Sometimes a piece of furniture just needs someone to see what it could be.

Michael was given this inexpensive Target side table, but the original top had severe water damage and layers of resin. The top itself was inexpensive fiberboard sandwiched between thin layers of plywood, so instead of trying to repair it, Michael replaced it with a solid wood top.

From there, the makeover was surprisingly simple. He wiped the table down, lightly sanded the new wood top, and used BB Frösch Paint Transformer with Benjamin Moore Bermuda Breeze to give the entire piece a fresh new look.

And this is one of those projects we love because Michael didn't spend hours stripping or sanding the existing finish. He didn't prime it. He didn't turn the prep into a project of its own. He cleaned it, painted it, and let the transformation happen.

The Short Version

1. Replace the damaged top. Michael removed the original water-damaged tabletop and replaced it with a solid wood top.
2. Do the necessary prep. He wiped the piece down and lightly sanded the new wood top. That's it.
3. Mix the paint. He mixed Benjamin Moore Bermuda Breeze with BB Frösch Paint Transformer using the recommended mixing ratio.
4. Spray it. Michael used the recommended HomeRight Finish Max sprayer and applied roughly four coats.
5. Wax it. He applied two thin coats of wax to the tabletop and bottom shelf.
6. Give it a new life. The finished table was paired with an antique metal bed frame Michael also painted, creating a set for his mom's antique-store booth.

What You'll Need

From BB Frösch

• BB Frösch Starter Kit

You'll Also Need

• Side table
• Solid wood for the replacement tabletop
• Benjamin Moore Bermuda Breeze
• HomeRight Finish Max sprayer
• Water
• Clean cloth
• Sandpaper for lightly sanding the new wood top
• Wax applicator
• Clean cloths for removing excess wax

Before You Start

Don't make prep harder than it needs to be.

One of the best parts of Michael's project is how little prep he actually did.

After replacing the damaged tabletop, the only sanding he did was a light sanding on the new wood top. For the existing table, he simply wiped it down before painting.

There was no stripping the existing lacquer. No extensive sanding. No primer.

That's an important distinction when you're refinishing furniture: prep doesn't have to mean taking a piece all the way back to bare wood. The goal is to prepare the surface for the finish you're applying—not automatically create hours of extra work.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Start with the Part That Needs Saving

The original tabletop had significant water damage, and its construction wasn't ideal for a repair. It was inexpensive fiberboard sandwiched between thin layers of plywood.

Rather than spending time trying to bring a compromised surface back to life, Michael replaced the tabletop with solid wood.

This is a great reminder that a furniture makeover doesn't have to mean preserving every single part of the original piece. Sometimes replacing one damaged component is what makes the entire project worthwhile.

2. Give the Furniture a Quick Clean

Once the new top was installed, Michael wiped the furniture down to remove dirt and surface residue.

That's all the prep he did to the existing furniture.

No stripping. No extensive sanding. No primer.

The new wood top did receive a light sanding to smooth and prepare the fresh wood surface.

3. Mix Your Paint with Paint Transformer

For every 8 oz. of paint, mix:

• 2 heaping tablespoons of Paint Transformer
• 1 to 1½ tablespoons of water

Stir the Paint Transformer and water together until smooth and lump-free, then stir that mixture thoroughly into your paint.

Michael used Benjamin Moore Bermuda Breeze for this makeover.

If you're using satin or semi-gloss paint, you can add extra Paint Transformer. You can even double it when needed.

4. Spray the Paint

Michael used the HomeRight Finish Max sprayer, one of the sprayers we recommend for furniture painting.

He applied roughly four coats of Bermuda Breeze to achieve the coverage and finish he wanted, allowing the coats to dry completely between applications.

A little more sanding would have been nice—but it wasn't a deal breaker.

Michael felt afterward that he probably could have sanded the new wood top a little more before painting.

But here's where the wax really came through.

Once he applied the wax, it filled in those little spaces beautifully and helped create the finished look he was after.

That's a good lesson: don't panic if your piece isn't looking absolutely perfect halfway through the process. Sometimes the finishing step is what brings everything together.

5. Apply Two Coats of Wax

Michael used two coats of wax on the tabletop and bottom shelf.

When applying wax, remember that thin is better. Apply a thin coat, work it into the surface, and remove the excess rather than leaving a heavy layer behind.

The wax helped fill in the small imperfections Michael noticed in the new tabletop and gave the finished piece the polished look he wanted.

6. Pair It With Another Furniture Makeover

The side table wasn't the only piece getting a makeover.

Michael also painted an antique metal bed frame that belongs to his mom. The two pieces were brought together as a set and placed in her booth at an antique store.

And sometimes that's the best part of a furniture makeover: seeing two pieces that might have otherwise been overlooked become something people actually want to bring home.

The Finished Project

What started as an inexpensive Target side table with a badly damaged top became a completely different piece of furniture.

Michael replaced the part that wasn't worth saving, gave the new wood top a light sanding, and let Paint Transformer do what it does best: make painting the existing furniture finish simple.

Four coats of Benjamin Moore Bermuda Breeze, two coats of wax, and this little table was ready for its second life.

And that's the Frösch Effect.

Leaving furniture—and the people who love it—better than we found them.

You don't always need to buy new furniture to get a new look. Sometimes the piece you already have just needs a little vision, the right color, and a way to make the painting part easier.

Ready to Start Your Own Furniture Makeover?

If you've got a piece that's been sitting around because you don't want to deal with all the sanding and stripping, Paint Transformer is a great place to start.

Choose a paint color you love, mix it with Paint Transformer, and get to the fun part.

SHOP PAINT TRANSFORMER

Mix it. Paint it. Love it.