Simple "before and afters"...
Some of the simplest "befores" turn out to be my favorite "afters."
Which explains why I often don't have decent "before" pictures...I think "oh, that's no biggy" and dive right in to giving them a simple little makeover. Then they turn out so stinking cute I wonder why I didn't take time to take "before" pictures.
They are a reminder of why do this blog...to show you how easy it is to take a simple, boring, out-dated, dark piece of furniture and turn it into something you will want in your home rather than in your yard at the next garage sale!
We DIYers live for those hidden treasures...pieces of furniture that people want to get rid of... they drop them at their local thrift store or sell them for pennies in garage sales or just set them out on the curb...we take them home, clean them up and work a little DIY magic.
The worst...you live with the ugly, dark furniture because you can't afford to replace it!
I get it...you paid a small fortune for your "matchy-matchy" bedroom furniture so you can't bring yourself to get rid of it.
I've shared "makeovers" hundreds of time...too many times to link ALL the pieces I have "upcycled" over the years. But I would bet money you still have a few pieces lurking around your house that serve a purpose or are "family heirlooms" or you paid too much to get rid of it...so you just live with it.
Don't fret...take the plunge...buy some primer and some paint AND CHANGE IT!
LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO LIVE WITH UGLY FURNITURE!
This shelf was your typical Target cheapo...dark finish...no I did not take a picture of it "before." Honestly, I think it was a piece someone left at the apartments so I loaded it up and brought it home.
I removed the back panels...primed and painted the frame and shelves with one of my "sample" pots of white (KSTP). I painted the back panels with a sample pot of teal and then reattached them.
Super simple and too stinking cute!
This little bedside table came with a set I bought at an auction. Someone bought the dresser, chest and bed but didn't want this little table.
Meh....
Simple makeover! I removed the drawer and simply brightened it up with some Restorafinish. I primed the cabinet, sand, tack and white gloss paint. It was missing a knob so I ordered two new ones...
....again, SUPER SIMPLE and so stinking cute!
This old oak dresser...the finish and the little applique' really dated the piece.
I popped off the appliques using a chisel...lift carefully...chances are they are applied with a little bit of glue and a few tiny nails.
... sanded the old glue, stained the top with gel stain (no need to strip the old finish) and chalked painted the rest of it....distressed and sealed the whole thing with poly...
Too stinking cute!
Simple...simple...simple!
Nothing earth shattering on any of the pieces...just super simple little makeovers that updated the pieces and gave them new life!
Walk around your house...what simple little piece can you haul out to the garage and work a little "DIY magic." Trust me...if you don't like it when you are done, you won't get any less for it at a garage sale!
