A Free (And Chic!) New Way To Display Flowers
Make A Can Opener Work Like New Again
Photo: Allison Lind
Photo: Allison Lind
Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, West Elm, IKEA... You've gotta love them (they're my go-to sources on a weekly basis). But let's face it, do you really want your home to look like a furniture showroom? Or walk into your neighbor's living room and realize you have the exact same coffee table?
Add a little originality into your life. Flea markets, garage sales and family attics are all great sources for finding budget-friendly (and sometimes free) furniture options. All you need is a little time, very little money and some handiwork to turn tossed-aside objects into one-of-a-kind furnishings.
The accent table shown here came into my life during a recent afternoon walk in my neighborhood. A kind woman was tossing it to the curb because it was tired and worn and she no longer had the space for it. The sad table faced a sure fate of a lonely lifetime in the New York City trash piles, but all it needed was a little TLC to bring it back to life.
Admittedly, it sat gathering dust in a corner of my apartment for a few days (OK, a few weeks -- this is the real world people) before I could motivate. But once I decided to get to work, the homely little table was like new after only a few easy hours.
Materials
-Hand sander
-sandpaper (medium to small grain)
-primer
-paint (high-gloss is always fun)
-paint brushes
Directions
1. Using the hand sander, start with the roughest grain paper and go over the entire table, paying special attention to the most worn areas, but keeping an even sand over all surfaces. Repeat with a medium grain paper, and again with a light grain until you have the surface smoothed out.
2. Clean off the table with a damp cloth and let dry.
3. Paint with one coat of primer and let dry.
4. Paint with a top coat of your choice, starting with large, flat surfaces first using a larger brush. With a smaller brush, go over the corners and the details and make sure there are no paint drippings or pools. Let dry, adding a second coat if necessary.
Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)
Awesome tips - love it!
ReplyLooks great! I've been wanting to do this to a cabinet in my apt. Do you need to use a specific type of paint (is there furniture paint??)? Can spray paint work?
ReplyHi Brent! Yes, you can definitely use spray paint. Just make sure the area is well covered so no errant drops get anywhere. Spray the piece from about 12 to 24 inches away using a sweeping motion (spraying too close will result in drips). Let the first coat dry completely before applying a second. The only trick with spray paint is that it can sometimes be tacky. To solve this, seal the piece with a clear spray polyurethane. (Assuming the cabinet is wood...) Good luck!