Is there a program at the Betty Ford Clinic for addiction to Before & Afters? If so, sign me up so I can roam the halls of the famous rehab center with Lindsay Lohan — because I am absolutely consumed by an obsession with Before & After stories. I'm so consumed that I have been creating an inordinate number of my own overhauls around my house. The latest is the conversion of this table from cute to dramatic.
As part of my hallway overhaul, I wanted to give new life to the table we use as our landing strip. The table itself is an affordable little occasional table I bought at Target.com about three years ago. The table's finish hasn't aged very well — it chipped off on the legs and around the edges of the top, revealing an undercoat that's much lighter than the dark finish. Still, I love the table for its size and the fact that the two drawers give me and my husband a place to stash keys, wallets, and other items we need to grab on our way out the door.
Armed with a can of Valspar spray primer and a can of Valspar cherry red high gloss spray paint, I gave this table an quick extreme makeover. I tested a little spot on the back of the table to see if I would need to prime it and in this case the primer was essential. Without it the red paint bubbled up and wouldn't stick to the table. So I removed the drawers and sprayed the table and drawers with an even coat of primer. Once primed, the red paint went on smoothly and, after two coats, gave a high gloss finish.
To complete the overhaul of the table I switched out the old drawer pulls with simple black handles. I had an uh-oh moment when it looked like the screws for the new handles were too long and the handles wouldn't quite fit. But then I turned that uh-oh into an ah-ha by putting a washer between the screw and backside of the drawer. Suddenly the handles fit and the table overhaul was complete.
It's hard to believe it's the same old table – once again confirming that a little paint can dramatically transform anything!
Images: Jason Loper
DIY Idea: Concrete Pendant Lamp
Danielle's Charming, Classic Walk-Up
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
White Enamel Flatwa...
On Saying No to Paleo: Why Eating Isn't One Size Fits All
Perfect Summer Cocktail Recipe: Honey Bourbon Lemonade
I was prepared not to like it...
...but I really do - Great job!
Absolutely love it! I have a similar table in my upstairs hallway at the top of the stairs and was thinking of doing this also. You have convinced me to do it. Thanks.
WOW! congrats!!!!
I *heart* spraypaint. Seriously.
bepsf,
Exactly! Once I saw the before picture, I though to myself, "Uh-oh", but then the after picture was fantastic.
this is great! i have been pondering my own DIY spray paint for my hallway table and now i am motivated! bravo!
Wow, nice job and choice of color.
From twee to chic! A perfect piece to place in front of that wallpaper. Well done!
Looks super. It's hard to quibble with painting a Target table past its prime, and you've turned it into a very pretty hallway table!
It looks awesome! I love the way it works with that wallpaper. And it has such a different personality than the Before.
I bet that table is very grateful to you.
Red can be difficult to get right, but you nailed it.
May I suggest a protective coat for the top (water based, in high gloss)?
Well done! I wasn't sure that there was much anyone could do with this type of table. Cherry red it is!
that thing rocks
I also like how the new wallpaper coordinates with the makeover table.
Do you think you might regret doing this five years from now? Very Pottery Barn...
cuuuuute!
Again, I love your hallway stencil project! (And your table looks great).
Oh no. I would gladly take this table in its original beauty over the dollar store re-make. What have you done?
Who cares if you regret doing it five years from now. That's the beauty of DIYs! I totally love it. Thanks for sharing!
Love it! This looks fabulous!
The new look fits perfectly into the new look of the background. What a gorgeous transformation, I love it! Well done!
The table looks great against the wall. The 2 handles look like eyes and the middle leg looks like a long nose ;-)
I love spray paints! and great job on both the stenciled walls and that entry table. Can't wait to see the finished foyer!
The old table would have looked just awful with the new wallpaper. Kudos on making it work!
Oh yeah! High gloss red! Love it.
I adore it. With others I was skepitcal about the After picture being good (based on some before/after letdowns on AT lately!), but with the new wallpaper it's a huge improvement. Though I'm not sure why someone things it's "very pottery barn"....??
Wow! Striking!
Lovely makeover. I think it's the wallpaper behind it that really sells it. It wouldn't generate as much interest in front of the off white wall.
I don't get the Pottery Barn comment.
Great make-over!! I am hooked on B & A's too.
Make a beeline for BetterAfter blog everyday.
This is turning out the be one SEXY entry way!!!!
Very chic!
Good job! It went from "I came from Target" to "Don't hate me for being beautiful". Love it.
And I'm with nomadchicky - who cares what she'll think about it in five years. It's a former piece of crap from Target, not a family heirloom! "Original beauty" my ass. Oh no, the original beauty of the plastic trash can from Ikea! Really.
I'm laughing a little at the "original beauty over dollar store remake" comment. What dollar store do you shop at? Please let me know! The "original" came from target...
WOWEEE WOW WOW!!! Awesome. Disregard the negative comments. very silly.
Awesome Before and After!
Seeing the before picture I really didn't think any amount of work could make this table look good. Must admit I was wrong. Looks great against the black and white wallpaper. Well done!
I thought the table beforehand was very nice (our Targets in Oz don't sell tables like that) but the after photo with the red is very striking. Goes great with the stencilling on the wall too. Don't like the black knobs though, I think it cheapens the look of the table.
Oh boy. Ignore my first comment. I did not read the descriptor and just assumed the table was a family heirloom of some sort. My mistake. Spray-painting a Target table is perfectly acceptable.
I also was expecting a so-so job, but what a feat! You did great! I am inspired...
FAB
love love love!!
i'm with medusa, did you have to sand it first? looks beautiful now.
hope you still have the old knobs...
fantastic!
Fab-U-lous!
Wow great job! Gives me ideas! ;)
The best of all the other B&As presented, by far! From frumpy to fabulously classic and striking. Just gorgeous.
Gorgeous.........love that red!
I absolutely love this! Great work.
this is mad gorgeous!