I've got some bedroom furniture that I want to get rid of, but in this economy, I've been told that staying "liquid" as possible is the best option...so what's a girl to do? Live with my maple furniture that I bought 6 years ago that was so cheap it shouldn't still be standing??? I guess I'll have to. BUT, that doesn't mean I can't class it up with a new paint job and some new drawer pulls.
Having said that, I'm afraid to paint it. You see, I tried several years ago to paint a similar piece of
crap furniture and all I got was runny paint that didn't adhere to the surface. I know there's some sanding and priming in my future, but has anyone tried this before? Can anyone help me?
Please, help me turn this cheesy bookcase into something presentable!!!
As with all Wednesdays, I'm participating in
Works for Me Wednesday over at
We Are THAT Family. This week we were challenged to ask for solutions to a problem we were facing and this one is something I can't stop thinking about! Any ideas would be HUGELY appreciated!
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16 comments:
I love the title of your post! Made me giggle before I even had a look!
I just recently discovered the joy of re-painting furniture and now I am an addict. It's really not that difficult, it just takes a little time. This is what I do:
1-Give the piece a light sanding.
2-Wipe it off/clean it really well.
3-Paint with primer, let dry.
4-Finish with a couple coats of latex paint (I've used Behr brand from Home Depot.)
For more detailed instructions, you can go to my blog:
http://creationsbykara.blogspot.com/
Let me know if you have any questions. Once you try it, I bet you'll be hooked!
Sanding it will definitely help, and I think priming it would be essential. You can even buy "liquid sander" in spray paint - I haven't used it, but have heard good things about it.
The other thing you could do, depending on how handy you are, is to buy molding and other decorative pieces to trim it out.
Good luck!
One more idea, that I think can look really neat, is to add color to the back of the bookcase. You could either paint it separate, or cut paper to the right size and attach it with scrapbook tape.
Sanding and priming are really important but so is the quality of the paint you use. Don't cheap out on paint it will bite you in the end. I have a pair of painted chairs that I have to repaint this year because they flaked because I used cheap dollar store spray paint on them. Also make sure you stir the paint well before you use it.
If you buy a good primer, you may be able to get away with (gasp) skipping the sanding, or at least doing it very lightly. Kara is right--it is addictive! Once you start enjoying it you'll want to paint all your stuff!
I'm going to send you over to my FAV-O-RITE frugal design chick! This woman has the answer, and a picture, for just about anything....http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/
She ROCKS!
Do something adventurous using mod podge and adorable scrapbooking paper! :-)
Do it! Do it! And then show me so I can show me how b/c I have exactly the same bookcase.
I have repainted furniture before and loved it. But I would give one final piece of advice. Use a spray-finish over the paint if you are afraid that the "quality" of the piece is lacking. It will help everything keep from chipping. I used Polycrylic spray.
Sanding. Sanding. Sanding. It's a must.
Just last summer I repainted the piece we use as our entertainment center. It's a hand-me-down that a relative picked out of the trash over 20 years ago. Pretty sure it's from the '60s. It was gross. It's made of a solid wood but the finish had worn off and it had gunky brass hardware.
You need to give the furniture a good clean beforehand, a good sanding (seriously, the paint needs to get into the wood for a nice, lasting finish!), wipe it off, and paint! I didn't use a primer, but I was using black paint. I would suggest primer if you are using something light. Be sure to paint with the grain and smooth it out with each coat.
I spent $10 at Lowe's on a small can of paint and spray paint for metal. I use to dream of selling this piece on Craigslist and now it's my favorite thing in my house! My family comes over now and can't believe it's the same cabinet! A good wipe-down, sanding, and quality paint are key.
You def. need to sand lightly and prime. Also I would do the backs of the book shelves with some pretty scrapbook paper. I saw that done on the Nesting Place and it looks so nice! good luck!
Two words. Krylon Fusion. It's spray paint and a little pricier (maybe $3.50 per can), but it sticks like a dream, even on slick plastic, and has a very smooth finish. Add decorative touches such as wooden embellishments glued on the sides or along the back (inside). Add molding to the top edge. Be creative.
The primer you want is Zinser Primer. It will stick to anything!
Just what Kara said. I work with painted furniture too and will it ever scratch? Yes, if you are hard on it but then so will stained furniture. The chair is gorgeous. I love the pleated effect. Can't wait to see the bookcase.
gorgeous chair!! these steps are going to be helpful to me too for repainting bookcases. thanks!
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