I do. I really, REALLY do.
I have read my share of DIY blogs to know that everything that I crank out is sub-par at best.
In fact, one could argue that my once DIY blog no longer has anything to do with DIY.
That is unless DIY stood for Dammit! Ick! Yikes! which is exactly my reaction to anything I try to remedy on my own as it pertains to decor.
I am good at decorating. I am bad at painting. And for the sake of every piece of untouched furniture in my home, I need to turn in my paintbrush. Because it’s insulting to the furniture when the after looks worse than the before.
I have shared my furniture painting projects since around 2012, first when I painted a kitchen table, then the kitchen chairs we found along the road, also a record cabinet I’ve had since 8th grade, and don’t forget the bachelor pad garage sale end tables, a coffee table, and a desk.
Yes, I painted the desk four times. Are you new here??
But this is why I choose to put my family through the torture of ugly furniture: I am cheap AF. (That doesn’t stand for Also Free)
We are usually broke AF as well, so heading to the furniture store is never really an option, hence the painting projects.
So our nightstands were ugly.
Ugly AF.
The tops were almost worn down to the original “wood”.
I say “wood” because I honestly don’t even know what these are made of. This furniture was purchased by Mike for his den of sin bachelor pad back in 2003. He found a “furniture store” in the seedy part of town that was “going out of business”*.
*For four years.
The place was the retail version of buying something out of the back of a truck on the side of the road.
But it was a “good deal”, so he bought the entire bedroom set, including a sleigh bed that is no longer with us.
A moment of silence, please.
I said to my husband, “I am going to paint those nightstands.”
To which he laughed.
And laughed.
And laughed.
HEY! It’s not that funny.
I mean how in the hell could I screw this up any worse than it already was??
If you have to ask that question, you shouldn’t be tackling a painting project, to begin with.
It looks good from afar. But get closer.
A little closer.
The drawers were permanently damaged because when you buy furniture off of a truck, it isn’t supposed to last long enough for you to re-paint it. So I had to yank the damn drawers out to paint them and because of said violent yanking, they are pissed off. So they refuse to go back in because they are making a point.
These stupid things have been back in our room for under two months and there is already a nick. Or two. Or three. WHATEVER.
That’s okay. I just use the books that I never read to cover them. I picked a “religious” offering because I think the ugly ass nightstand is possessed. I just used ass and religious in the same sentence. That has to be a record. DID I MENTION HOW MUCH I HATE PAINTING FURNITURE??
So I am planning on giving these nightstands away whenever we win the lottery and can afford to buy new ones. Because there is nothing like staring at your bad choices and regrets every night before laying your head on the pillow.
This must be how Melania Trump feels.
I share your frustration and hatred for furniture painting my friend. I once, no twice, attempted to paint am Ikea coffee table and it laughed at me. It peeled and bubbled with laughter.
LikeLike
See, I needed to call you. Even Mike said to. Because you have standards, are neat and very patient. Or let’s just go to IKEA.
LikeLike
I think they look good, WAY better than the “before”!!
LikeLike
Thank you! I think they do but man, never again. 🙂
LikeLike
Just when I thought I couldn’t love this post more, you dropped the final line. Who needs to be able to paint furniture when you can write like you? And FWIW, I think you likely reveLes the secret to most bloggers’ successful paint projects–dont look up close!
LikeLike
I think so too.
You are SO good for my ego.
LikeLike
Hmmm…this reminds me that there is a draft of a post of a table I painted and called a nightstand. See how inspirational you are?!?! DIY-Damn Inspirational Yeah!!! The sleigh bed must have been super fancy, by the way
LikeLike
I should be one of those motivational speakers who tours off-price retail outlets spreading the news that YOU CANNOT PAINT OVER CRAP FURNITURE SO MAKE YOUR CHOICES WISELY.
And I like your definition of DIY much better than mine.
LikeLike
Aww Kari, it doesn’t look that bad. I have a dresser that is 27 years old. A pine from Ikea back when they made furniture with real wood. This was in my boys room and they demolished it. We had to put it back together with nails. And some of them are sticking out now. I like to call it the dresser with loads of character. Oh and our drawers refuse to fit back in too. It must be a thing. 😉
LikeLike
This makes me smile. I need to see a picture of it!!
LikeLike
Well then, here it is. If you look at some photos you can see the nails sticking out. Haha!! http://www.theboondocksblog.com/home/how-to-save-an-ikea-pine-dresser-ikea
LikeLike
I adore you and your furniture. WHY DO YOU LIVE SO FAR AWAY?????
LikeLike
There are no words to express how much this had me cracking up! Painting furniture can be very hard and I understand the 1, 2, 3, or more nicks. I used to sell painted furniture at a consignment shop and it NEVER failed, we’d always hit it on something and ruin all the hard work. I love how honest you are 😀
LikeLike
It is SO hard! I don’t even know why I thought it would be a good idea to begin with.
I love that you continually visit and comment on my blog. That means a lot to me. 🙂
LikeLike
HAHA! This cracked me up! Hey Even if it’s nicked up……shabby chic right? I liked your post… thanks for keeping it real! saw it through the funtastic friday link party. First time here:)
LikeLike
I am so happy to have you here! And shabby chic is a nice way of describing it. So thank you for that. 🙂
LikeLike
You really didn’t provide the inspiration I needed to paint the desk that’s been sitting in my front room for 2 months rotting. But I think your nightstand turned out cute!
LikeLike
Let’s have a painting party and when I say painting, I mean drinking and eating dessert.
LikeLike