Wood bookshelf needs makeover
by
Dmc15056217
+4
Found this at a garage sale been looking for a small bookshelf and now that I have it home I'm not sure where to start.
Does anybody have any suggestions on a simple way to get the old paper off the shelves? I'm also looking suggestions on how to repurpose the bookshelf or painting ideas to continue to use as a bookshelf. Thanks
If you remove the paper with soap and water it would be great not ruin the finish. Because, I like the look of vintage home made furniture. Clean it with dish soap and water. Then apply 3-4 coats of Butcher furniture wax. Apply one coat at a time, let each coat dry (2hrs.) buff it with a cotton rag ( baby diaper) repeat until you like the finish. Happy home project
Spray it with water from a spray bottle, scrape it off, then once it dries, use a palm sander to take off the rest of the finish. Then paint it with chalk paint.
Leave that cool music paper on the shelves. Clean and seal off. Do something with the wood ... make it a very unique piece.
Unless the paper is loose, leave it there. Sand any shelves you can to get off the paper. If the paper is not varnished, maybe you could soak it off. Use wood filler and/or caulk for nail holes and gaps. Sand and spray paint the whole book shelf and choose your finish.
Best wishes ☺️
Block off the paper, prime the existing finish and re-paint
There are lots of good ideas if the paper is like a wallpaper, but if it is self-adhesive contact paper soaking it can make it worse. Contact paper glue is a pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) that you can think of as a hotmelt glue that remains stickie when cool. It requires heat from an iron or a heat gun, or maybe even a hair dryer to make it melt and release. Even then it will leave a stickie residue which would have to be removed chemically. So like others have said, leave it and finish over it may be the best solution.
I would spray the paper with a white vinegar and water mixture. Let it sit, then scrape with a razor scraper. Then paint. It could be used for books, for kids toys, in a large closet to keep folded sweaters, in a pantry for canned goods.