DIY // A Little White Paint Goes A Long Way // Upcycling Wooden Items

Every time I go to a thrift store, I find a handful of items that just need a tweak.

You know, the dress that needs hemmed, the lampshade that needs recovered, the jewelry that needs repaired.... and a lot of it... . gets forgotten (at least for a little while). It gets tucked in a drawer, or stuck in a box. But other times I end up with quirky little wooden, plastic, or metal items that can be easily painted, and therefore given new life.

One of my favorite projects so far has been this wooden owl. Before... it looked very dated. I nearly passed it by upon first glance. But with a little wash, and a few coats of white paint. It is so much more modern looking.

Materials:

Wooden Object to Paint
Washcloth with water and a tiny bit of mild detergent
Acrylic Craft Paint, Acrylic Painter's Paint, or Latex Wall Paint
A Paint Brush
A Drop Cloth or Paper to cover your surface

1) Gently wash your object with your washcloth. Don't use too much soap. Make sure to get the washcloth in between in any grooves or crevasses where dust or dirt might be hiding! Let air dry.

2) Place a drop cloth or newspaper on your work surface to catch drips. Get out your object, and begin painting a thin layer over entire surface. If it is easier to place your object on one side, paint the layer on just that side, then alternate sides as you add layers of paint (make sure they are dry before you add another layer!).

3) Continue painting on thin layers, letting dry in between coats, until the object is covered. You might like a faint, white washed look on your object or a completely solid painted look.

4) Let dry completely and admire.

What do you think?

What are some of your favorite DIYs for the home?

Would you like to see more DIYs in this space?

Thank you for reading!

XO,

Alexandra