Upcycled Secretary Desk

Do you love to upcycle furniture?

My first upcycled furniture project was this Vintage Secretary Desk with a matching Nightstand. I love how a coat of paint transforms dark, blah wood into something visually appealing.

I chose light sage green paint and rub-on decals with pink flowers, birds, and butterflies to bring more of nature’s beauty into my living space. Nature’s tranquility helps brighten your environment and calm you down so you can unwind from a busy day.

I started painting with some cardboard and paper bags underneath the furniture in the living room. Before the first coat, I used a product called Krud Kutter Gloss-Off on a rag to wipe off the gloss finish so the paint could stick to the wood.

Applying three coats of light sage green paint took a few days. You learn to have patience while waiting for the color to dry between coats. If you rush through upcycling furniture, it will not look pretty!

Once the paint was complete, it was time to apply the rub-on transfers. I chose Re-Design with Prima Transfers to beautify the Vintage Secretary Desk and Nightstand. It looks so pretty! I love the pink and green.

When you rub on transfers, allow plenty of time so you don’t rush through the application process.

You must be careful when applying the decals. It is essential to decide how to place and align them before pressing them onto the furniture. Once you press down, you are committed to putting them in that location.

You use a popsicle-like stick to rub the transfers onto the furniture. Once you think they’re applied, you lift the paper to check for application and periodically retry rubbing the transfer again, so time and patience are essential to success.

Once the rub-on transfers were secure, I applied a Minwax Polycrylic Semi-Gloss Protective Finish coat to ensure the beauty lasts for a long while. I also purchased new pull handles and knobs for the drawers.