DIY: Take 1

This is my first finished DIY project. I actually have a few that I have started but either don't have the necessary materials or the energy to finish them. I will though...I will. Before I give you my expert advice, let it be known that I have never painted anything before other than a friend's bedroom walls (and I think they might have had to repaint them after I left). So, even though I have zero experience with painting (let alone DIY projects), I feel like I have some good tips to give you afterall.

First off, don't paint anything you care about. I bought this bedside table at a Goodwill-type store 4 years ago for 6 bucks. I swear, the price tag is still on the back of it. I figured it was time to give it a little update. I was planning on painting and distressing it but just ended up painting it (for now).

Boring.

For those of you who know me well, you know what my favorite color is. So the decision was easy as to what color to paint it.

TURQUOISE!

Duh. Picking the color was the most fun. I recently bought some new bedding so I brought one of the pillow cases into Home Depot to help with choosing the color. The paint dude actually took my pillow case and put it into some fancy man machine and matched one of the colors perfectly! It was amazing. I suggest you goto Home Depot and try this out just for fun. They give you the little paint sample jar thingy for $3. The paint guy told me I would need more than that so I bought 2 of the jars but I ended up only needing 1. So I have a lot of paint left over. Anyone need anything painted turquoise? If so, I'm your girl.

 
 The picture on the left shows you what it looks like with one coat of paint while the one on the right is with 2. I debated whether to add a second coat (vs leaving the woodgrain showing) and I am glad I did because it looks waaay better.





I wanted to find a new drawer pull as well and stumbled upon this little coral one at a garden store in Galveston. It was the most expensive part of the project but I think drawer pulls can really add something to the finished product. Anthropologie has awesome ones for less than $10 and when you only need 1, it is way worth it.

Drum roll please.....

Isn't it pretty? Now I'll share with you some tips I learned along the way. Splurge (like $6, if you call that a splurge) on the paint brush. If you buy a cheap one, the bristles will come out in the paint and that's gross. Also, buy enough paint. It's cheap, and you would rather have extra than not enough. If you are smart enough to read my blog then you are smart enough to know that already.

This whole project cost me about $33. That includes blue tape for edging, a paint brush, paint, and the drawer pull. Pretty good if you ask me. A new bedside table would have cost me around $150 so I think I win.

I am still debating on whether to distress it or not. For now, I kind of like the solid-paint look....not sure if I want to ruin my beautiful artwork just yet.

DIYlove,
Germs