Transforming A Shelf With Paint/Distressing

I have had this shelf for probably 15 years. I bought it at a craft show years ago. It is solid wood, and very well made. It was a dark wood. It hangs in our downstairs hallway, and this is the third house it has lived in with us. So yes, this is another post about the progress I am making in my downstairs hallway, are you getting tired of it yet?

But the dark wood was no longer my style. So I gave it a paint job, a little distressing, and breathed a new life right back into it.

I had a coupon for a free 8 ounce color sample of Valspar paint. I was at Lowe’s one day and decided t use my coupon. I had no idea what I was going to use the paint for, but I chose the color transit pass. Before I painted the shelf, I sanded it down pretty good. Then I wiped it down.

It took about three coats of paint. After it was dry, I just took a sanding sponge and distressed it in a few choice places.

And oh my, it looks so much better now!

That little lemon wreath has also been with me for a very long time.

You can see more about the DIY wall art on the wall next to the shelf here. BTW, I am still really liking the color I painted the walls down here.

I bought the frame collage on a trip to Wal-Mart about a month ago. When I saw the color, I knew I wanted to hang it in my downstairs hallway. I haven’t put any pictures in it yet, but I am planning to do a collage of our recent family vacation. The “You & Me” was off of a card I bought for LC. Of course I bought the card because I wanted those little wooden letters love him so very much. I need to paint them a fun color.

This little corner is coming along just fine.

The hamper to the right is from Pottery Barn several years ago, and I am thinking of doing a dipped paint look around the bottom. Or maybe some stripes? What do you think? And the little metal barrel definitely needs a new life. Someday… I still haven’t stained the thresholds in the doorways down here. Eventually they will match the brown paper floors.

Just in case you are curious, here is what the shelf looked like before I painted it.

And here is a picture of the metal barrel container that I want to make over. What do you think? Should I paint over this? I would love your opinion. I bought this at a craft show back in the 90’s. I don’t want to get rid of it, because I use it to store our greeting cards.

Here is a before and after shot of this little corner. Wouldn’t you agree that it looks soooo much better now? I think it is a huge improvement, and it is not even finished yet.

If you would like to see the rest of this hallway/mud room, click here. You have no idea how much better I feel every time I walk down the stairs to this hallway. This was my least favorite space when we moved into this house, and I am so happy that it is almost finished!Link Party!

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/porch-lighting-create-a-cozy-atmosphere-with-lamps/