I love the look of a seasonal shelf and nothing says summer better than shabby chic pastels! It's the perfect mix of colorful memory and rustic ease.
Meandering through Goodwill last week I stumbled across an outdated shelf made of solid wood with simple lines. At $3, the price is right for an up-cycled trash to shabby chic treasure!
The supply list is short with the usual suspects.
*Paint *Paintbrush *Garbage bag drop cloth *screwdriver
*150 grit sandpaper *damp cloth
Set out plastic garbage bag as a work surface.
Using a screwdriver, remove any existing knobs. These knobs are perfect for reusing so I set them aside for the finishing steps.
Sand the entire surface, front, back, and underneath. Surfaces that have a coat of varnish can still resist paint so it's a good practice to sand with the grain and again against the grain. This will give the new paint a firm grip.
Wipe away all sanding residue with a damp cloth. Be sure to wipe inside drawers and pockets just to be sure any cobwebs aren't left behind.
Apply paint. The first layer always looks weak in coverage. Let this first layer dry completely before adding more paint.
A note about good paint:
I can be found frequenting the oops paint section at both Lowe's and Home Depot for cast off colors at a great price. These stores also offer small sample sized containers for as little as $2.49 if a specific color is desired. Getting paint and primer in one cuts the workload in half. This particular color was a sample marked down to 50 cents.
Once the second layer of paint is dry, lightly sand, and wipe residue.
Shabby chic distressing is added by sanding the edges until the wood shows through.
Reattach the drawer pulls and wallah! The shelf is now ready for beachy decor!
Add some pretty "prop" soaps by wrapping everyday soap in pretty scrapbook papers and bundling together with twine..
A few extra sea embellishments and a crisp linen backdrop complete the summer shabby chic vignette.
This quick up-cycle can be completed in less than 2 hours for instant summer appeal. Try it out on a forgotten shelf in your own home :)
LOVE & UP-CYCLE NATION!
Jacquie Wheeler
Hand of Bela Peck
