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Rain on a Tin Roof

DIY and Home Decor Blog. Fly Your Freak Flag.

You are here: Home >> Furniture Makeovers >> When it doubt, use all the colors.

May 20, 2015 By Jenna 32 Comments

When it doubt, use all the colors.

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About a month ago, I drug the kid and Bill out of bed early one Saturday morning to go yard saleing.

They hate love it when I do that. 😉

I decided to be nice for once and give Grunt Labor the Saturday morning off.

He usually gives me Saturday mornings off, so it was long overdue. 

Before leaving the neighborhood, we had lucked up on a bamboo patio table for a whopping $2 and a 5×7 leopard print rug for only $5.

Luck was on my side that day. 

It quickly ended when there was a meltdown with the kid when I refused to buy a creepy $7 FurrRealz Cat.

$7 for a toy cat at a yard sale? And it looked possessed? Move along child, move along.

At the next stop though, we lucked upon a play phone, a beanie baby skunk and a Care Bears nightgown that the kid just had to have.

I’ve never been so happy to see a Ty Beanie Baby in my life.

The meltdown ceased.

As we were about to leave, I spotted something that had potential out of the corner of my eye…

A vintage paper sorter.

I looked at Bill.

His eyes lit up and he said, “We can do something really cool with that.”

He’s starting to think like me.

I asked the man how much for it.

$12.

Oh honey. You must be crazy. I don’t pay $12 for anything at a yard sale unless its furniture. Let me show you the rug I just snagged for $5.

Yep, I’m that girl, y’all.

Sorry not sorry. 

We started negotiating.

I walked away with the paper sorter for $6.

It was still more than I wanted to pay for a paper sorter, but it was half of what he started at.

I’ll take it. 

Once we got it home, we realized we weren’t really sure what that something really cool we would do to it would be.

But when in doubt…use all the colors.

Look at all those colors! Crazy how they all work perfectly together!

Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with Velvet Finishes. However, all opinions and love of all the colors are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.

I know, right?! 

Aren’t they all just great together?

Here’s how she started:

Paper Sorter Before

Vintage Paper Sorter Makeover

To achieve this uber-colorful look, we used:

    • Velvet Finishes Ready
    • Paper Towels
    • Velvet Finishes Minimalistic (White)
    • Velvet Finishes Glamorous (Bright Pink)
    • Velvet Finishes Boheme (Light Blue)
    • Velvet Finishes Stately (Purple)
    • Velvet Finishes Bold (Yellow)
    • Velvet Finishes Exotic (Coral)
    • Velvet Finishes Enchanting (Green)
  • High Quality Paintbrush

Steps

Step 1: 

I started by pulling the trim off the outside of the sorter to be able to get all the shelves out and easily paint them.

Pull off the trim.

I did this very carefully because I didn’t want to damage the wood.

 Step 2: 

After the trim was off, I pulled out every shelf and primed each of them as well as the sorter itself with Ready.

Use Velvet Finishes Ready to prime the piece.

This thing had a glossy finish on it and was dirty as well. Ready primed and cleaned it at the same time. I just sprayed it on each shelf and the sorter, let it sit for a couple of minutes, then wiped it down with paper towels. Bill and I tag teamed it, so that it didn’t take as long.

Step 3: 

To make all the soon-to-be colorful shelves pop, I painted the outside and inside of the sorter with Minimalistic – a true white.

Velvet Finishes Minimalistic

It took about three light coats with a good quality paintbrush to do the job.

Step 4: 

I gave each shelf a couple coats of color.

Velvet Finishes Boheme

I also did this with just a paintbrush – but a good one. 😉

I didn’t worry with a topcoat, because Velvet Finishes paint already has a topcoat built-in and this won’t be getting a lot of hardcore use.

Step 5: 

After everything was painted, I had to sand the edges of the shelves a bit to make them fit back in the sorter, then I put the trim back on.

Oh my! Those colors! Can't believe how well they all work together! Vintage Paper Sorter Makeover

There was a mishap with one shelf and it was tragically lost.

I broke it. 🙁

Vintage Paper Sorter Makeover - Those colors!

But really, I don’t think this paper sorter makeover could get any cuter.

Those colors are just perfection.

I’m going to save it for the circus’ upcoming room makeover.

Looking for more colorful and easy home projects and crafts? 

Here are 9 unique and colorful ways to makeover a side table.

Here is a super fun, easy and colorful step stool makeover.

