Find a Treasure, Repaint it and Make it Your Own!
Treasure hunting garage sales is one of my favorite Saturday morning activities! I have often found some of my favorite pieces of furniture or dishes on one of these excursions. I obtained this little nightstand and repainted it to match a dresser that I already had. Repainting isn't difficult if you take the time to do the necessary prep work on your project before hand. Below, I am listing out the process that I used to repaint this nightstand to make it look professional. I completed the project in a short time and spent very little money.
To begin with, I sanded the nightstand with a 180 grit sandpaper. Be sure that you are working with real wood and not something with a paper finish as this could cause you to scuff up the paper. After getting the wood surface scuffed up so that the paint can get a good bite, I gave it a coat of good quality satin latex enamel. I brushed it and I always use a "Wooster","Purdy" or some other high quality brand brush. If you are planning on doing a few projects, buying a quality brush will be well worth the money that you spend. You can pick these up almost any hardware store including Home Depot. After applying the first coat of latex, it is important for your enamel to have time to dry out really well. The next step is to take some "fine" steel wool and go over the entire surface. This makes a really great surface for the final coat of paint. After the final coat of colored enamel, a clear coat can be added for extreme durability. I eliminated this step in my last project, however, "Minwax " makes a great satin clear coat that will make your project durable for years to come.
Don't forget to check out that hardware! Some real "character" can be added to your treasure by finding some unusual drawer pull, hinges, ect.
If you have never given an older piece of furniture a new face lift, I hope that this will inspire you to give it a try! Please share your pictures, experiences and tips below.
Sincerely Seeking to Inspire For a "Well Lived Home",
Julie Atkins
Milkweed Farms