3 Step Furniture Makeover – Flea Market Flip

Y’all I finally got my Christmas Present in January! LOL!!! I had wanted a new piece for our bedroom but couldn’t find what I wanted. A few weeks ago I found a Small Chest that was the right size at a Flea Market. It just needed an update and it would be perfect!

This 3 Step Furniture Makeover – Flea Market Flip was a quick & easy way to transform this cute chest into the perfect piece for our master bedroom. Using only Chalk Paint & Wax this tired chest now has an updated finish and great farmhouse style.

The Flea Market Hunt

This space beside our bed has been filled with this cute little table since we moved here. It was a left over piece from our previous home and although I love the table, it isn’t working for me any longer.

The table is to small for the space and provided no storage. Therefore, I have been looking for the perfect piece to fill this spot.

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The Flea Market Find

A few weeks ago I was traveling back from Virginia and couldn’t resist stopping at a flea market I had spied on the way up.

As luck would have it, I found a great solid wood chest at a great price. In addition, my husband was traveling back later that afternoon in a truck that we had just purchased, so I knew it was meant to be.

After a quick phone call, he picked up my new treasure and brought it home to me.

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3 Step Furniture Makeover

Although the chest was in great shape overall, there were some scuffs and nicks that needed to be repaired. Also, when I placed it in the room, it felt really dark beside the natural pine bed.

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Step 1 – Flea Market Flip

The first step was to clean the piece thoroughly. Although it was good condition, I gave it a good cleaning with Pledge furniture cleaner, to be sure there were no sticky areas.

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Step 2 – Paint

The second step of the furniture makeover was to paint the exterior of the chest. This was an easy process because I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint. It’s so fast and simple to use.

I just removed the drawers and painted two coats of Old White Chalk Paint.

It took less than 30 minutes to finish the painting. This is why I love using chalk paint for most projects and you can learn how to use Chalk Paint here.

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Wax Finish- Step 3

At this point, I had decided to leave the drawers their natural finish. In addition, the hardware looked good and I decided to leave it as well.

Therefore, everything just needed a little sprucing up. I had originally thought about staining the drawer fronts to get rid of the scuffs and dings.

Instead I pulled out my Annie Sloan Dark Wax and it worked like a charm to remove any sign of the scuffs. Plus, it brought the rich beauty of the wood back to life. So easy.

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Also, the dark wax brought the dull hardware back to life.

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Seal the Paint

In order to finish and seal the painted surfaces, I used a combination of clear and dark wax.

In addition, I added mineral spirits to the wax. This helps to distress the finish while waxing. All of these techniques are detailed in How to use Chalk Paint!

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You can see how some painted areas are distressed by using the mineral spirit mixture.

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The 3 Step Furniture Makeover – Finished Chest

I love a wood and white combination and I’m thrilled with how this inexpensive chest looks beside the bed. This has inspired me to refinish the chest on the other side of the bed. Stay turned for another makeover.

See that lamp? It was a $7.00 thrift store find. It’s now had a makeover and looks like a Pottery Barn or Anthropologie Hack. You have to click here to see the transformation.

You may also notice that I made a slight adjustment with just a dab more paint. The bed frame’s natural wood is almost a perfect match for the drawer fronts.

I hope you enjoyed this simple project and that it encourages you to try looking for used pieces when redecorating your spaces. It’s a great way to recycle and it feels great when you create something yourself. If you’d like to see how to makeover a slightly more damaged vintage piece, check out Simple Chalk Paint Makeover for Vintage Furniture.

You may also like to learn more abut how to Shop Thrift Stores successfully.