I just love flipping furniture pieces. I have an eye for seeing old “junk” as some may call it in a new light. My grandmother was going to toss this vintage bar cart to the curb when I asked if I could have it. She looked at me like I was crazy for a second, but since she’s seen what I’ve done before with furniture, she handed it over. As happy as a kid who came from the candy store, I packed it up in my trunk and took it home.
Oh, the things I will do to you!
Adding a little spice.
I thought about colors. I definitely wanted this bar cart to be a fun bold color. It was going in the living room with my brown leather chesterfield couch and two olive color wing backed chairs. I decided on yellow. I’m not a huge fan of the yellow but something told me to do it. I picked up two cans of Krylon spray paint from Walmart in Sun Yellow.
Here’s what I used:
Spray paint, check. Sand paper, check. Primer, check.
Remember to prep yourself, too. Goggles, gloves, a facemask, and old clothes (or a painter’s suit).
*Note: this is not an outfit post. Below you will see my DIY getup 🙂
Cover up!
Spray paint (or any paint really!) can be difficult to remove from your hair. I suggest covering your hair with a hat or handkerchief like I always do. You also want to protect your eyes. I scored these safety glasses at The Dollar Tree. There are lots of things yo can save on at a dollar store like gloves and face masks, even. And I wore an old tee, some gloves, a face mask, and my painting knee high rain boots (when you’ve been doing this for a while, it’s good to have a pair of rain boots you can mess up and protect your legs and feet from getting sprayed).
Tip: I like to use a special nozzle that attaches to the cans (about $3) and allows you to spray with more ease. I suggest using one if you are going to use spray paint.
Spray in a well ventilated area.
Location is also key. Make sure you are in a well ventilated area. I suggest using a garage with open windows, maybe a fan running. You don’t want to breathe in all the fumes. If you don’t have a garage, use an outdoor space, covering the lawn or cement. But make sure it is not a windy day or a hot day. A windy day will cause little pieces of grass or leaves- anything outdoors to stick onto your wet paint. And a hot day will melt your paint and perhaps even melt you! Not a good mix, got it? Best times are before the sun comes out, after it goes down, or on a cloudy day.
Ready? Let’s go!
The first step was lightly sanding the bar cart. You want to sand off any glossy shellac from the wood or your paint may not stick.
The next step is wiping the piece down with a rag. You want to make sure the surface is clean after sanding it down.
Next, you will need to prime. The spray paint I bought says paint+primer in one. However, for these type of dark wooden pieces, I would suggest at least lightly priming or you may need an extra can of paint.
Wait about 5 minutes to make sure  the primer is dry and then begin to paint. Spray in a light sweeping motion covering every inch of the piece. Wait up to 15 minutes for the first coat to dry and then spray again. Cover or remove any knobs or accents you don’t want sprayed.
Wait until completely dry, check for any spots you may have missed. Give yourself a pat on the back, take a pic, share it on social media to show off your new skills to your friends, and give that lovely piece a new home.
Here comes the sun!
The Sun Yellow color ended up surprising me. I am in love with my new piece. Since I keep my wines in the dining room, I decided to use the cart for my record player, some records and some fun frames. My powder blue record player looks awesome against the color, too.
