Helpful Paint Tips: To Do and Not To Do!
May 3, 2012 by Aimee • 63 Comments
When I find furniture for $15, it’s next to impossible for me to keep on walking. This was the steal that went home with me during our neighborhood garage sale. Definitely needed a little work, but it’s solid and I always look for pieces that allow for extra storage in my house. Three drawers in my foyer made this little dresser golden!
While I was updating my kitchen recently, I used a roller and applied some of the same primer and paint onto this dresser. My entry is also a hallway so I definitely wanted a color that would be neutral, bright and airy. White paint was definitely the best option for this spot! I’m fast at work to complete my foyer, so this morning I decided it was time to finish painting around the knobs! When I bought these knobs a few weeks ago, I was so excited and put them on right away! This morning, I decided rather than remove the knobs to paint, I’d try a couple of the paint tips floating around the internet and see if they were great solutions to simplifying painting!
If you follow me on FB, you totally know where this is going! I wrapped my knobs with aluminum foil and placed a rubber band around the entire paint can so that the rubber band would run along the radius of the paint can and offer easy access to wiping off my paint brush — both online tips that I’ve seen all over pinterest! The aluminum foil kept ripping and wouldn’t stay put around the edges where it was most important to be covered….AND as I went to wipe my brush the second time against the rubber band…paint flung off the rubber band and all over my shirt and shorts! I don’t know if I missed a step or something…I have three kids, it’s possible…but these tips just weren’t working for me.
What I should have done…
- Turned my clothes inside-out while I was painting like I usually do!
- Removed knobs or covered the knobs with press and seal, instead of aluminum foil, it really stays put, according to my FB buddy, Aimee…seriously Aimee this makes sense!
- Used a hammer and awl to punch holes all around the ‘lip.’ Then as you wipe the brush on the side, the paint drips back down inside…Thanks Suzie for the comment below!
- And should you ever find yourself in a similar predicament…here’s a little tip that helped me a lot today…A little Goo Gone, a paper towel, and a lot of scrubbing helped me get out ALL the paint from my clothes! Phew! {I would do this before the paint dries…and test a small area of the fabric first}.
As usual, I splurged on the hardware! Anthropologie this time! I couldn’t resist these Mercury Glass knobs! Above you can see I added a touch of blue paint for a bit of interest! I used a small paint brush to add the blue paint and when it dried, I covered it with a thin coat of my white kitchen paint.
Here’s another before picture!
And here it is sitting pretty in my foyer with my Potterybarn-inspired, Beach Tablescape!
Next…a little tutorial on the art I made for
above my new Board and Batten Wall in my foyer!
above my new Board and Batten Wall in my foyer!
Gorgeous redo! LOVE it!
The dresser is really pretty, Aimee! It was definitely worth the money and your did a great job on it! Thanks for the tips!
XO,
Jane
Oops and I love those knobs.
LOVE! The knobs are perfect
Gorgeous!!
Just beautiful. My very empty entryway is jealous!! We’ve lived here for nearly 5 years and it is still empty…thanks for the inspiration as usual!
It looks gorgeous!! I saw similiar knobs in Home Goods too. I just love them!
oh i adore that! i need to splurge on hardware!
Wow really the before and after photos are just amazing I love what you have done to it
Awesome! Love it and perfect spot too!
Great transformation! Love the knobs.
xo, Sherry
Oh wow, this is beautiful! Amazing job & great tips! Love, love those knobs. You were right on with those!
Love the knobs, they bring a bit if elegance to the piece. Thanks for sharing the tips, you just never what will or won’t work.
Amazing job! It looks so elegant.
Can’t get over the transformation of that dresser! It’s fabulous.
It’s beautiful Amy! And you know, everytime I paint something and don’t change into painting clothes, I suddenly end up with a new set up painting clothes
Garage sale finds are the best! You did a great job on it. The knobs look super fancy
Love it! For $15 you can totally splurge on knobs, I’m in love with pretty much any Anthropologie knob myself. Good to know about Goo Gone, I either put on painting clothes or do the inside out trick, although after spray painting my feet (right before sandal season) I now wear socks too!
Jessica
stayathomeista.com
looks awesome! good call on white! classy!
Looks beautiful and love the new knobs!
It looks great!
Oh my goodness! That totally made me laugh out loud – I’m so sorry!
I could so see that rubber band episode happening to me!
I looove the dresser! Great job!
Elisa
home sweet nest
Looks fantastic!
Love the dresser! I love Anthro knobs too and have them on several things at our house. If I tried the rubber band tip, I would have paint ALL over the place. Turning your clothes inside out when painting-Now that is being creative!
The dresser re-new is amazing! Love it, Love it, Love it!!!
Sometimes those shortcuts just don’t pay off! I LOVE those Anthro knobs!!! I just may have to splurge on a few of those to vintage up a newer cabinet in our bathroom. Thanks for sharing!
Your cabinet looks amazing!
The dresser looks awesome and the knobs are to die for! And the paint flying off the rubber band is totally something that would happen to me, too. I was considering trying that tip myself after seeing it on pinterest, so thank you for saving me from a similar fate.
Looks great!! It’s so true that some of the Pinterest “magic tricks” work whereas others are disasters! It’s nice to hear feedback on these two!
Those knobs are awesome! Perfect for that piece. $15 would be hard for anyone to pass up!
Awesome! The knobs are perfect and well worth the splurge.
After trying some viral Pinterest tips only to have them fail — I’ve developed a theory: The more enthusiastic the original comments on a pin offering a “simple solution”, the more likely the pinner has never actually encountered a situation in which the pin would be usuable. In other words, great enthusiasm over a kitchen tip that will change your life means the pinner only eats a home cooked meal at mom’s. Just a theory —– lol! Sorry about the paint on the clothing!
