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How to make a garden checkers table

27 Aug 2025

Bring game night style to your space with this bold and playful DIY checkers table. Painted in striking contrasting shades of Resene Sea Fog and Resene Woodsmoke, it’s a fun and functional piece that works just as well for your morning coffee as it does for a match of checkers. Coordinated succulent pots painted in the same hues complete turn this into a conversation-starting project with loads of character.

You will need:

  • Table
  • Ruler
  • Painter’s Tape
  • 24 checkers pieces (we used faux succulents in pots from Temu)
  • Resene testpots – we used Resene Sea Fog and Resene Woodsmoke
  • Resene testpot brush

pot plants on a table

Step 1: Give an old table a freshen up with two coats of Resene Sea Fog, allowing time to dry between coats. Measure the size of your chosen checker pieces (we used faux succulents in pots, from Temu) to ensure you will be able to fit an 8x8 grid on your table.

A person measuring a white surface
Step 2: Measure out an 8x8 grid that works with the size of your checkers pieces. Clearly mark the squares that will be painted in Resene Woodsmoke (contrast colour). 

A person's hand taping a white surface

Step 3: Use painter’s tape to create sharp edges around the squares you will paint in Resene Woodsmoke.

A yellow tape and black checkered board

Step 4: Use a Resene testpot brush to paint two coats of Resene Woodsmoke squares on the board. Allow to dry between coats. When paint is completely dry carefully remove painter’s tape.

Step 5: Paint 12 of the succulent pots with two coats of Resene Sea Fog and the remaining 12 succulent pots in two coats of Resene Woodsmoke. Allow to dry. 

A group of potted plants on a checkerboard

Above: Table painted in Resene Sea Fog with contrasting checkerboard squares in Resene Woodsmoke, succulent pots in Resene Sea Fog and Resene Woodsmoke, wall in Resene Stonewall and deck in Resene Woodsman Decking Oil Stain in Resene Tiri.

Top tip: For exterior projects from weatherboards to fences or furniture, use Resene Lumbersider Low Sheen. It’s a tough waterborne paint that helps to hide less-than-perfect surfaces. It also comes in Resene testpots which is handy for small projects.

project Hannah Tapner
main image Bryce Carleton

Published: 27 Aug 2025