Recycling & Updoing Furniture

littleme

250,000th poster!
Anyone had any success with the whole process of striping, sanding, painting & vanishing furniture?

Any tips you would like to share?

Yesterday I bought (Katherine House Shop by the tip) a very chunky bedside cabinet for my smallest daughters room, it appears to be a sort of untreated MDF type stuff, so doesn't need stripping....I'm thinking of giving it a light sand & then painting it...

What kind of paint is best to use? How many coats? Brush or roller?

Also I don't want to spend a fortune, the cabinet only cost a fiver so I don't want to spend a huge amount to make it pretty :)
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
Don't inhale the dust when sanding it - do it outside... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard#Safety_concerns

It can be difficult to get a good paint finish - various 'specialist' products are available.
O0814214271_515Wx515H.jpg
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Normally I would say 'Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!'
I have seen so many beautiful pieces of dark wood furniture stripped and painted Farrow and Ball 'egg shell white' - its an absolute travesty!

But as its MDF it sounds like a fab idea!

I would just sand it down quickly to get off any top coat varnish - and then you can use standard household emulsion - any colour!

The amount of coats you need will depend on how thick the paint is and how dark you want it!

We want pics!
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Ooh didn't realise you may need MDF stuff first!

I've recently discovered Pintrest - have a little look on there to get some ideas!
Fab pictures - other half gets carried away and recons hes going to build some epic 'under the stairs shoe storage rolling rails cabinet'
Hmmm.....
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
This is it (please ignore messy child's room) - I'm not even sure that it is MDF, whatever it is its already been stripped, or just came like this...

There are some wooden handles inside, but we have seen some tacky crystal ones somewhere (B & M I think) so were off to get those in a min...

Daughters room is tiny, I've crammed an Argos special 3 door wardrobe in there as you can see - with that fake wood look, but the door & draw fronts are pink. I was thinking to do the same to the cabinet, .....but.....eventually she will move into her older brothers room & I doubt her wardrobe would survive the move...so I need to do something that is fairly neutral I think....or maybe a collage type thing?

OOOHHHH I DON'T KNOW!
CAM00073.jpg
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
This is it (please ignore messy child's room) - I'm not even sure that it is MDF, whatever it is its already been stripped, or just came like this...

There are some wooden handles inside, but we have seen some tacky crystal ones somewhere (B & M I think) so were off to get those in a min...

Daughters room is tiny, I've crammed an Argos special 3 door wardrobe in there as you can see - with that fake wood look, but the door & draw fronts are pink. I was thinking to do the same to the cabinet, .....but.....eventually she will move into her older brothers room & I doubt her wardrobe would survive the move...so I need to do something that is fairly neutral I think....or maybe a collage type thing?

OOOHHHH I DON'T KNOW!
View attachment 936

It looks like it needs some company to cheer it up


 

Ecker

Well-Known Forumite
Normally I would say 'Nooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!'
I have seen so many beautiful pieces of dark wood furniture stripped and painted Farrow and Ball 'egg shell white' - its an absolute travesty!

But as its MDF it sounds like a fab idea!

I would just sand it down quickly to get off any top coat varnish - and then you can use standard household emulsion - any colour!

The amount of coats you need will depend on how thick the paint is and how dark you want it!

We want pics!


TCRL is so very right, please don't go for those tedious Farrow and Ball (Would be French chabby chic) colours. They about as
dynamic as a tap dancing clam and as expensive as all hell.
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Littleme - does your daughter have a fave character? Hello Kitty or whatever the cool kids are into now?
Maybe some stickers or collage?
Even just her favorite colour with crystal knobs will look lovely!
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Littleme - does your daughter have a fave character? Hello Kitty or whatever the cool kids are into now?
Maybe some stickers or collage?
Even just her favorite colour with crystal knobs will look lovely!
Crystal knobs bought (2.99 from Home Bargains). I'm being a bit boring at the mo & thinking of painting it just pale pink, but maybe painting the draw fronts & top with some glitter paint (That I think I saw somewhere once!)
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Ooh sounds good!
They sell glitter paint in Homebase but only in small tubs and I think its quite pricey - you may well be better sprinkling glitter on while wet!
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
I rescued this beauty from a shabby chic project this morning!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dining-Ta...J0svs9iZW7T5sPXXHayrY%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I didn't pay the asking price either!
Its so beautiful! Perfect in my kitchen - a nice rub of beeswax and it'll be good as new!

I'm on the lookout for a welsh dresser but so many have been butchered with Cath Kidson floral prints - makes me want to barf!
It won't let me view the pic :(

My main trouble is that I'm very impatient....rush things & then mess them up. Husbands just as bad as he has lots of grand ideas but then gets bored half way through & gives up (that revolving under stair shoe rack sounds just like one of his ideas!)
 

John Marwood

I ♥ cryptic crosswords
I rescued this beauty from a shabby chic project this morning!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dining-Table-And-4-Chairs-Upcycle-Project-For-The-Summer-/221518889166?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=CtNFxVJ0svs9iZW7T5sPXXHayrY%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc

I didn't pay the asking price either!
Its so beautiful! Perfect in my kitchen - a nice rub of beeswax and it'll be good as new!

I'm on the lookout for a welsh dresser but so many have been butchered with Cath Kidson floral prints - makes me want to barf!


I don't mind helping you get dressed but I can't do the accent
 

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
It won't let me view the pic :(

My main trouble is that I'm very impatient....rush things & then mess them up. Husbands just as bad as he has lots of grand ideas but then gets bored half way through & gives up (that revolving under stair shoe rack sounds just like one of his ideas!)

I'm the same as you - if it doesn't hold my interest I'm off!
I can't paint for toffee either - I'm paying my mum in bath bombs to gloss my skirting boards in the new house!

I think your new knobs and a lick of pink sounds lovely!
 

aj0073

Active Member
Anyone had any success with the whole process of striping, sanding, painting & vanishing furniture?

Any tips you would like to share?

Yesterday I bought (Katherine House Shop by the tip) a very chunky bedside cabinet for my smallest daughters room, it appears to be a sort of untreated MDF type stuff, so doesn't need stripping....I'm thinking of giving it a light sand & then painting it...

What kind of paint is best to use? How many coats? Brush or roller?

Also I don't want to spend a fortune, the cabinet only cost a fiver so I don't want to spend a huge amount to make it pretty :)
I always upcycle things or redesign old stuff so its unique n funky . Maybe too much time on my hands so some people say but all good i reckon, will post a pic of latest design (solid wood floor in my hallway made out of a pallet ;)
 

aj0073

Active Member
I always upcycle things or redesign old stuff so its unique n funky . Maybe too much time on my hands so some people say but all good i reckon, will post a pic of latest design (solid wood floor in my hallway made out of a pallet ;)
 

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aj0073

Active Member
I always upcycle things or redesign old stuff so its unique n funky . Maybe too much time on my hands so some people say but all good i reckon, will post a pic of latest design (solid wood floor in my hallway made out of a pallet ;)
lightly sand it and apply with a rag maybe so it brings out the grain in the wood maybe
 
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