After: hallway console

How we did it: We removed the drawer handles, lightly sanded all surfaces with sandpaper, and wiped with a damp cloth. Next, we applied one coat of primer and three coats of Benjamin Moore’s high-gloss Bunny Gray paint (2124-50), letting it dry between coats. We painted the tabletops with a chevron pattern using a stencil fashioned from 1- and 2-in.-wide painter’s tape, applying two coats of high-gloss white paint (2-oz. sample jar). Then we replaced the handles.

Time: 1 weekend

Cost: $38 for primer and paint

Try this: Instead of a complicated pattern, unify the tops with a single border stripe 1 in. from the edge.

More:  Get step-by-step instructions and download our free chevron pattern