Simple Floral Table Makeover

Last weekend, it rained.

A lot.

So rather than celebrating the unofficial start of summer at the beach, I was in my kitchen.


Crafting.

And you know what?

It was glorious.

For the past several months my husband has spent his weekends rebuilding our front stoop.

That lead to replacing the front door.

Which caused him to move this entryway little bench into the living room.


Where I could no longer ignore it and the makeover it desperately needed. 

It was a curbside find. One that sat in that spot for years. It was the place I sat while waiting for the school bus.

Once that was no longer necessary, it received a bit of makeover and was moved to the living room for a short spurt.

However, it eventually made its way back to that small spot, just inside the front door, but in very bland fashion.


Well this weekend, with nowhere to hide from the rain, I decided it was time to change all that.

I started with my white painted table/ bench. I didn't repaint it, I was fine with its eight year old patina. 

I knew I wanted a hand painted-ish, cottage style look, but I wanted to achieve it the easy way. So I grabbed this large decoupage sheet I picked up on sale and these floral transfers.

DECOUPAGE SHEET// FLORAL TRANSFERS

Unfortunately, when I went to mock up my design, the decoupage paper didn't really fit the tabletop that well in one piece. 

Instead, I had to cut it. For that I used my handy dandy paper cutter. Straight lines every time.


I cut it in half and then I cut all the white edges off, before placing it on the wood.

As usual, I used my Dixie Belle Satin Sealer as my decoupage medium, applying it with a brush and then placing the paper over it.


 Then I used my brayer to smooth out any bubbles or wrinkles and lock that seam in place.


This would've been a great project for the iron on decoupage method, but I decided to go old school and brush a coat of sealer over the top to lock everything in place.


While that dried, I started cutting out a few floral transfers.

If you'd like to see more floral transfer DIYs or how to apply them you can peek here:

• Round Floral Transfer Sign
• Stunning Magazine Rack Transfer Makeover
• Thrifted Glass Vase Transfer Update
• Farmhouse Chicken Cabinet Door Sign

You see, those sharp edges on the paper were too stark. They definitely did not scream charming, hand crafted artwork.

It literally looked like I glued paper to the top...and that was not the look I was after.

However, I knew that if I used the transfers to cover that hard edge, I'd be set.


So for the next thirty to forty minutes, with some old war movies playing in the background, a Memorial Day tribute, I added flowers until the entire border was completely camouflaged.

In some places, I used whole flowers, in others, I cut out pieces I thought would fit well.


I also paid special attention to the corners.

I felt as if they needed a little more attention to make my design look more authentic.


When I was done, I loved it. But.

It still looked a little too new...for lack of a better word.

To remedy that, I grabbed a brush and went over the entire table, including the decoupage papers and transfers with Dixie Belle VooDoo Gel Stain in Au Natural.


It was just enough color to warm up the entire bench, adding a vintage patina, without dulling the vibrant tones of the artwork.

When I put it back in the old entryway, it still had that old, I've had this bench forever appearance, only better.


So, so much better. 

It changes the entire feel of that tiny alcove.

Warm, welcoming and much more in keeping with the rest of the house.


Just delicious.