Yard Sale Desk and Chair Makeover

I’m here to prove to you fine people that you CAN decorate a room on a budget – and you REALLY can if you’re patient enough to wait until you find just the right thing at yard sales.

Case in point: my desk and chair for the new office cost a total of $9. TOTAL. Add the sample of paint and tiny bit of fabric to cover the seat and it was a whopping $17.

For a TABLE AND CHAIR.

What the what?!

I have to give my mom major props for this one. She found BOTH pieces and grabbed them for me a while back. Separate yard sales, months in between. The woman keeps a post-it note in her purse of things her kids are on the hunt for – I kid you not. So when she’s out and about and finds a deal, she will grab it, and usually nails it. (Really hoping she pulls through on the full size headboard for my daughter’s room soon…come on, Mom, YOU CAN DO IIIIIT!) 😉

You might remember the chair she got for me a while back, and I put it in our bedroom at the time? She spent $4 for the chair. I used an old sweater to cover the seat, and spray painted it white. You can check it all out here.

Well, I needed a chair for the office, and it really served no purpose in my bedroom other than being pretty to look at. So, in typical “shop my home” fashion, I picked up some lovely fabric from Hobby Lobby one day recently and I’m totally in love with it. So let’s recap: $4 for the chair, about $4 for the fabric.

Chair total: $8. (I had the can of white spray paint, but if you really want to get picky, add another $3 for the can;)

Now the desk.

She found a $5 desk. FIVE. DOLLARS. Check it out.

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I had just bought a sample of Sherwin Williams Watery, for my daughter’s room. I thought it might just be THE perfect color for this desk, and it SO was. I didn’t feel like sanding or priming or, well, really any added work, so I added just a small spoonful of Plaster of Paris to it so it would stick to the desk as is (LOVE that trick!) and this $5 desk was looking purdy.

But still needed something…

I grabbed my measuring tape and painter’s tape, and created a border. Filled it in with just a little white craft paint I had in my stash…

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And can I just say – there is NOTHING worse than running out of painter’s tape SMACK dab in the middle of a project?!! I was so desperate that I reused the existing pieces on the sides that ran out! Worked fine, in case that ever happens to you.

I ripped the tape off, let it dry, then waxed it with Minwax to protect it…and voila!

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Meet my yard sale beauties!

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Is that paint color the dreamiest or WHAT?!!

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And can we talk about that fabric for a second?! Reminds me of something my grandmother had on her couch back in the day, but with an updated colorful twist? I big fat LOVE it.

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To recap: $5 desk, plus a sample of paint (bought on sale) = $9.

I repeat:

WHAT THE WHAT?!

So there you have it. Now that it’s yard sale season again, keep in mind that a little paint and a little fabric can be your best friend. So can my mom. But sorry, I can’t let you borrow her;)

Comments

  1. Rondell says:

    What a deal only 9.00! Love it!

  2. Love it! And yes, it is the dreamiest color!

  3. Rebecca says:

    It is inspiring. LOVE iT!!

  4. Love the furniture and the idea of shopping your home first! I need to paint a desk white for my office space. Did you use a roller or a brush to paint your desk?

  5. Love this!! I’m in the market for a table to use as a buffet table in my dining room. Hope I can score one like your mom did (*.*)

  6. Looks beautiful!!! I too was wondering if you used a roller or a brush?

  7. Fay Doll says:

    Looks great! Which minwax do you use – a spray poly, paint on varnish, or a solid wax rubbed on? I looked at Lowe’s and there were so many to pick from I had no clue what would work best over paint?

    • Fay Doll says:

      Ok, just read an earlier post and I think got my question answered. Maybe you need to do a post on how to do it for all of us!! LOL

  8. Christine says:

    Looks great! Is there enough room between the desk and chair for your legs? Maybe it’s the angle of the picture but it looks like a tight squeeze. You must be skinny 🙂

  9. Carli Heringer says:

    So beautiful! Your painting projects always turn out so flawless! I can never seem to make mine look as good as yours! Lol…. GOOD JOB!

  10. LOVE the table, what a great idea and so simple. I might have to try that when i finally get ready to turn one of my closets into an office/craft space. If you have a chance check out my blog at DIYonfiveandadime.com

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