Happy Monday! Today we are talking about how to paint and reupholster a cedar chest- it is as simple as a furniture makeover can be! Some paint, fabric, and a staple gun is about all you need to get a whole new look!
I have had this cedar chest since I graduated high school. It was a thoughtful and beautiful gift from my parents. It hasn’t had a place in our home for a long time because it didn’t match anything, it had just been sitting in the basement. Finally, I decided to bring it out of the basement, give it a makeover and use it as a coffee table in the front room. Here it is in it’s original state:
Pretty, but definitely outdated, and full of that mauve and blue that was all the rage in the 90’s.
And here is a BEFORE and AFTER look.
Beautifully updated! Neutral, but very bright and fresh.
Now how to do it. 🙂
The first thing is take the upholstered top piece off. The screws can be easily accessed by opening the top lid part of the chest.
Also, remove the hardware before painting. After wiping it down really well, it’s ready to paint. If you are unfamiliar with chalk paint, this is one of the best parts about it – No sanding necessary! 
Check out the chalk paint recipe we use and love HERE with step by step instructions; and a video tutorial HERE.
Now get painting! We had some little helpers with this one. We painted 3 coats of chalk paint on it and sealed it with THIS Minwax Finishing Paste. It’s the perfect sealer for DIY chalk paint. 
Now for reupholstering the top. We found this beautiful linen looking fabric at IKEA. It’s durable, and neutral, and perfect in my front room.
We didn’t even remove the old fabric from the top piece. We just reupholstered right over it. Lay the top piece on the fabric then trim the fabric to fit, leaving about 2 inches to wrap up over. 
Using a staple gun, pull tight and staple every 2 inches or so. Staple the two long sides first, then do the corners, and finish by stapling up the two short sides.
For the corners, fold the fabric kind of like wrapping a gift. Fold the angle at a steeper angle than when wrapping a gift though. Then staple that fold. 
Next, fold up the side…..
Then staple it down. The corners can take a few tries before getting it just right. Fold a few times without stapling until you’ve got it looking the way you want. 
Last, re-attach the newly upholstered top piece to the chest.
We also sprayed the handles with Rustoleum Metallic paint and primer (like we used HERE.) We love this stuff!
It turned out so beautiful! Steffany and I finished this baby so quick, I couldn’t believe I waited so long to pull it out. It’s great to have such a beautiful piece of furniture that also holds some sentimental value in my home. Sure beats being hidden in the basement!
One last BEFORE and AFTER:
Do you have any furniture pieces like this? You know, that maybe aren’t up to date, but you can’t get rid of them? Steffany and I are certain chalk paint is life changing. Projects that seemed tedious and miserable are now completely manageable. Pull out that outdated piece of furniture and work some chalk paint magic on it! 🙂
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