Upcycling old furniture is a great way to save money and reduce waste. It’s also an excellent way to up-cycle your old furniture and give it new life. If you have a chest of drawers that needs a little TLC, but you don’t want to buy something new, this guide is for you! It features helpful tips, tricks, and a shopping list for making your own upcycled blue chest of drawers. It’s easy when you know how!
TOOLS AND MATERIALS
The first step is to get your tools and materials. All you need are a few simple tools and a few inexpensive supplies.
- Screwdriver or drill
- Sandpaper or sander (optional)
- 2 paintbrushes (one wide and one narrow)
- Paints in your choice of color(s) – You can also use fabric paints instead of regular house paint!
SANDING AND PRIMING THE FURNITURE
Sand the sides of the piece. Use 80 grit sandpaper instead of sanding board because it fit better in a small hand. Make sure to sand the sides only, because this is where you are going to paint!
Satin up your white wood piece by applying a layer or two of semi-gloss paint. Don’t be afraid to go heavy on this step!… for real. Like, too much. This is probably my favorite step of all time because it helps make the chest look really professional and helps wipe up any unevenness.
PAINTING THE CHEST OF DRAWERS
There are many ways to paint old furniture, but it’s hard to top a nice hand-painted finish. We tried painting one of our furniture pieces and it was a disaster. Using a small brush, you’ll have a hard time putting on the paint and the surface.
It may not be as pretty as a hand-painted finish, but the strength of the siding and the fact that we saved some money make it worth it.
FINISHING TOUCHES
To finish, sand and stain your upcycled chest of drawers. You’ll need to seal the stain and sand to smooth it down, then install new knobs.
Don’t forget to add stains to your new knobs before installing them! In addition to giving your chest of drawers a bit more character, it makes the finished product seem like it was assembled just for you.
FINAL TAKEAWAY
It’s a great idea to shop around to find the best deal and lowest price when you’re buying new furniture. But sometimes it’s just not worth it. Most of the time we can make furniture and fix it up to suit our own needs. Some pieces are easier than others to create your own with a little money and time, but you can still do it.
You just have to have the right tools for the job. The thing to remember is to start out small and pick your design well, you want to make sure that what you make will still look great in 10 years. You’ll need to select a more well-made piece or build your own with better materials. If you build your own, be sure to put a level or test your measurements!