This teal coffee table makeover was done with just paint and primer. Paint is one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to update old furniture.
Last week I shared with you guys my new-ish obsession with the color teal and a mood board for our living room that included this new favorite color (more on that here). And if you follow me on Instagram then you may have seen this picture where I revealed that I already have some teal and red on display in our living room and I LOVE the combination!
So much so that I bought some teal paint and got started on transforming our living room! Meet my grandmother’s old shadow box coffee table. It’s pretty beat up and outdated, but I remember it holding all of my grandfather’s old train stuff in their living room, so I’ll be hanging on to it for a while. Plus the shadow box is pretty cool and definitely a conversation starter when we have guests. 
It was really easy to disassemble the table into manageable pieces and tape off the top wood piece that I wouldn’t be painting (I plan on staining that very dark to match the tv stand). Since the table was such a dark green it needed to be primed before I could paint it. I used Kilz Original Primer.
When painting the table I used a mini foam roller, a trick I learned about painting furniture from Young House Love. It worked like a charm and didn’t leave me with any brush strokes or unevenness, I did need two coats of paint to get full coverage though. 
I brought the teal coffee table in and set everything back inside last night and snapped these photos. Right now I have our wands from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a signed Dashboard Confessional cd case, an empty photo album that says Our Wedding Day, an elk head from the top of a Yager bottle (leftover from Jesse’s bachelor party), a copy of one of our wedding programs, a newlywed button from our Honeymoon to Disney World and a silver bowl with a few decorative rocks that belonged to my grandmother. (It was hard to get good pictures because it was sundown and the glass reflects everything).
I love the way the items in the box pop against the teal and how it makes it easier to see them all.
I keep a candle, wedding album, wedding picture and a set of Star Wars coasters on top of the coffee table everyday, so here’s what it’ll look like everyday. Ahh! I can’t get over how much I love the table!
Jesse hates teal and even he doesn’t mind the fun pop of color in our rather bland living room. So I’m one step closer to acheiving the look that I created in my living room mood board.
I’ll be taking some pictures of the living room, and updating our house tour, this weekend. I hope to have pictures and a post about it ready by next week.
Hope you all have a great weekend! Any exciting plans for Cinco de Mayo tomorrow? I know we’re probably going to be drinking margaritas and eating Mexican food! 🙂
The table turned out really cute- and love that it has a sentimental meaning to you too in that it was your grandmother’s. The shadowbox idea is a good one- I love that you can switch things out.
Have a great weekend! No big plans for cinco de mayo here- although it sounds like a fun holiday to celebrate! Yard work and wedding crafting for us. Sounds exciting, huh? ; )
Hooray for teal tables with storage!
nice job!
Ashley,
Seriously. Your table is amazing! I love the new color and it makes the wood table top pop! Thanks for the inspiration!
blessings,
karianne
So fun! Is that the “Karl” sectional from YHL on your moodboard? I think it’s perfect with your entire color scheme.
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
I love the table. Now I wish I had one to display items in. What wands did you get? Did you go by the Celtic calendar or get character wands. Andrew and I did characters. I have Hermione’s and he got Snape’s. We can’t wait to go back. We’re thinking either 2013 or 2014, that way they will be done building all the new stuff at Disney.
Love how you brightened things up with a bold color! 🙂
That’s a cool coffee table and the teal looks great. You will be able to do so many neat things with the shadow box.
ML and I are going to a Cinco de Mayo/ going away party tomorrow.
I really like the table’s new color (and I’m so jealous that you can store items in the center and that you’ve been to the Wizarding World!)!
Ditto on the Wizarding World jealousy!! It seems like such a cool place!
Looks great!!
I love the teal! The table turned out really great! I also like the teal and red combo. I have a few teal things around the house but haven’t gotten to the red part of it yet. 🙂
I know exactly which YHL post you’re talking about–I’ve already referred to it a few times myself as I get supplies ready for some painting projects!
I’m more in Derby mode this weekend, but I do think a margarita or two may make an appearance! 🙂 Have fun!
The shadow box is so cool! I love the color too!!
i love it! i was just reading about YHL’s refinishing techniques and i can’t wait to try them out! glad you had success :0)
Looks great! What color is that exactly?
I haven’t been to the Wizarding World yet… but I am super jealous of your wands!!!
Lot’s of Margs are in store for us today 🙂 Enjoy yours!
Anyone who puts a Harry Potter wand on display is friend of mine! And Yager memorabilia – I may have to move next door!
This table is fabulous – the display possibilities are endless! The color is fantastic too and your mood board rocks!
Kelly
Love the new color! And I love me some Harry Potter!!! I don’t have any wands only a House Cup that I drink out of every morning. 🙂
This looks really good! The color really pops with your accessories. And, I love tables that have the little display area. This is really what we need in our house!
Those book titles are hilarious! What on earth are they about?? And I think it’s sweet that you have sentimental stuff on display in your grandfather’s table. Love family heirlooms.
I have that green/teal/blue Kas fabric that is on the left in your row of fabric. What were you planning on doing with it? Just wondering…since I have some extra. 😉 (Seriously.)
I did see that on Instagram! Love the color you used. Such a neat table!
Yay! The books! They did do a good job of making them look cool, and the colors do go together really well.
Hi Ashley! That table looks so awesome with the teal 🙂 One step closer to your mood board living room, yeah!
I’m so sorry you weren’t able to link up for the UFO DIY challenge… It didn’t help that I was out of town!!! Maybe the link party closed earlier in the day than I thought. I didn’t set up the link party code, that was one of the other gals!
I’m going to put a link to this project in the link party post so people can see what you did!
~Lisha
I heart, heart, heart teal and think this table upgrade is awesome. Great color and you’re right, the items pop on the color. 🙂
This post was on my Tidal widget today! yay you! 🙂
Amazing blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A design like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog stand out. Please let me know where you got your design. Cheers
My husband actually made it for me, but thanks! 🙂