Upcycled Secretary Desk and Nightstand

Do you love to upcycle furniture?

My first upcycle furniture project was this Secretary Desk Dresser with a matching Nightstand. I love how a coat of paint can transform dark, blah wood into something visually appealing.

I chose a light sage green with pink flowers, birds, and butterfly rub-on decals 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 would stick to the wood surface.

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 Secretary Desk Dresser and Nightstand. It looks so pretty in 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’s important to decide how to place and align them before pressing them down onto the furniture. Once you press down, you are committed to placing them in that location.

You get a popsicle-like stick to rub the transfers onto the furniture. Once you think it’s applied, you lift the paper to check for application and periodically retry to rub 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.

The finished Secretary Desk Dresser and Nightstand