10 Thrift Store Furniture Makeovers

I'm non the best decorator, designer, or photographer, my socks direct maintain in all probability alone matched twice inward my life, as well as my cats are rather plump. I'm far from perfect, but i expanse I'm getting pretty skillful at is paint. Jesse has definitely witnessed several 'I JUST RUINED IT!!!!' mini-breakdowns after i of my slice of furniture makeovers has gone awry, but my goal has ever been progress over perfection.

After ikon in all probability xx pieces of slice of furniture inward the yesteryear few years, I've definitely made some progress inward my ikon skills. So, today, I sentiment I would roundup 10 of my favorite painted slice of furniture makeovers, as well as thus afterwards respond some of the FAQ's I acquire almost ikon furniture. 

Let's acquire started amongst my 10 favorite slice of furniture makeovers, going inward chronological order. I'll percentage some failures, some successes, as well as what I've ultimately learned along the way. 

#1.  The Flip-Down Desk Makeover

This was the absolute start slice of slice of furniture I ever painted. 

I did an awful job. 

I didn't prime number or sand it, as well as it's basically a giant slice of string cheese now. I'm showing you lot this for 2 reasons. One, because I'm almost to strip this slice as well as redo it, as well as right away you lot tin nation you lot knew it back when. Two, because it's a dandy reminder. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dandy reminder that if you lot construct a mistake, fifty-fifty on your grandmother's fine antique furniture, you lot volition alive to tell the tale. It's non the halt of the world. 

Leave it lone for a fleck (bit = iii years) as well as circle dorsum around. 

*That beingness said, I would propose avoiding the heirlooms until you lot know what you're doing. Do every bit I say, non every bit I do. :)

#2.  Gold Stenciled Vanity Desk
This lilliputian vanity tabular array was i of my start slice of furniture makeovers every bit well. I painted it as well as stenciled a gilded lattice stencil on top. I've since sold it on Craigslist (tips here), but it yet holds a special house inward my heart. For beingness i of the start makeovers, I totally intend this i came out pretty cool.
High five, lilliputian guy. So lamentable I sold you.

To run across the stenciled vanity earlier pics go here.

#3. Office Desk Makeover

Oh, the desk. I'm sitting at this desk correct right away every bit I write. I dearest this desk. It's i of my favorites. I dearest it because it turned out amazing, but alone after a lot of heartache. There is some definite truth behind the maxim that you lot larn to a greater extent than from your failures than from success. I painted this tabular array twice, as well as scraped the pigment off twice. Then I cried twice. Then, I finally figured out the most durable solution, which was using an stone oil based pigment as well as primer. I'll elaborate to a greater extent than on stone oil based vs. H2O based at the halt of this post.

To run across the earlier pics of the desk, go here.

#4. The Dresser Makeover That Launched It All.
This was the start dresser I ever owned every bit an 'adult', as well as I eventually decided to pigment it, fifty-fifty after the debacle amongst the heirloom. As fate would direct maintain it, it turned out thus dandy that it sent me into a tailspin of ikon everything inward sight as well as eventually starting a weblog almost my adventures. 
You tin run across where this dresser lately ended upwards AND assist me amongst some futurity flooring decisions here. Seriously, help.

#5.  The French Provincial Dresser Makeover
This is the filet mignon of dressers...as in, it's my favorite. Also, it was originally $50, thus it's exactly biding its fourth dimension earlier I merchandise it inward for a steak. Kidding. I would NEVER.
If you've never seen the earlier motion ikon go here. 

#6. Chalkboard File Cabinet Makeover
This lilliputian file cabinet was my start ever roadkill transformation, as well as I'm hoping it won't live my last. I volition never live besides proud to drag individual else's trash across the street. Even if it's my ain neighbor's, as well as I totally acquire stuck inward the middle of the street because I overestimate my strength. 
Because that happened. Here. 

#7. Piano bench turned STRIPE.

I'm non including whatever chairs since I've already listed my piece of work yesteryear 10 chair makeovers here, but this bench is exactly begging to construct the cut, particularly after belongings his ain inward the closet makeover. And I can't debate amongst that. 

So an exception nosotros shall make.

Full tutorial here.

#8. The Blue Dresser Makeover
I to a greater extent than often than non took a intermission from ikon slice of furniture to pigment our cut down as well as our cabinetry throughout the house, as well as when I came dorsum to it, I had actually learned thus much. My ikon skills actually started to improve yesteryear the fourth dimension this makeover came around. I started out amongst an onetime dresser given to us yesteryear a friend. It was inward dandy shape, but needed some updating.

