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I found these old desks for sale from a local school, and found myself with 15 of them. I just couldn’t resist. I wish I had gotten 50!
Lots of people ask me about the materials I used so they are linked in one easy list below. Scroll down to the bottom. 🙂
Although they were in pretty good shape for the years of wear, they showed scratches and dings, glue, stickers, tape, and who knows what!
I enlisted my husband’s help and we found finishing these desks to be actually quite refreshing. A change in project scenery. I’m sure we will love it when they are finished too. And since I’m down to my last few, I thought I’d share!
Clean the Desk
First, clean the desk off. I found some interesting things and some things gross. Get all that gunk out and clean and dusted.
You know what’s the one downside of metal? You have to spray the paint on! (So you don’t have those terrible paint strokes).
*make sure to select a high quality spray paint and primer*
Sand the desk
Grab a sander and find the sandpaper with just the right grit, and you’re off! Get all those nicks and pencil holes smoothed out. Of course, use wood putty and let it try prior to sanding if you have some big holes.
Paint!
Spraying paint is relaxing in small projects like this. You got to find your groove though. You don’t want the cam too close, but you also don’t want it so far away that you’re wasting paint into thin air. So find your medium point.
You’ll want to tape off the top once you’re ready, and if you’re more on the perfectionist side that taping will take a bit of time to get it perfect first.
It took about 4-5 coats to get that nice, thick coating we wanted.
However, this is a perfect project if you can get a desk for cheap, free, or you are just repurposing one you already have!
The finished product was amazing. I would keep a few if I had space.
Happy Homemaking!
Xo,
Kelsie Ann
Materials I used to get this look:
3. Clear Gloss
4. White
5. Dewalt Sander ( I bought this one hear on this site. Believe me. Two years this Christmas!)
