Do you have one of those ubiquitous seen-better-days midcentury-ish side tables kicking around? Take a cue from Louise (whose daughters' beautiful room we toured a while back) and give it new life with a fresh paint job, including a nifty chalkboard surface.
Before you start painting, you'll first want to give the table a light sanding, followed by a quick coat of primer. Louise has used white paint here, but we keep picturing versions in turquoise and orange. What color would you use?
See more of Louise's photography on Flickr, and be sure to check out the vintage and upcycled wares in her Etsy shop, Pour toujours.
(Image: Louise Lehoux)

White Enamel Four-P...
I do have a few ubiquitous seen-better-days five-years-ago-ish table sitting around. And I tell you now that this is happening to them.
@PuzzlingPostsDad, I am with you!
This is such an excellent idea for our old coffee table that has been sitting in the basement collecting dust. But I might try out the chalk paint on an old large baking tray I found at a yard sale (as a hanging chalk board) before applying it on a coffee table.
Grace Hester Designs
Silhouette- and typography- based artwork and prints
Shop my designs at http://gracehesterdesigns.etsy.com
I've had to go and post this on my own site: http://puzzlingposts.blogspot.com/