Can I use

[3girlsmommy]

regular paint to paint my kitchen table? We were going to buy a new kitchen table set but I'm not sure I want to spend the money. The finish on our table has almost completly come off and it's pretty much bare wood. I was thinking about painting it to match our kitchen (taupe and off white). I would paint the top part that is natural now, taupe and the legs off white. Currently the top is natural and the legs are white.

I'm wondering though if it's safe. I would be using Pittsburg low odor, no voc paint. Is there a paint grade for tables or doesn't it matter.

Thanks!

[Artisan]

You can, but it will not hold up well. You need a special primer and oil-based paint for something that is going to see a lot of use. Latex paint will peel.

[Kari_mom]

It will show every chip, scratch, crumb and drip. Could you sand off the rest of the existing finish and reseal it with a couple of coats of acrylic polyurethane? It will hold up much better. My last table was painted and my current table is stained and polyurethaned, I love my current table so much more.

FWIW, I painted it 8 years ago, we still use it for schooling, and it hasn't peeled. I used latex enamel with a latex primer.

[HomeBirthMommy]

Enamel will be a much better choice and you can get it in many colors now. Make sure you sand first so there are not bits of peeled paint.

[Wabi Sabi]

As the other posters have mentioned, latex will peel. However, I have had good luck using latex paint and then putting several coats of polyerethane (sp?) on top of it to seal everything.

Otherwise you're better off to go with an oil-based paint.

[twindaze]

The key to painting it and having it not peel is the prep. You need to clean it thoroughly and sand it well to rough it up. Also, you have to use the same kind of paint as was already used, the finishes must be compatible I mean. If not, then you have to prime it first. Since you don't know what finish was used, I'd probably prime it.

If you prep it right it shouldn't peel, at least not anymore than it normally would. I'd get a hard finish type of paint, like enamel maybe? Ask them at the paint store.

[twindaze]

FYI, I used to do R&D in the paint industry, so I have a higher chance of being right than the average person. Doesn't mean I'm not wrong though.