DIY Collegiate Table

My husband and I are getting ready to move into a home where we're finally going to have a study.  I was looking at desks online and the only ones I liked were outrageously priced. I decided for his Christmas present, I would tackle a big DIY Project: refinishing an old table into something AWESOME. He's a Texas A&M alumni, and we're getting ready to move back to College Station, so what else could be better than a Texas A&M desk?

Final Project!

Supplies:
Inexpensive Desk (I found mine for FREE! on Craigslist)
Primer
Paint Color of your choosing
Brushes
Paint Rollers
Drop Cloth or towels (don't want to spill paint on your floors)
Tape (if you do a design like mine)

The Table Before (with a little primer on it)

This was actually pretty simple. First, I just used primer on the entire desk. I used a brush...but a paint roller would have taken a LOT less time.
*I didn't have to sand down the desk since it isn't real wood. Just a nice coat of primer did the job.*

I waited for the primer to dry and then started with my paint. I applied two coats (I'll be going back after we move and applying a 3rd coat)

After the black paint on the top of the desk was 110% dry, I started adding tape for a logo stencil. Thank goodness the A&M logo is pretty square and easy to do with tape, or else I would have probably lightly drawn it on with a pencil. Adding the tape outline took longer than priming and painting the darn thing, but it was better than me free-handing it!

The "A" ended up being a little off, but HEY, it adds character :)

I used a smaller brush and painted inside the tape outlines. I applied two coats and then carefully removed the tape from the desk. After that, I just went around the desk and touched up any areas that needed it.  Hopefully after we move we'll get a glass top for the table to make sure it stays clean and safe.

Finishing Touch: Underneath the desk I wrote a personalize, little note for my husband with the date.

I finished this DIY project in two days (probably 5-6 hours). A lot of the time was just waiting for the paint to dry! My husband LOVES his new, personalized work desk. We can't wait to move and put it in his "official" study!

What do you think? 

Before I added an extra coat in the drawers. But the maroon inside the drawers adds a nice pop of color!