you’re in need of a certain stain color…just ask to try them!

Stain sampling at Home Depot - so much fun

Stain sampling at Home Depot – so much fun!

Oops #3:

This third and last oops was close, but it still didn’t speak to me. It was now more like farm-house chic, but I felt like I was selling this idea to myself, ya know? I even lost sleep over it! Sheesh.

Oops #3 - side view. Cute, but still not what I had envisioned

Oops #3 – side view. Cute, but still not what I had envisioned.

Oops #3 - top view. I was THIS close to keeping this version

Oops #3 – top view. I was THIS close to keeping this version. Still, there was something missing. I just couldn’t put my DIY finger on it!

Then there was #4…

And then…Da-da-da-daaaaaaaaaaaaa! It came to me!

I looked back at my video shots and noticed, way back when the table was just a wee-little babay…with only a bare wood top and two light-pink, SOLID colors…I thought it was beautiful.

Well, I decided I’d go back to that in a way and ADD paint back! Who knew!?! And as fate would have it, all those OOPSIES actually created a sort of patinated, layered effect that made the final result so much more rich and interesting than if I had done this in the first place.

And we call this what?

A HAPPY ACCIDENT! Whoopee!

Here now, is what I can say I finally am…

FINISHED!

Now, watch the video tutorial!

[mv_video key=”x2v9x25pueqf7cnhao55″ sticky volume=”70″ aspectRatio=”16:9″ title=”IKEA Table Wow-Upcycled With Wood Batten Pieces” thumbnail=”https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/x2v9x25pueqf7cnhao55.jpg”]

All photography and video by Skaie Knox/HomeJelly

This post was sponsored byHomeRight-LogoI’ve teamed up with HomeRight and am proud to be one of their paid brand ambassadors. I also received a HomeRight product sample to use in this post and have included affiliate links to the tools and supplies I used in this project. My personal opinions are completely my own based on my experience. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

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