Some projects are fairly quick and easy to accomplish with a few supplies. I rarely know exactly what I'm going to with a piece when I initially find it and if I have a plan at the onset it usually changes during the process. Most projects start with a standard set of supplies: sandpaper, clean cloths, screwdrivers (both phillips and flatheads), wood glue, clamps, paint brushes in several sizes, primer and paint. In addition, new hardware or knobs are sometimes required to replace broken or outdated pieces. The first order of any project is to clean the item with soap and water, drying with a clean cloth. This will give you a good idea of where the flaws that need repairing are located. Most furniture items can be sturdied with wood glue or additional screws as needed. After repairs are made, sanding and prepping with Kilz primer are a part of my routine. Next comes the best part - picking a color that will make the piece uniquely perfect. Here are a few of my "how to's" along with some of the lessons I learned by trial and error.
This is a before pic of a 4-drawer side stand. It had several areas that had to be glued and clamped overnight to tighten up the seams and top.
I sanded the stand with medium sandpaper after cleaning it with soapy water. After sanding & cleaning, I sprayed the outside frame with Kilz primer. Kilz dries very quickly so I was able to start spraying the color within minutes. I chose a Rustoleum Antique White in satin finish. It took almost 3 cans to get a complete uniform coverage on the outside as well as a light covering of the inner drawers. I always try to paint the inside of the drawers of older pieces to spruce it up and discourage the smells that sometimes accompany an old drawer.
Even with all my cleaning, sanding and prepping three of the drawers gave an alligator skin appearance after the second coat. I've read all sorts of posts regarding the causes of flaws with spray painting. Usually if you clean, sand, prep and make sure the can is thoroughly mixed you can avoid any flaws but sometimes it just happens anyway. I re-sanded the surfaces and re-sprayed until I got a nice finish.
I used this handy self-adhesive wall poster I found at Hobby Lobby at 50% off. It was the perfect size for the front and top of the little dresser.
I carefully measured and razor cut the wall poster to fit the drawer fronts. Next, I lightly distressed the edges around the drawers and the top surface.
The top of the Eiffel Tower poster fit nicely across the top of the stand.
I applied 4 coats of a polycrylic sealant over the poster and painted surfaces to aid in protecting the finished product. It turned out really cute!