In keeping with Earth Day happening this month, I have another reuse project! In the past few years, there are has been a huge surge in cheap furniture that is made of MDF and/or cardboard. Unlike their solid wood counterparts, it can be extremely difficult to patch, sand, and paint these pieces. Like fast fashion clothes, fast furniture often ends up in landfills after a couple of years, their resale value nil. While I am all about buying the best furniture you can afford and keeping it for a long time, I balked at paying a premium for nursery furniture. I definitely didn’t treat my furniture well as a kid! (Sorry Mom) So, I upcycled these end tables I got for free from a friend.
- spackle
- microfiber cloth
- sanding paper (fine grit)
- small foam paint roller
- interior paint (or chalk paint)
The end tables had some missing hardware, so I just removed the X’s completely and spackled over the holes.
There were some chew marks on the legs that I sanded down gently to get rid of the upper layer. These end tables are some sort of cardboard/cork underneath so you cant really sand them down completely to get rid of the hole. I spackled the edge. Use more than you think, you can sand it down evenly after it has dried. Remember the paint is also going to cover up small dents. Use the cloth to clean up any dust before you paint.
This is the time to be patient. Let the spackle dry completely before sanding. The better your base the better the end result.
Painting these tables takes a special technique. I used some interior paint that I had leftover from my living room, so I think the tools are more important in this case. A foam roller avoids noticeable paint lines. Use a smaller foam sponge brush to get the corners. Actually sponge the paint onto the furniture when using the small brush, don’t paint it like you would a wall, you’ll see lines. I needed to do two coats of paint to completely cover the brown.
I’m really pleased with how these came out. The finish was very smooth, almost as if they were bought this way. If the kid draws on them, I won’t be too mad because they were free! I already had all the supplies for this project too. Win win.
The Dupery 