Painted Wood Desk Makeover
April 27, 2020
Finding a Desk
I love looking for secondhand furniture and décor to redo, so when I saw the River City Mission Yard Sale was happening, I insisted my husband take me there after lunch. I am SO glad he did, because I found this gem for $35.00!
This gorgeous desk was in great condition, and honestly, would have been fine to use as is, but I wanted something more youthful and fun for our son's room.
Painting the Desk
I chose to use chalk paint for this project because I didn't want to have to prep the surface of the desk in any way--I was ready to get started! First, I removed the hardware and set it aside. I just spray painted it in a hammered oil-rubbed bronze spray paint by Rustoleum.
I used a mustard-colored chalk paint and brushed on 2- 3 coats on the entire surface of the desk. The drawers did not come out, so I had to work carefully to get the front drawer areas done.
Distressing
I used some sandpaper wrapped around a block to distress some areas on the edge and the top, before varnishing.
Varnish
I used my favorite Liquitex Varnish in a satin finish for this desk. It is by far the best varnish I have ever used--not the cheapest, but it gives an unmatched finish. Since this was a surface we'd be setting stuff on and writing on, I wanted it to be super smooth, so I put on at least 3 coats, sanding in between coats. If you sand after each coat dries, you will get a perfect finish.
The Finished Product
I love how this desk turned out. The mustard yellow is just perfect in this little boy's navy bedroom. When you're looking for furniture to refinish or paint, don't worry too much about how it currently looks. Check out the condition, lines and details of the piece and see if there's something worth working with. I loved the size and shape of this desk, in addition to the geometric details. I knew it could be something special and it is to me.
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Grasscloth
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Romabio Velatura Mineralwash
I can't remember the first example of fluted wood furniture I saw, but it was probably either this gorgeous custom wood bathroom vanity from Chris Loves Julia , or the DIY fluted coffee table Fariha shared on Pennies for a Fortune . The custom cabinetry was done professionally using a router for each line, which isn't something I possess the skills to do. This did help inspire the colors I used in our bathroom remodel, though! I really connected to the method Fariha used to build the coffee table--wooden dowels. What a fabulous idea!
I did a little refresh in our daughter's room, and I decided we needed some large-scale art. I actually planned to order a print, but inspiration struck on a trip to HomeGoods when I saw two HUGE framed canvases on clearance for $25 and $9. I grabbed them up and headed home, with my head filled with ideas on what to do with them.
I love peel-and-stick wallpaper so much! It's an easy, DIY fix for any space that just needs a little refresh. Because it's easily removeable, I feel much more confident going ahead and choosing a pattern. I struggle to commit to traditional pasted wallpaper--I think it's because we removed so much of it when we bought our house. It is no easy task. Peel-and-stick is also very economical, so if you decide to change it up a few years down the line, it doesn't feel so bad. I've now put it in four areas of our house. Today, you'll see the kitchen and den. It's the same pattern in different colors. I love how much the simple pattern really just makes each space.
Just for fun, here's a freebie--a digital download for some fall wall art! This quote is from Anne of Green Gables. I still want to read the book, but I was a huge fan of the series Anne with an E on Netflix. Just click on the file, download it and print it at home or send it to a place like Office Depot. Happy October!
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