I used my favorite color of aqua bluish pigment as well as some fancy novel hardware to completely transform this dresser into something that looks amazing inward our head bedroom.

See the total tutorial, hardware source, as well as pigment colors here.

#9. The Herringbone Dresser Makeover
This is i of my most recent makeovers. For this makeover, I decided to practise something a lilliputian unlike as well as throw some pattern into the mix. Here's the earlier motion ikon of Kevin*.
*(who volition live forever called that after this post).

And hither he is after some fresh novel bluish pigment as well as gilded spray painted hardware.

You tin also run across Kevin inward his early on days dorsum when I start painted as well as stenciled him as well as made him live our TV console for 2 years. He's since been relieved of his duties.
*Update: Kevin lives on inward this post fifty-fifty though nosotros tried desperately to acquire our dissever ways.

#10. The Silver Leaf Vanity Table Makeover
This is my most recent slice of furniture makeover, as well as although it was difficult, I intend it mightiness live my all fourth dimension favorite. I started out amongst a $15 thrift shop desk that had definitely seen ameliorate days...

And after a grueling session amongst 50 sheets of silvery leaf, I ended upwards amongst a lovely house to sit down as well as acquire laid upwards each day. I also learned something cool almost plexiglass during this makeover, thus I give it an overall thumbs up. It wasn't easy, but I yet learned thus much.
 Plus, I still detect silvery foliage floating to a greater extent than or less my solid sometimes...
 so accidental disco = awesome. Or something.

See the entire silvery foliage adventure here.

And those are my 10 favorite slice of furniture makeovers thus far. I'm certain in that place volition live many to a greater extent than to come.

For instance, this one. 

Now, let's respond some of the ofttimes asked questions that I acquire after posting my slice of furniture makeovers. Hopefully this volition respond some of your questions, too.

#1. Do I role an oil-based pigment or a latex-based paint? 

The respond is that you lot tin role either one. Their are pros as well as cons of both. Latex dries faster as well as is easier to construct clean up, but it's non every bit durable every bit an oil-based paint. For something similar my desk, I chose an stone oil based primer as well as stone oil based pigment because it gives you lot a actually hard, durable glossy finish. 

#2. What pigment practise you lot commonly use? 

With the exception of my desk as well as a duo of other modest projects, I commonly opt for latex. It is durable plenty for what I need, it tin live cleaned upwards amongst water, as well as it isn't smelly similar an oil-based paint. That materials lingers. Emphasis on the lingers. For most of my furniture, I've but used a apartment interior pigment inward the color of my choice, commonly Behr or Valspar. Then, I role a topcoat of my choice.

#3. Do I role wax or polycrylic or polyurethane every bit a topcoat?

I ever prime number first, thus I commonly pigment amongst apartment paint, thus seal amongst a wax or polycrylic. Wax is less durable but gives it a softer/matte look. Polycrylic is to a greater extent than durable as well as tin live bought inward satin, semi-gloss, or gloss finish. I alone role Polyurethane on slice of furniture I've painted a night color. It's super durable, but it yellows overtime, thus it's non ideal for calorie-free colored furniture. My preferred method is polycrylic.

#4. How practise I acquire the aroma out of onetime furniture?

Wiping the insides of drawers out amongst vinegar tin assist take away whatever onetime smells. If that doesn't help, wipe downwards the drawers as well as thus pigment them. I did that on this dresser, as well as it smells as well as looks construct new.

#5. How practise I repair modest dents or scratches on furniture?

I role wood filler (affiliate link) on whatever dents or scratches. Just smoothen a modest amount over the dent, permit dry, thus sand until the excess is removed. Once painted, you lot won't run across whatever of the imperfections. I practise this to almost every slice I paint. 

#6. How practise I acquire rid of brushstrokes?

I commonly role a high lineament brush followed yesteryear a modest foam roller (as mentioned inward this tutorial), but I've lately discovered a dandy novel tip that I am loving! When using latex paint, you lot tin role a production called Floetrol (affiliate link). You add together a few tablespoons to your pigment as well as it's basically similar a conditioner for your pigment that leaves barely whatever brushstrokes behind. It's kinda awesome, as well as I tin already tell that I'll live using it a lot going forward. More on that later.

#7. How practise I alter the hardware out for a unlike size?

If you lot desire to swap a knob for a pull, or vice versa, take away amongst a screwdriver, as well as exactly create total inward the electrical flow holes amongst forest filler as well as drill novel ones wherever you lot desire your novel hardware to go. Once painted, you'll never know the onetime holes were there. 

