White Painted Table with Black Accent Wax

I am loving all of the examples of painted white tables with black accents. It seem like this would be something that would not work, but that’s not so. I’ve found so many examples of gorgeous pieces of furniture done with these contrasting colors that I thought I had to give it a try.

The Table

I purchased a big, nondescript table from an auction several months ago. It definitely needed a makeover! 

The table had so many detail areas I knew it would be perfect for the white and black treatment.

Clean It

The first thing to do before painting any furniture is to clean it! Dixie Belle has a great cleaner called White Lightning. It’s concentrated- just mix a couple of spoonfuls with water in a spray bottle. This will remove any dirt, grease, and other residue that you do not want sitting under your fresh coats of paint. When you buy older furniture, you may need to do this several times. Rinse your piece after using the White Lightning, before painting.

Paint It

Using a HVLP paint sprayer, I sprayed the table with Dixie Belle Fluff; two coats. Be sure you’re getting even coverage over your entire piece. I find spraying the paint to be more efficient than brushing on pieces that have lots of nooks and crannies. Dixie Belle Paint sprays on beautifully but you do need to add a bit of water; about 2 ounces water to 8 ounces of paint.

Sand It

This step isn’t mandatory, but when painting with any chalk paint, the finish tends to have a dry feel. A light sanding- just one or two light passes with a high grit sandpaper (320 or 400) will give the piece a beautiful, smooth finish. This is why it’s important to put on two good coats. Otherwise you risk sanding down to the surface of the piece.

Wax It

Now comes the fun (and sometimes scary) part! For this piece I wanted to only add the black wax to the grooves and edges. DB’s Best Dang Wax is so easy to use! Using a stencil brush, I dabbed the wax onto the brush. Then simply apply the wax into the grooves you want to have the color. Because Dixie Belle’s wax is water based, if you get too much on, or you get it in a place you don’t really want it, simply take a damp rag and wipe it away. I filled the groves and them wiped off the excess with a microfiber cloth.

I did a Facebook Live where I demonstrated how to add wax to this table.

A visual always helps me!

Add a Transfer to It

I. Love. Rub. On. Transfers. Seriously. I carry a line of transfers from Prima and believe me when I say, they will transform your painted furniture. They are easy to apply and come in so many varieties. Whether it’s a small accent or a huge coverage transfer, it turns a pretty piece into a show piece.

Protect It

With Dixie Belle Paint you technically do not need to add a top coat for protection. The paint cures in about 30 days. But if you add a transfer, top coating is a must. You want to give that added protection. I, actually, ALWAYS topcoat my painted pieces, transfer or not. I have grandkids and dogs and you never know the abuse they are going to dish out to any given piece of furniture. I used a couple of coats of Gator Hide to this table. This is Dixie Belles’ toughest top coat.

Love It

This piece is one of my favorites ever. I know I always say that… but it’s true. It was sold before I even finished it. 

Don’t be afraid to try something like this y’all! Start with something small. The more you do it, the better you’ll get at it.