It’s time for a small craft desk makeover! I picked up this free desk last summer when some very good friends moved out of state. We had a pretty day last week, in the 80’s so it was time to do a quickie project.
It’s nothing special, but it’s well made. Someone had painted it with a high gloss white paint.
The desk had a pullout keyboard tray. Very few people have desktop computers these days so I took a chance and decided to remove the slide out tray.
How to give a computer desk a small makeover
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When changing up furniture it is best to turn it upside down so you can actually see what you’re dealing with. There were a few screws that needed to be removed with my drill.
Remove keyboard tray
I separated the small brace on the bottom that the keyboard tray rested on with a hammer. Look at those long staples!
The side brace needed to be separated before I started whacking it with a hammer. I used my battery operated jigsaw to make a small cut. You could use a handsaw if you don't have power saws.
Using a putty knife and a hammer the pieces were removed. You can see that there are some major paint runs on the right side. Notice I also removed the thin piece of plywood on the back.
I use a small furniture dolly to easily move awkward or heavy pieces of furniture alone. This method is sort of like a wheelbarrow technique. I place the flat furniture dolly under the heaviest end and wheel it wherever I need to to go.
Not shown: I sanded the entire desk with 150 grit, then 220 grit sandpaper with my orbital sander. It helped to knock down that glossy shine. Wiping down with TSP is a great way to get rid of all the sanding residue.
I used some pretty green oops paint to mix up my special diy chalky paint primer using plaster of paris. It was time to break out a new mesh paint strainer . My old one would hardly allow paint to flow through it.
Quick and Easy paint job with an HVLP paint sprayer
I have switched to a tarp instead of a drop cloth. The drop cloth I was using got so paint laden that I can barely lug it around. I’ve been using it for years!! Tip: I use scrap 2x2’s to hold down each side of the tarp. Have you ever been so happy with a paint finish, only to have the cloth blow up and ruin your paint job? My favorite Homeright Super Finish Max Extra made this job go quick and easy. It’s more powerful than the original Finish Max and requires less thinning of your paint.
Paint Desk Chair
I dug around in the storage garage to find a suitable chair to go along with the small desk. I wiped it down and it was ready to go.
This is the best thing about using the diy chalky paint primer. The primer coat and the top coat are the same color. I did two light coats of the chalky primer on both the small desk and the wooden chair.
How to Paint Craft Desk Drawers with a Paint Sprayer
You can see in this image how I sanded all the pieces of this mall desk. After allowing the two light coats of primer to dry, I put the drawers in place to paint them. The easiest way to paint drawers is upside down on a flat surface, or in place where they belong like I did here.
I didn’t want to wait for patching to dry, so I waited until after I painted the desk to patch the rough spots. It would be a quick and easy fix on the day that I got back to the project.
So, this is how it went in the storage garage to wait until I would have time to touch up the paint.
Several days later I was able to get back to the craft desk project and touch up the paint. I staged it with my portable wall.
Craft Desk Makeover
This small craft desk is perfect to do quick projects, and it would also be great for a tween’s room. The three drawers offer a LOT of storage.
It’s fun using reclaimed items to hold supplies for the craft desk. The twisted handle loaf pan is one of my favorite recent projects. See the wood piece that is protecting the desk from the hot glue gun? It is something I made at a paint seminar with Heirloom Traditions. It’s napkins decoupaged onto a piece of plywood. Paint and sponge brushes are displayed in a small sewing drawer. This craft desk and chair have already been taken to my booth at Vendors’ Village.
Where do you do your craft projects?
gail
Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.
Bonnie Hipps
What a great job on that and the chair goes perfectly. I agree a lot of people don't have desktops anymore, guess its just the changing of the seasons lol. What color is that? Very pretty and soft spoken. This should sell quickly for you. Hugs!
Gail Wilson
Bonnie,
Thanks! the color is an oops. I think I'm actually going to take a painted stick in to have it color matched. I really love it.
gail
Kate
We still have a desktop in our house! My husband and I each have laptops, but we have a desktop in the kitchen for the kids' use and movie watching. The desk is a similar design to your makeover - small with three drawers on the right. It has a pull out above the drawers where you can rest your elbow while using the mouse. The top is deep, so there's plenty of room for the screen, keyboard, speakers, and a lamp, but the leg space is just wide enough for a narrow chair. I think it's an antique teacher's desk (all sides were obviously meant to be seen). It's very heavy for its size and I think it's made of tiger oak. It's our vintage tech corner.