#8. Do I direct maintain to sand my slice of furniture earlier painting?

Easy answer. Nope. Sanding a slice start volition ever give you lot ameliorate adhesion, but these days I commonly exactly prime number it using a primer similar Zinsser (affiliate link). It holds upwards actually well.

#9. Can you lot exactly spray pigment a slice of furniture?

 Sure. Spray pigment is predominately oil-based, thus it clings actually good to exactly almost anything. The alone con is that it's super smelly as well as hard to construct clean up, thus you'll desire to practise it outdoors inward a well-ventilated area. I often direct maintain a actually hard fourth dimension getting spray pigment to await fifty-fifty on tabular array tops or large apartment surfaces, thus I commonly alone spray pigment smaller pieces of slice of furniture similar chairs or halt tables. Plus, it takes a lot of cans of spray pigment to comprehend a large item. All of the higher upwards reasons commonly hateful I halt upwards using a pint of latex pigment on my larger pieces. :)

#10. What almost using a pigment sprayer?

I've never used i before, thus I can't give you lot whatever advice on that one. However, I tin hope you lot that a pigment sprayer is at the piece of work yesteryear of my listing of 'things I desire asap', thus I hope to percentage my findings amongst you lot in i lawsuit I finally acquire my hands on one. For those of you lot seasoned painters who direct maintain them, whatever suggestions? I'm listening! :)

And that, sweetness friends, is all for today! 

Thanks thus much for stopping by!

For related posts, delight banking concern check out the following:

 10 Thrift Store Shopping Secrets

That's all for today! 'Til side yesteryear side time!

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How To Make Pillows With Glue (and H5N1 Living Room Sneak Peek)

I've been boycotting our living room since May 2012. If y'all ever saw this post, y'all know how many ridiculous mistakes I direct hold made amongst this room, as well as they continued long subsequently that post. Letmetellyouwhat.
So, it's been 1.5 years, as well as I've finally decided to operate on this room again. I all the same direct hold several large projects to finish, but I persuasion it mightiness live fun to portion a sneak peek as well as practise around pillow-talking.

When I began to come upwards up amongst a novel conception for this room finally month, I started amongst my color scheme. Our sofas, ottoman, as well as walls are all beige, as well as the floors volition eventually live a mid to night hardwood. It's a real neutral space, as well as hence pretty much whatsoever array of accent colors would work. I've ever decorated amongst actually lite feminine colors inwards this room, but my mode has slow started to evolve as well as I actually wanted to practise something a petty different. I ultimately decided to larn amongst deep emerald green, lime green, navy, as well as whatsoever other form of bluish that strikes my fancy along the way. 

I came across around night dark-green velvet pillows for only $10 here, as well as I was as well as hence pleased when they arrived as well as were gorgeous. 

Plus, they come upwards inwards tons of dissimilar colors, as well as hence don't live surprised when y'all run into velvet pillows popping upwards all over my house. 

Then, I decided to brand a few pillows of my own, using my favorite fabric glue. I flora around colorful floral cloth as well as around beige silk cloth (both Hobby Lobby) as well as got busy cutting as well as glueing.

I won't larn into neat item virtually the love-hate human relationship I direct hold amongst my sewing machine. For that story, as well as for a total tutorial virtually how to brand an piece of cake envelope pillow using exclusively cloth glue, y'all tin larn here.

After sharing my get-go post virtually gum pillows, I flora out that a lot of y'all experience the same way. So, give thank y'all you for making experience similar I'm non the exclusively mortal who struggles amongst my lack of sewing skills! And for all those who asked if the gum holds up, yes. I've washed my pillow covers tons since that master post, as well as and hence far, as well as hence good. :)

I added a bunch of novel colorful details to the room, but for today I'll only portion this one. I made a petty gathering of around colorful thrift shop vases, as well as spray painted an quondam mirrored tray gold.

And because nosotros maintain things real here, y'all should know that this petty organisation has already made its agency into a dissimilar room. Because Tootie as well as Cheese experience every bit though it's their life mission to tip over anything amongst H2O inside.

But, only know I tried. I tried as well as hence hard. 

It was as well as hence pretty piece it lasted! But that's okay, because at that spot are tons of other colorful additions to this room, all of which are all the same underway. I'll live dorsum shortly to portion to a greater extent than virtually this room every bit I complete upwards the other projects. Can't await to exhibit y'all everything!

To run into the total living room reveal, delight banking concern represent out this post

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10 Painting Tips & Tricks You Never Knew (Part Three)

It's that fourth dimension again! Welcome to 10 Paint Secrets Part Three! 
You tin shipping away grab upwards on Part One together with Part Two if you lot missed them before this year.