And here are bold and colorful furniture makeovers you’ll love!

You know you don’t wanna miss any of this crazy.

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Those colors!!! I love how they all work together! Vintage Paper Sorter Makeover

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Filed Under: Furniture Makeovers Tagged With: color, velvet finishes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rosy @ just my rosy life says

    May 20, 2015 at 9:47 am

    That looks awesome!!! What a great idea to use all the colors.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:37 pm

      Thanks, Rosy!

      Reply
  2. Chelsea says

    May 20, 2015 at 10:36 am

    What an awesome before and after. Those colors are perfection!! I love that you got him down halfway. Yard sale-ing always blows my mind. $2 for a table and then $6 for a paper sorter. It all evens out in the end I suppose! Love it!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks, Chelsea! I know – isn’t yard saleing so crazy sometimes?!

      Reply
  3. Krista @ the happy housie says

    May 20, 2015 at 11:13 am

    This. Is. AWESOME! I love the different colours- right up my alley. I need to try that paint!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:36 pm

      Thanks, Krista! I know – isn’t it fun?!

      Reply
  4. Lindsay Eidahl says

    May 20, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    I LOVE yard sale makeovers and you are so right about negotiating at sales. I love all the colors on the paper sorter. Would make any office/craft space cheerful and ready to work in!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Couldn’t agree more, Lindsay – totally makes working more cheerful!

      Reply
  5. Sarah says

    May 20, 2015 at 1:37 pm

    I love it! And it looks so cute against the spotted wall 🙂

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:35 pm

      Thanks, Sarah! And I know – I put it against that wall and was like, OMG!

      Reply
  6. Kelly says

    May 20, 2015 at 1:43 pm

    How super fun! Colorful and cheery.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks, Kelly! I love me some fun makeovers!

      Reply
  7. Meg @ Green With Decor says

    May 20, 2015 at 2:01 pm

    Love this!! What a fun makeover!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks, Meg!

      Reply
  8. Dinah says

    May 20, 2015 at 3:38 pm

    What a great makeover! I’m going to have to try Velvet Finishes… looks silky smooth!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Thanks, Dinah! It is – love it!

      Reply
  9. Heidi @ Happiness is Homemade says

    May 20, 2015 at 4:20 pm

    This is so, so, SO pretty! I love bright colors (and when you combine that with paper organization *swoon*)!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Thanks, Heidi!

      Reply
  10. Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says

    May 20, 2015 at 5:36 pm

    Super cute project and I love the colors! Wishing I had one for our 3 kiddos immense amount of school stuff!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      Thanks, Ashley!! Oh my goodness, I can’t imagine three kids! Bless you!

      Reply
  11. Erin Spain says

    May 20, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    I love this! I’m thinking I need one of these for our playroom. There are papers scattered everywhere! Love the bright colors too.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 8:54 pm

      That is the same way it is in my kiddo’s room! Gotta tackle the paper!

      Reply
  12. Steph @ The Silly Pearl says

    May 20, 2015 at 8:04 pm

    What a bright and happy paper sorter!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 20, 2015 at 8:53 pm

      Thanks, Steph!

      Reply
  13. Patty says

    May 20, 2015 at 10:18 pm

    I just love yard sales I don’t care if the price is one dollar I will ask if they will take fifty cents and most of the time they will.
    Your paper sorter is so cute and happy you can’t help but smile when you look at it. I just have to try that paint and your glaze formula.
    I get so tickled when I’m somewhere and a child has a meltdown, I just wish sometimes I could do the exact same thing, but I’m afraid the paddy wagon would be called to haul me away.

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 21, 2015 at 7:25 am

      I’m the same way, Patty!! I always want it cheaper – its fun!

      Reply
  14. Ashley @ Simply Designing says

    May 21, 2015 at 1:15 pm

    I love how this turned out! ! You are a good yard sale negotiator…I need to learn from you!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 21, 2015 at 4:23 pm

      haha! Thanks, Ashley!

      Reply
  15. Amy Anderson says

    May 25, 2015 at 11:49 pm

    I love your color scheme – good job!

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 26, 2015 at 11:49 am

      Thanks, Amy!

      Reply
  16. Natasha Mairs says

    May 27, 2015 at 9:38 am

    this is really great, love your up-cycle

    Reply
    • Jenna @ Rain on a Tin Roof says

      May 27, 2015 at 4:30 pm

      Thank you, Natasha!

      Reply

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