Resene Makeover
Give an old wooden wardrobe a no-sand paint makeover to add more colour – as well as more storage – to your life.
Create the closet of your dreams
Are you put off the idea of upcycling old furniture because you don’t fancy the noise and dust made by sanding? The good news is that many wooden makeover projects can be completed without having to sand a thing. In the case of old, stained furniture a decent scrub with Resene Timber and Deck Wash can be sufficient to prepare the painting surface. Here’s an example:
1 Sand-free prep
Choose a place to work – ideally somewhere outside that is within reach of water and on concrete or another hardy surface that will not be affected by the cleaner. Using your gloves, dilute the Resene Timber and Deck Wash as per the instructions on the pack and coat all paintable surfaces liberally. Leave for five minutes.
2 Scrub clean Using the pot scrubber, rub over all paintable surfaces, working in the same direction as the wood grain.
3 Wash off
Use a garden hose (ideally one with a medium-pressure spray nozzle) to quickly wash down all surfaces. Avoid soaking the cabinet more than necessary. Allow to dry completely.
4 Paint
Working a small area at a time, paint with a colour of your choice and rub the paint back using rags to achieve the look you want. Do this to a greater or lesser extent depending on how much of the original wood grain you want exposed. Cover all visible surfaces , including painting any features you wish to accentuate in a lighter or darker colour. If painting the insides of the drawers, avoid painting the outer panels as an extra layer of paint may make them jam. Allow to dry completely before reassembling. Sarah is a contributing editor for Good and author of Reclaim That: Upycling your Home with Style.