For operate three, I'm sharing a few of my ain trusty pigment tips every bit good every bit a few novel tips that were sent to me past times readers (that I eventually tested together with out loved). Enjoy!

#1. How to spray pigment glass

One of my favorite budget decorating ideas is to purchase drinking glass vases at the thrift shop together with spray pigment them to mimic ceramic. It's cheap, looks great, together with tin shipping away update simply nigh whatever sort of thrift shop vase.

To pigment glassware, wipe the entire affair alongside isopropyl alcohol nigh 10 minutes before you lot spray pigment it. I use this high gloss white spray pigment (affiliate link) together with alongside simply a few low-cal coats, it turns out super shiny, almost similar white ceramic. I wouldn't recommend washing it inwards the dishwasher, but if handled carefully, it should lastly for awhile.

Here's an example...I spray painted a drinking glass vase I picked upwards for $1, together with used it on the bluish dresser.

#2. Use a dollar shop shower pall every bit a dropcloth.
After icon to a greater extent than than twenty pieces of thrift shop furniture, I've gone through means every bit good many expensive driblet cloths. And together with thence I figured out that dollar shop shower curtains brand a totally decent driblet cloth. And they toll a dollar. 

Pick upwards a few together with tell goodbye to the days of spending $30 on a canvass driblet stuff that won't fifty-fifty jibe inwards the washer.

#3. Put your paintbrush inwards the fridge. 

This is a tip that a reader sent me. And it's genius. Basically, when you lot are done icon for the day, simply lay your paintbrush inwards a ziploc handbag together with shop it inwards the fridge. The pigment doesn't dry out on your brush for upwards to a week, together with you lot relieve tons of fourth dimension non having to launder the pigment out of your paintbrush.

 I painted an entire job solid past times myself before learning this. 

WHY.

#4. The crude versus latex test

When icon over existing paint, it's super of import to know if the onetime pigment is latex or oil. If you lot don't know, you lot tin shipping away figure it out alongside this uncomplicated test. Just rub a cotton fiber ball soaked inwards rubbing alcohol over the painted surface. If some of the pigment comes off onto the cotton fiber ball, the surface is latex. If not, the surface has been painted alongside an crude based paint. If it is crude based, brand certain to utilization crude based primer before starting.

 See my tips on crude vs. latex pigment here.

#5. The cardboard box trick

Use a cardboard box to preclude overspray when spray icon pocket-sized items. It's uncomplicated together with it works. 

And Jesse cheers the reader who suggested this to me, since our yard no longer looks similar it's been graffitied. 

#6. Use tacks to lift pocket-sized objects when spray painting.

Use tacks to prop upwards pocket-sized items when spray icon thence that the pigment tin shipping away fully comprehend it. This plant particularly corking for frames, which is something I often spray paint. 

#7. Repair dents on onetime slice of furniture alongside forest filler to hit a polish pigment finish.

Just hit amount inwards whatever dents alongside forest filler together with 1 time it's dry, sand it polish alongside some fine grit sand paper. It's slow to do, together with volition brand your pigment chore await professional.

You tin shipping away run across some forest filler inwards activity here. 

#8. How to pigment the door together with NOT the hinges.

I've painted xv doors inwards this house, together with I swear past times this tip.

 Instead of removing the doors before I pigment them, I simply comprehend upwards all of my hinges alongside painter's tape, together with thence utilization an exacto knife to take away the excess. Then I tin shipping away pigment the doors piece they are all the same attached to the frame, together with I don't acquire pigment all over the hinges. It's a amount timesaver.

#9. The easiest means to aureate leaf.

Remember when I silvery leafed that entire desk together with it was a amount nightmare (even though it turned out kinda awesome)? Well, since together with thence I've been searching for an easier option together with I finally constitute it...Liquid Leaf (affiliate link). It almost looks similar the existent thing. And although that jounce looks tiny, a piddling goes a actually long way.

You tin shipping away run across an lawsuit of when I used some Liquid Leaf to brand fine art here.

#10. Get rid of brushstrokes forever.

This is my favorite tip together with totally changed the means I paint. To acquire rid of brushstrokes, simply add together a little Floetrol (affiliate link) to your latex paint. 

It's seriously every bit slow every bit that.

CAN I GET AN AMEN.

That's all for today! 

Thanks for sharing all of your corking tips alongside me. And cheers for beingness here. To run across operate 1 of this series, go here, or for operate two, go here.

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