This post may include affiliate links. That means I may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
A wooden desk was headed to the garbage bin before being saved by my brother-in-law. It was in good shape with a few scratches here and there.
What’s great is you can find similar desks pretty easily at flea markets and online. So this a a project anyone can do.
This is the second makeover I have completed on this desk. The first time, I painted the top gray with white stripes with flat blue on the drawers.
I used it as a vanity and it was perfect. However, when we moved into our fixer upper first house, it was too big for the space.
This is when I decided to turn a Singer Sewing Machine into a Makeup Vanity.
I wanted to update the wooden desk before trying to sell it. I repainted all of the white, changed the top to blush and gold, and went over the blue with a satin finish.
DIY Wooden Desk Makeover Steps
Step One: Clean and Sand
Take off the hardware and wipe all of the surfaces down. Then sand with an appropriate grit based on how bad the scratches are.
I used 120 then 220 grit sandpaper and for the top, my Dewalt 5-Inch Random Orbit came in handy.
Step Two: Prime
Prime all surfaces, including the insides of the drawers. Valspar makes my favorite Stainblocking Bonding Primer.
Step Three: Paint
I used regular paint with a smooth roller for the drawer fronts and spray paint for the hardware.
Then, use newspaper and ScotchBlue to cover everything but the top. Spray paint with the color of your stripes. Then make your design in tape and spray paint with another color.
Step Four: Clear Coat
Spray paint every surface with a clear coat. The top and insides of the drawers should get extra coats.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this DIY Wooden Desk Makeover!
Want a FREE DIY Project Checklist & Budget? Click here.