How To Transform A Thrifted Antique Desk Into A Stunning DIY Statement Piece

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The furniture pieces at your local thrift shop might not look like treasures at first glance, but with the right mindset and tools, they can become just that. For example, an antique desk, even if it's scratched or otherwise damaged, can transform into a stunning vintage decor piece capable of elevating the look of your key living space. All you need to do is give it a little bit of love. And to do that, you'll almost always need to start by cleaning up the furniture's pre-existing surfaces. 

If the desk has a veneer, you'll need a mallet and a paint scraper. If the paint or stain on the desk looks blotchy or bubbly, you'll need a chemical stripper, a respirator mask, safety glasses, and a putty knife or plastic scraper. In all cases, you'll need a palm sander and some sanding blocks with a couple of different grits. 

Essentially, your first goal for this project should be to restore your desk back to its original unpainted form, with the raw wood showing. From there, you can stain the piece in your preferred color. Just make sure to watch out for wood finishes that are dating your home when doing so. Once the staining is done, seal the desk with a top coat, like finishing wax or clear coat, since it will make it last longer. Install a few elegant-looking hardware pieces on the drawers, and you'll have yourself a beautiful vintage piece of furniture that's sure to start conversations whenever you have guests over.

Before you do anything else, remove any existing hardware pieces and check to see if your desk has a veneer covering on its top surface and drawer fronts. If it does, start by soaking a couple of thick towels in hot water, wringing them out, and then placing them over the veneer. Wait about eight hours. Over time, the moisture from the towels will help loosen the glue. From there, use your mallet and paint scraper to gently peel up the veneer. With the veneer gone, you can move on to getting rid of the old paint or wood stain. This is where your chemical stripper comes in. You can use either a caustic stripper or a solvent stripper to get the job done. The former is good for getting rid of latex; the latter is a bit harsher but works best for removing oil-based products. 

Before using either kind of chemical stripper, clean your desk thoroughly and let it dry. Then, put on your respirator mask and safety glasses. Apply the chemicals in even coats across the wood, and let them sit for at least 30 minutes. Once the half hour's up, remove the chemicals with your putty knife or plastic scraper. The old stain or paint should go with it. To finish restoring your desk, all that's left to do is to sand everything down. Start with harsher grits of sandpaper and work your way up to the gentler grits as needed. Use your palm sander for larger surfaces, and your sanding blocks for tight corners, ridges, and areas with decorative trim.

Now that you've taken your desk down to its raw wood format, you can alter its color by staining it. To get started, clean the wood with a cloth and a vacuum, so that there's no sanding dust left on its surface. Before you begin, you can also read up on helpful tips to know before using wood stain. Apply your stain with either a brush or a rag, in even coats, and in the direction of the grain. Once it dries, apply a top coat product, such as Jolie protective finishing wax or Minwax fast drying polyurethane finish; they'll help keep the wood properly protected from dirt and stains. Finally, select some new hardware pieces for the drawers. There are lots of vintage hardware styles that give your home a historical touch. Don't forget to use a level when installing them.

With your desk complete, all that's left to do is decide how to style its surface. An old-fashioned lamp with a patterned shade could be a great place to start. A house plant is a timeless decor element that will always look nice. A couple of books, a few old knick-knacks, or some framed black-and-white photos can also add to the vintage vibes. If you're planning to put your desk in a hallway or living room, you could use it for seasonal displays. For example, you could use pinecones and a garland to decorate it in winter, and then swap out these pieces for flower vases and pastel colors when spring comes around.