Stencil a Pretty Navajo Tabletop for Summer Fun

Posted By: Danielle Driscoll on June 3, 2015

Summer is upon us! Chase away those winter blues with a splash of happy yellow and a fun Navajo pattern stencil. All you need is a table, some Chalk Paint® and the Navajo Dreams Damask stencil to create this fresh, pretty look on a old, unloved table.

Stencil Supplies:

Navajo Dreams Damask Furniture Stencil by Royal Design Studio
Antique Gold Royal Stencil Crème
½” Stencil Brush from Royal Design Studio
Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan: English Yellow and Pure White
Clear Wax by Annie Sloan
Miscellaneous: Clear Shellac, Waxing Brushes and Annie Sloan Brushes, Cheese Cloth,
Mineral Spirits, Denatured Alcohol, 400 Grit Sandpaper
Vintage or new Table with a plain top

It’s easy to take a basic table from boring to stunning for summer with some bright paint and a fun pattern. Here’s how to recreate this stenciled look:

Step 1: Wash down the surface of the wood to remove any dirt and residue. First wash with mineral spirits, followed by denatured alcohol and then water. Once dry, wipe on two coats of clear shellac, allowing the shellac to dry between coats. The clear shellac prevents any stain from bleeding through the paint.

Pro tip! This step may not be necessary when painting the surface a dark color, but bleed through of the underlying wood or stain can occur on light paint colors like whites, yellows, grays and tans.

Step 2: Apply the English Yellow Chalk Paint® in long even strokes to get a smooth finish. Annie Sloan’s brushes are great for a modern finish. Three coats of English Yellow were applied to this piece. This yellow color is very clear and bright, without the addition of white, so it can take more coats to cover. Allow to dry.

Step 3: Time to stencil! Place stencil in desired location and secure with delicate surface tape. Two colors were applied to this stencil with a ½” stencil brush. It is helpful to do all of one color first and then move to the other color. The stencil was done with a combination of Pure White Chalk Paint® and Antique Gold Royal Stencil Creme. When stenciling be sure to remove the excess paint from the brush onto a paper towel, so that you are almost dry brushing the stencil onto the surface.

Reposition the stencil on the table using the built-in registration marked and continue to cover the whole surface. The registration marks are guides on the pattern which help you keep the stencil repeating correctly as you complete the design. Once the stencil is dry, lightly sand the surface with 400 grit sandpaper. This will give a very smooth and sleek final surface. Wipe off any dust completely with a soft, dry cloth.

Step 6: Apply Clear Wax to the entire surface of the table to protect it. Three coats were applied to the top and two on the base. Clear Wax is applied with a wax brush in thin layers. It is important to immediately remove excess was with a piece of cheesecloth. Wait 24 hours between coats and 24 hours before buffing the surface with a soft cloth. The buffing is optional but will give you a hard, shinier surface and a more modern look!

More Furniture Painting Tips

Shellac can preventing stain from bleeding through. Be sure to stir the shellac, don’t shake! Shaking will cause bubbles to form. Wipe on with a clean cloth.
Delicate surface tape is helpful to keep the stencil steady so it doesn’t move.
Less wax is better. The waxed surface should feel cool to the touch and not waxy.
Mixing metallic paint, such as Royal Stencil Cremes, and flat sheen paint adds a fun touch to painted furniture.

Now you are ready to enjoy your summer table! This Navajo table is perfect to rest glasses of lemonade on or an ideal place to play cards on a warm summer evening. I’ve styled this one in my sunroom with a Navajo rattle and a Pueblo Drum that I found at Native in Scituate Harbor.

More Furniture Painting FUN this way….