Decoupage desk makeover project

Everyone has that piece of furniture that they bought to fit a purpose but later on it becomes dated or just doesn't suit your changing decor. Case in point, my computer desk and matching drawers which I bought from the high street nearly a decade ago. Birch veneer and plastic handles, bland and boring spring to mind. Time for a change! The desk is huge and sturdy and the drawers fit all my junk in so rather then replacing why not just give them a makeover? With a bit of elbow grease, patience and a lot of TLC I am pretty chuffed with the end result. Here's how I did it:-

Tools

Mod podge, waterbase sealer, glue and finish

Rust-oleum Universal all-surface paint and primer in one, white 

Ronseal Interior Varnish Clear Satin

Wet & Dry Paper 1200 fine grit

Paint brush

Roller

Stanley knife

I chose some Cath Kidston wrapping paper and bought some vintage inspired handles from Ebay

1.  Prepared the surface (washed down with warm soapy water)

2.  Laid down dust sheet (whoops forgot to this bit!) and propped desk up

3.  Removed drawers from the cupboard and detached handles  

4.  Applied 3 coats of Rustoleum Universal White paint with small gloss roller

5.  Time for some decoupage! Chose Cath Kidston wrapping paper £5/5 meter

6.  Cut the paper to fit the desired areas, allowed a little excess over the edges which I later cut off with a stanley knife

7.  Applied the Mod Podge to the surface of the area to be decoupaged and to the back of the paper  

8.  Stuck the paper to the surface and smoothed out with a pasting brush

9.  Got a bit tricky here as had to smooth out bubbles quickly but most disappeared once it had dried

10. Pasted mod podge over top of paper 5 times.

11. Wet sanded the paintwork with 1200 fine wet and dry paper

12. Varnished with clear varnish, 2 coats. This really finished it off and the sheen is amazing.

13. Put everything back together again and added new handles

14. Love!!!!

  

In love with my new bespoke desk xxx