Let's Upcycle ! Beginner's Guide:

Happy Saturday all!!! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I know I sure did ! As odd as this year was and definitely different from the rest .. It was still great being able to be surrounded by family and a table filled with delicious food!!! Now having a few extra days off at work I really wanted to take this time to talk to you all and get some fun new upcoming projects done!

On todays chat I wanted to get down to the nitty gritty of Upcycling! In the previous blog I talked about the benifts and meaning of upcycling .... so now the next step is to break it down and understand the steps of doing it!! Let's get to it!!

STEP 1 : Finding the perfect piece

First you have to find that perfect piece ...I tend to find most of my things on facebook market place or the local antique shops / thrift stores . But don't forget you can even just use a piece that you already have .. sometimes it's not about needing to purchase a new item .. it's about taking one you have and giving it a face-lift !! Now when you do find that piece it is ok if it's a little roughed up but you do want to make sure it is a good solid piece ! make sure all the doors are in tact , and drawers slide in and out ok and of course the wobble test... YES i said the wobble test!!! Place you hand right on top of it and wiggle!!! The less the wiggle the better!!! Sometimes it does only take a few nails or screws or glue to make a piece solid again so remember to have an open mind and really investigate what it's gonna need!

STEP 2 : Hmmmm What paint ?

This all depends on the look you are going for as matte, glossy, chalk , antiqued , washed .... there are so many different options!

Matte – A matte paint finish is ideal if you are going for an antique more rustic look.

Glossy – A high sheen finish that is ideal if you’d like your surfaces looking shiny. and luxurious.

Washed- Now this look would mainly be done on natural wood after sanding and using a water downed base ... or using a glaze over a chalk paint .

STEP 3 : How to prep your project

Prepare the surface you are about to paint by taping any areas that you don’t want to paint to protect the furniture. Get your lint-free cloth and some mild soap to wipe down the surface of any dirt and dust. Then get some grit sand paper and lightly sand the surface to get rid of any pre-existing gloss. Ideally, you will want to have a blank canvas to work with, so dirt and grime will need to be removed before painting or staining! Now chalk paint which is my favorite ( its gives more of that rustic look ) takes a little less prep work .... you still have to make sure you wipe it down well but no sanding is involved. Now you ready to prime and paint .....

STEP 3 : Time to paint!

Now that the surface is clean and you have taped parts that you do not wish to paint, it’s time to prime! This allows the paint to go on smoothly and evenly and helps it to adhere to the surface, too. Grab a brush and go over the surface with a coat of primer. Once your coats of primer have fully dried, give the surface another light sand with the grit paper. Using your paint brush or foam roller, apply each coat one at a time. Ensure you run the grit paper over the surface gently after each coat of paint has dried. Typically it could take two to three coats for an even finish, but paint according to your own judgement if in doubt. Sometimes if I am doing an antique brushed look or using chalk paint I only use one coat of paint , one has great coverage and two you can use multiple colors or a glaze for extra coverage and to achieve the look you desire! ( I love using wise owl and junk monkey chalk paint make sure you check them out!)

STEP 4: Protect the beauty!

Time to seal you work.......So that your hard work doesn’t go to waste, you can increase the longevity of your painted project with some sealing wax or polyurethane . Wait at least 24 hours to seal your paint, then use a little bit of the wax to lightly cover the surface – a little goes a long way. If using poly damped your brush before applying ... Now remember this does come in matte , satin ,semi gloss or gloss so you choose the look you want!

STEP 4 : The final touches!

Now that your paint is all dry and sealed time to put those little touches on it that is just the perfect added factor.... This can be anything from new knobs to paper lining on the inside of the draws or shelves . You can also use stencils or a furniture transfers to add that extra pop! This is your chance to be fun , be creative these small little things is what makes you piece unique!

All DONE!

Well there you have it the 4 easy steps to redoing you very own unique piece for your home!! Don't forget the ideas and possibilities are endless... play around with colors , finishes , and textures! I hope this blog has helped you a little to start your new upcycling journey .Please if you have any questions or fun ideas you have done contact me. I would love to help and be inspired by what you all have done!! Hope you all have a great rest of your day and make sure you keep an eye out for my new upcoming projects!!!