Little Changes, Big Impact (part 2): Paint Some Junk Shop Furniture

Continuing in our series about small paint projects that will have a big payoff, we're going to talk today about painting furniture. But before we start by throwing out some examples, I want to first take a second and acquaint (or reacquaint) you with the creative home decorator's greatest friend: the junk shop.

Lining the shelves in countless junk shops and mission stores throughout the country are treasures: unique dressers, end tables, lamps, flower stands . . . you name it. Sure, they're not in the best condition all the time, but that's the beauty of paint: it doesn't matter what it looks like now; it only matters what it WILL look like with a coat of paint.

So, find the junk shops, the flea markets, the mission stores in your area and make a habit of swinging through them from time to time. Look for bargains and look with a vision for what's possible. Remember that the piece doesn't need to be flawless. Paint will cover over a multitude of sins. Look for interesting pieces, unique pieces, unusual pieces. And look for bargains.

And once you find them . . . snatch them up and start getting creative. To give you some food for thought, consider the following examples:

DISTRESSED TABLE

Here's little table that's easy to duplicate. It's just a matter of stripping and staining the table top with a standard wood stain. After that, just apply a water based paint in your color of choice to the rest of the piece. Once it's dry, do a little scuff-sanding to distress it and bring out the wood beneath the paint and you're set. It's easy to do and you end up with a furniture piece that could be a highlight in any room.

OLD DESK

Finding a piece like this at a junk shop is exciting as it gets. But putting the right colors on it and turning it into an interesting, exciting piece in your home is even better.  The desk in this example illustrates the point that you don't need bold, bright colors to make an impact. The colors used on this are very neutral, very natural tones. The highlights on the rings of the legs are simply a slightly darker paint than the rest. Remember: it's not always about being bold and daring. It's about choosing the right piece and the right colors--whether they're bold . . . or muted and neutral.

BOLD, CRAZY FLOWER STANDS 

Now, while bold, bright colors aren't always necessary to make an impact, they sure do get the job done!

Maybe these are too bright for your particular taste . . . but don't write the idea immediately off. The value of painting bright colors on something like this is that it gives you an easy way to bring a certain color into your decorating that you'd otherwise struggle to use. For example, look at the reddish orange on the stands. It's not an easy color to work with. It's hard to paint an entire wall that color and get away with it. But if the rest of the room is painted in a washed-out yellow or a chalky blue . . . introducing that orange in small doses--as is the case with these pedestals--can be a great way to use it in the room without overpowering the room.

The basic point is this: look for ways to bring some color and interest into your rooms via furniture you may have purchased at a discount or at a mission store or junk shop. It's the perfect way to infuse your home with color, without going overboard or biting off too big a project. And, when you need a change, it's as easy as a quick repaint . . . or moving the piece to your basement!