Color palettes should be chosen with thier intended use in mind.
When it's time to update built-in dressers and closets, cost and color are the choices people tend to give the most thought. Fresh paint is inexpensive. New doors are costly. Stripping doors and drawers is messy and uses harsh chemicals. Latex paint is not. With the right approach it's possible to spend less time and money and be well satisfied. Kids like bright, cheerful primary colors. Adults tend to tire of these and prefer natural colors. A closet organizer will invigorate a tired space and bring structure and order. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Remove the closet door. Lay the door on a suitable work surface and lightly sand. Whether replacing or refinishing, don't worry about soils or stains on the old door unless they are very oily. If so, prime the door with a shellac-based product.
2. Remove the dresser drawers. Unless the drawers have multiple layers of paint or the finish is severely chipping and cracking, a light sanding will be fine. If there are major problems, the drawers will need to be stripped. Remove the hardware and lightly sand the drawers or use a paint stripper.
3. Strip the old paint. Select a water based stripper, closely follow the directions and heed the warnings. Generously apply the product and lay plastic wrap over it. This will stop evaporation and extend the usefulness of the product. Add several hours to the recommended waiting time. Remove the wrap and scrape the paint off. Follow this with a water rinse and allow the wood to completely dry.
4. Roll a base color onto the door and drawers. The base color is important because additional colors are applied over it. Most choose to build from light to dark. For example, a light orange is a great choice if a natural wood appearance is the goal. Rolling a clear glaze of thinned brown color over the orange will produce the desired appearance. Thin the base color with three parts paint to one part water. Roll several thin, even coats. The goal is a very light texture left by the foam roller. Watery paint produces the best results.
5. Mix a glaze color to roll over the base. Thin this in a ratio of two parts paint, two parts glaze and one part water. Add one or two drops of laundry fabric softener to improve the smoothness while rolling the paint. Roll one coat and decide if the results are OK. Darken the color by a second or third glaze coat.
6. Create character with the flogging brush. For a kid's room, the color choice may be bright, primary colors. A good choice would be a bright red base with yellow glaze. Use the flogging brush as a dragging tool and add wavy or cross-hatched striations in the yellow to create red highlights. Wipe the brush frequently to prevent build up. To get wood texture, lay the brush almost flat and lightly bounce the side of it into the glaze. Walk and pull the brush along to create a soft wood grain. Pushing creates a more aggressive appearance.
7. Apply water-based urethane to protect the finish. Apply several coats (up to five) and sand between coats. Thin the urethane until the product will roll on and leave a pleasing finish. The final coat should be quickly applied, not disturbed and allowed to self level.
8. Install the drawers and door. Use appropriate drawer pulls to match the finish. Install a new door knob on the door. If the budget permits, measure the closet, select a closet organizer and install it. This is a great way to give the closet a makeover, add organization and structure.
Tags: base color, closet organizer, flogging brush, lightly sand, part water, parts paint, primary colors
