how to paint an old picnic table

Remember how sometimes I like to pretend I'm a DIY blogger? (Because I am so dang cheap, not because I am so dang crafty). Well we have this old wood picnic table (that we store on the side of our house) that we use maybe once a year when we have a big outdoor barbecue. This year as our annual barbecue approached I decided I didn't want to use this nasty old thing. So, I painted it!

First, I borrowed my aunt's sander and sanded the top of the table and benches. If I was going to be professional I would have sanded the whole thing. But, I'm a slacker, so, you know.

I think this is after I sanded. But I'm also not a professional DIY blogger, so I can't be sure.

Then I hosed it down really good, to get all the yucky dusty stuff off.

Then I started priming. I always use KILZ brand indoor/outdoor primer. Because I bought a gallon a long time ago and it still hasn't run out. I used a small roller for the tops, thinking that would be easier, but I switched to a brush for the rest and I think the brush was just as easy.

The fun part? Picking out paint colors! I wanted a buttery yellow, so I chose Summer Heat (it's an Ace brand color). I bought a quart of semi-gloss exterior latex.

I did one good coat, and very little touch up. I think I may go back and do another full coat later, but it was hot out, and I wanted to be sure it dried well enough in time for our party.

I really love how the color turned out. It's a little more ivory and a little less yellow than I expected. But I like it!

Doesn't it look great with the adirondack chairs I painted last year?

48ish hours later we put it to good use: