How to Redecorate Plain Decor With a New Lease of Life

It was in good condition. The only issue was that the gold around the edges had tarnished and turned green. 

Firstly, I sprayed it with White Lightning and then rinsed it with clean water. 

The rack had floral decoupage on the drawer front. I removed it by saturating the paper in water for a few minutes and then scraping it off. 

I liked the original creamy colour but it did need freshening up. So, I found a similar colour in my stash which was Endless Shore.

The trickiest part was painting the letter holder area.

Firstly, because of the narrow-angle to get a brush to the bottom of the inner sides. But also on the second coat, there was a risk of scratching the fresh paint with the handle of the brush. 

The piece looked much cleaner with a few coats of Endless Shore. I initially thought I would add some gold accents back to the edges but liked it as it was.

Depending on the brand on furniture transfer you use, sometimes you seal the paint before applying the transfer and for others, it’s after.

For the letter rack I chose the  Oiseau Blue transfer from Hokus Pokus.

And with Hokus Pokus, you seal the piece before applying the transfer. So, I sealed it with two coats of Clear Coat in Satin.

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As the rack has ridges, it’s not straightforward to apply a transfer over those sections. Even with applying it little by little and tucking it into each groove, it’s difficult to get a perfect finish.

So I went back with some paint to blend it all together a little more. 

I love transfers where there are lots of pieces. You can make a small decor item more special with just a few elements.

I’m really happy with this result. It has a similar look to the original, with calming colours and a pretty floral. But it’s now fresher and brighter.