Painted wallpaper

Upcycled Bedside

For our contemporary makeover of this dated but otherwise sound bedside cabinet, we chose a super-tactile look: chalky matte paint over primer formulated for glossy surfaces, textured paintable wallpaper and chic leather and brass pulls.

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (mask, ear and eye protection and disposable gloves) n Drop sheet n Screwdriver n Scraper n Orbital sander with 120-grit abrasive disc n Microfibre cloth n Paint stirrer n 50mm angled brush n Mini microfibre roller with spare covers n Mini tray with disposable liners n Pencil and tape measure n Scissors n Drill with 4mm bit n Spanner n Combination pliers n Preloved bedside cabinet n Timber filler n 180-grit abrasive paper with sanding block n Three-in-one primer n Ultra-matte chalk paint n Paintable textured wallpaper n Low-sheen interior paint n Leather handles with supplied fasteners

1 Working in a well-ventilated area, set out a drop sheet and place the bedside cabinet on top. Take out the drawers and remove the handles with a screwdriver. Use a scraper to smooth over the handle holes with timber filler, leaving to dry. Sand with 180-grit abrasive paper to remove excess.

2 On the outside of the cabinet, use an orbital sander with a 120-grit abrasive disc to smooth over larger, flat areas. Next, smooth all over using 180-grit abrasive paper with a sanding block. Tip: There’s no need to completely remove the finish, you just need to create a ‘key’ for the primer.

3 Wipe away any dust with a damp microfibre cloth. Stir three-in-one primer for about five minutes, then apply using an angled brush along the edge profiles and corners, and a mini microfibre roller for the larger, flat areas. Leave to dry thoroughly.

4 Stir the chalk paint well and, in the same way as the primer, apply two coats to the outside of the cabinet, leaving to dry thoroughly after each coat. Tip: We used a chalk-effect paint, which has good coverage and a durable, scratch-resistant surface.

5 With the wallpaper facing right-side down, mark around the drawer fronts with a pencil, adding clearance on all sides. Cut with scissors. Tip: For the clearance, add 10mm to the thickness of the drawer front, which is usually about 20mm. Cut the corners with 45° angles to easily fit around the edges.

6 Spray contact adhesive over the front and sides of the drawer fronts, as well as the underside of the wallpaper. Leave the adhesive to become touch-dry according to the pack instructions. When ready, position the paper, folding the sides over the drawer-front edges. Press to hold.

7 Stir hard-wearing, low-sheen paint thoroughly, then use a clean brush to apply two coats over the wallpaper covering the drawer fronts, leaving to dry after each coat. Tip: To give the wallpaper a woven rattan or linen look, choose a creamy beige tone (we used Dulux Mt Maunganui).

8 Mark the centre of the drawer fronts, 40mm down from the top, and drill right through with a 4mm bit. Check the depth of the drawer front against the handles’ supplied snap-off screws and adjust to fit with a spanner and combination pliers. Screw in the handles and replace the drawers.

Revived Timber Table

Transform an unloved old coffee table into a stylish centrepiece – all it takes is some patient sanding and a couple of coats of furniture oil.

Tools & materials

n Safety equipment (disposable gloves, mask, ear and eye protection) n Drop sheet n Orbital sander n Palm sander n Cloths n Paint stirrer n Preloved coffee table n 80-, 120- and 180-grit abrasive discs n 120-, 180- and 240-grit abrasive paper with sanding block n Furniture oil

1 Dulux ‘Wash&Wear’ low sheen interior paint in Vivid White, I/N: 1370156.

2 Rust-Oleum ‘Chalked’ ultra matt paint in Charcoal, $49.49/887ml, I/N: 1580861.

3 Superfresco Easy ‘Monaco’ paintable wallpaper sample, $6/0.5m, I/N: 0167767†. 4 Lane 128mm leather handle in Tan, $36.95/pack of 2, I/N: 4224040.

5 Ryobi 300W random orbital sander, $99, I/N: 0261603.

6 Ozito 230W random orbital sander, $44, I/N: 0316335.

7 Feast Watson ‘Scandinavian Oil’ interior timber oil, $59/1L, I/N: 1570426. 8 Ryobi 100W palm sander, $89, I/N: 6210776. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

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Be amazed at how well it comes up: bunnings. co.nz/upcycled-bedside

1 Place the table on a drop sheet. Using an orbital sander for larger areas and a palm sander for smaller sections, smooth the table all over with an 80-grit disc to remove the bulk of any varnish. Remove remaining varnish with 120-grit discs. Hand-sand with 120-grit paper to clean around the trim and into the corners, lightly rounding over the edges.

2 Smooth all over using sanders with 180-grit discs. Hand-sand with 180-grit abrasive paper around the trim, into the corners and along the edges to remove potential splinters.

3 Using 240-grit abrasive paper with a hand-sanding block, continue to smooth all over, working in the direction of the wood grain for a silky finish, lightly rounding over the corners and edges. Wipe the entire table clean with a damp cloth to remove any dust.

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Here’s another makeover to inspire you! bunnings.

co.nz/revived-timber-table

4 Stir the furniture oil well, but avoid shaking the can (which may create bubbles). Wearing gloves, apply the oil with a cloth, working in the direction of the wood grain and leaving to dry overnight. Tip: Turn the table upside down to work on the feet, legs and underside first, flipping it over to do the top last.

5 Lightly hand-sand all over with 240-grit abrasive paper, then wipe away dust with a damp cloth. Apply a second coat of oil with a clean cloth and leave to dry. 