Veronica Hughes: Sanded wood coffee table with white wax

Four or five years ago, I picked up a dark stained coffee table while thrifting. I immediately of course, slapped some paint on it. Over time, I kept wondering what it looked like as a sanded wood coffee table with white wax added. I wondered if the wood was a good enough to re-stain or leave as bare wood.

Modern Boho fall living room decor

I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I decided to take a few days, buy some new sanding pads for (affiliate link)our sander,and tackle it. I figured if I sanded it, and the wood was awful, or I hated it, I could always repaint it. There was nothing lost except a few hours and the cost of sandpaper.

Snading paint off of a wood table

I started, and was immediately excited. The wood looked beautiful underneath! Someone asked me in a Facebook post why I didn’t strip it with chemical stripper (which would have been much easier.). The problem with stripping wood, is you can’t always control how much it removes, it kind of takes everything off sometimes, and I wanted to be able to leave some paint and finish behind in some spots.

a sanded wood table, removing paint

So, it was slower going to get the results. The sanding pads tended to get gummed up with paint over time, so I would have to stop and clear them, or change pads after a while, even with a 60 grit pad.

Removing paint for a sanded wood table

Luckily,I had really good weather to go outside and tackle it.

After I had it sanded to where there was some paint and old finish left, but it was mostly wood, I finished it with white paste wax. I wanted to give it a slightly lighter/pickled wood look.

Original wood coffee table with a sanded wood coffee table and white paste wax.

It ended up being so beautiful! And the original wood had this amazing almost, chevron wood pattern on it.

Detail of sanded wood table with white wax

I left some paint on the edge, and in the detail to give the wood coffee table with white wax a rustic feel, and a bit of a Restoration Hardware look.

Thrift store table sanded. The wood coffee table with white wax is finished for a high end look. It just takes lots os sanding!

I love how it changes the entire look of the room too. I love painted furniture, but sometimes I also love real wood. It really adds a warm element to the space, if it’s the right shade.

Table base under sanded wood table with white paste wax

On the base, I left just enough old stain, and paint to add visual texture.

Sanded wood table with white wax

I am really happy I decided to spend a few hours to see what was underneath. A few people asked me how well the wax finish will hold up. I have this post about paste wax vs. polyacrylic, and the best way to seal furniture. In my house, hopefully a while. This time I was picking the look over the functionality. I could have done a white wash on it with paint, and then poly-ed it, but I really wanted it to look a certain way. I also know wax can show rings if someone leaves a cold,wet glass on it, and we tend to get dirty feet put on furniture too, so I might be moaning in a few months, but for now, I love it.