Old School Desk Makeover

So many kids are getting ready to go back to school next month. While Charlie isn’t quite school age, he still loves to color, finger paint and draw.

Anytime we’ve gotten out his art supplies we’ve always just parked him in a seat at the kitchen table, until recently. I actually came across this desk at a Goodwill. It was only $8 and aside from a few stickers, scratches and pencil holes it was in good condition. I’ve been having great luck at thrift stores lately. I feel like it’s typically hit or miss. I normally find the best stuff when I’m not looking for anything in particular. You just never know what you’re going to find!

I started by giving the desk a good wash down. I used rubbing alcohol and a scraper to remove all the stickers and glue residue.

I decided to spray paint the desk. Most spray paints do really well when painting metal. I used Rust-Oleum’s Colonial Red. I unscrewed the top and the legs from the middle portion of the desk.

I sanded the top down with a medium grit sandpaper to remove the gloss so that the paint would stick. I used Valspar’s chalkboard spray paint on the desk top. Lets face it, what kid doesn’t like chalk? Charlie was beyond excited when I showed him that he could use chalk in the house, but only on this desk that is!

To remove some of the light rust on the chrome legs I scrubbed them with a little steel wool. It worked like a charm!

Once all the paint is dry, reassemble the desk and you’re good to go!

One of the most exciting things about this desk for Charlie is that his alphabet magnets stick to the sides! (Don’t you love it when you leave out a letter in your child’s name and not catch it until after you post a photo? I guess this photo fit the week that I had when I was in the process of taking the finished photos! #MomWin)

A little spray paint and time can go a long way! This desk makes such a cute addition to his room.

Do any of you have a favorite thrift store find or anything you’ve found recently that you’re working on? I’d love to hear.