This project was sponsored by HomeRight, however all opinions are 100% mine.
About a year ago, a friend and I went out one Saturday morning thrifting. We got to the first stop, but it was wasn’t opened yet. However, outside was a bookshelf. A bookshelf that wasn’t anything to write home about – except for the doors and the hardware.
The bookshelf had a price tag of $40. I had no need for a bookshelf – but those doors…and that hardware.
We drove down to another thrift store until the other one opened. Upon returning to the thrift store with the bookshelf, there was a woman eyeing my the bookshelf. The store still hadn’t opened yet. The woman was eyeing the bookshelf quite intensely. As the store doors opened, I decided I couldn’t let this bookshelf go. So I did what anyone else would do in my situation. I did a quick side shuffle or two and ran through the doors as soon as the owner opened them and proclaimed I would be buying the bookshelf – probably a bit louder than necessary.
And then the bookshelf sat in my garage for the better part of a year and I kind of started to feel a little bad for stealing it away from the other lady when I hadn’t even figured out to do with it.
I got over that real quick though after I realized it would be perfect in the Circus’ new room.
This was such a simple makeover, but some serious BAM as well with that bold yellow.
Simple Bookshelf Makeover
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- HomeRight FinishMax Paint Sprayer
- Primer (I used a regular latex primer and a liquid sprayer primer to degloss and clean the piece.)
- Paint Color of your choice (I used this yellow hue.)
- Tack Cloth
- Topcoat (I used this one.)
Step 1:
Before painting anything, I cleaned this bad boy up. I sprayed Ready, a liquid spray primer, on the piece to remove dust, dirt and dead bugs that the bookshelf had housed in the garage.
Step 2:
This bookshelf had some laminate in some places. To make sure my paint stuck to those spots well, I gave the entire bookshelf a coat of Kilz Primer before painting the piece yellow.
It’s important to strain the paint before putting it in your sprayer.
Even if it is brand new paint, I suggest straining it. I just picked up a cheap strainer at TJMaxx and use it as my paint strainer. After straining the paint, add water to thin it. The Finish Max comes with an instruction manual that tells you how to thin your paint. It also comes with a handy little tool to use so you know when it’s thinned enough.
I’m borrowing this image from a previous post as I neglected to take a picture of me using my handy little tool during this project.
After adding water to the paint and mixing, simply dip the viscosity cup into the paint and count how many seconds it takes the paint to run out of the cup. For latex paints, properly thinned paints should run out in 25-40 seconds. If you’re in that timeframe, you’re good. If you’re not, add more water.
After thinning your paint properly, spray the paint onto your piece standing about 5-10 inches away from the piece you are painting. (If you’ve never used a paint sprayer before, there’s a complete how-to here.) Clean out your paint sprayer afterwards.
Step 3:
After letting the primer dry, load your paint sprayer up with your choice of paint color. Once more, remember to strain and thin the paint. Step back and spray the paint onto your furniture.
I did two coats of yellow.
I laid out my actual shelves and doors on sawhorses and tables to paint them.
Step 4:
After your piece is dry, I suggest following up with a topcoat to help protect the finish. I used a semi-gloss polycrylic, which actually doesn’t have to be thinned, but should be strained before putting it into your paint sprayer. I did one coat of the topcoat.
Isn’t it adorable? Of course, I haven’t filled it with all her books yet, I just wanted a few on there for now to give you an idea of how it would look.
I do like the idea of mixing in the stuffed animals with the books – makes it a little more decorative.
I can’t believe I just referred to stuffed animals as decorative. I guess that’s what happens when your kid owns more of them than an actual zoo has animals.
I used Bar Keepers Friend to clean up the hardware.
What do you think of the yellow? Is it too bold for you?
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Disclosure: This post was a collaboration with HomeRight, however all opinions and running ahead of people to buy something I want is 100% mine.
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