Beautiful transformation. Your tip about getting paint off of clothes, though, is priceless…will try asap.
Came out great. Thanks for the goo gone tip too. If you get a chance to link up Furniture Friday is still open @ Decorating Insanity.
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/2012/04/furniture-friday-13-and-features.html
xo…mONICa
It is beautiful and I love the hint of blue!!
WOW!!!! This turned out great!! Awesome job:)
Love how it turned out! I am visiting form the HOH link party and am a new follower! I blog over at http://www.garagesalesrus.blogspot.com/ Check us out when you get a chance!
I love white paint on furnitures! unless you have white walls
frugalaintcheap.blogspot.com
That dresser is gorgeous… the knobs… amazing!
I just saw some other white furniture revamps and that ehhh… maybe I am over white. Then I saw this and my faith has been restored!!! I saw your kitchen revamp and I loved it. I was going to start following you then, and didn’t because I already love and follow so many others, but now I have to do it. Newest follower. Keep painting away, cant wait to see whats next!!!
Great job on the dresser. When I paint from a can, when I first open it, I take a hammer and awl and punch holes all around the ‘lip’. Then as I wipe the brush on the side, the paint drips back down inside.
Love the hardware, I love $15 finds as well…
Stop by for a visit sometime…
Blessings Lori
I don’t think there is enough GooGone in the universe to get out all of the paint in have on clothes! I am soooo messsy when it comes to paint. I’m so glad you told us about the tips “gone bad.” Your dresser turned out awesome and those mercury glass knobs are just perfect for the piece.
$15 for this piece of furniture!? This is more than a steal! Why can’t I find anything like that ever! So lucky. I love how you turned this beauty
There is a link party going on in my blog today. I would LOVE for you to share this paint tips!!
http://myricandreasen.blogspot.com/2012/05/link-party-and-give-away.html
xoxo
Myric
Love it! What an improvement. Amazing what white paint–and a touch of blue–can do.
craftythriftydecoratingwifemom.wordpress.com
Gorgeous, Aimee!! Those new knobs truly make that piece special! Thanks for the paint tips, too. I just wear my usual paint-splattered clothes when I’m working on a piece. That way I don’t care how much paint I get on them! lol!
xoxo laurie
Thanks for the follow. I’m following back. Here is the link to todays Furniture Friday:
http://www.decoratinginsanity.com/2012/05/furniture-friday-14-and-features.html
xo…mONICa
This is lovely – and a foyer is the perfect place for a piece like this – a great catch-all!!
Gorgeous transformation. Well done! I love the knobs.
Lisa
That is just gorgeous! Thanks for sharing those tips
-Jade
Very nice! It looks great, and I love those knobs! Thanks for the tips, also (I never thought of turning my clothes inside out when I paint!)
Cindy
Beautiful job! The veneer looked like some was missing at the bottom of the chest.Did you remove the little that was left ?How did you make that area smooth?
Oh my goodness, I forgot to mention that didn’t I! Thanks for pointing that out! Yes, the veneer was completely cracked…I used a chisel to easily remove the rest of the veneer on the bottom panel of the dresser. I was a little timid at first, but it came off perfectly and effortlessly! Thanks so much for asking and for your sweet note! XO, Aimee
Great deal….and your knob choice was perfect!
Turned out adorable! I love using paint!!
Happy to be a new follower!
Just love seeing these wonderful transformations! Keeps me motivated to get things done or to get creative, thanks so much! Looks wonderful! Julie(the letter 4′s mom)
I just discovered your site a few minutes ago & I’m already hooked. I absolutely love your fearlessness and creativity. You’re quite inspiring!
You just totally made my day Linda!!! You are so sweet! I’m blessed with the bestest bloggy friend readers!!!
XO, Aimee
I love it in white and that little touch of blue brings the eyes right were they should. Well done!
I do the nailing holes in the lip of the paint can thing too. Works every time. My hubby always looks at me like I’m crazy. But it totally works!
I love it. And I tried that foil thing too, thanks to Pinterest, and had exactly the same experience. Gotta try Press ‘n Seal next time!
I just spent less than a buck at Home Depot and bought a plastic pouring thing that attaches to any size paint can. Works GREAT both for pouring paint and for wiping the brush. Takes a second to attach, two seconds to pull it off and rinse it, and I’ve been using it for a few years now. One of those little gadgety things you wonder if you should bother buying, but a definite thumbs up on that one.
Gotta love Anthro for awesome knobs! Thanks for trying out those paint “tips” for us. It’s amazing the number of things that go round and round the ‘net that don’t work in reality!
Hi Aimee, I really appreciate your post, I am about to redo my kitchen table and entry table, this is awesome! I am a new reader, creating over at http://twelveoeight.blogspot.com – Tanya
Your dresser looks great! I just love the difference a little paint can make- it’s kind of addicting, isn’t it?! Did you have to do some repair on the bottom of the dresser? Looks like some missing veneer maybe? Just wondering if you had any tips for doing that as well!
Georgeous peice of work and kudos on your choice of knobs!!! As I read about your rubberband painting tip mishap, I had an immediate flash of deja vu. This didn’t happen to me, but I have had way too many such incidents with various tips, that I have developed the ability to ‘see into the future’ and anticipate everything that could go wrong. So, I opted to use the rubberband in conjunction with a wooden paint stirrer, placing it first around narrower handle on one end, then stretching it under the paint can and looping it onto the other end of the stick. Not only do I not have to worry about ‘plinking’ paint everywhere, the extended non-handle end provides a nice brush handle rest. Works great for me. I hope this improvised tip helps you and your readers in the future.
Gorgeous!
Stacey of Embracing Change