Decorate

Amazing hack: transforming an old bookcase to Hamptons coastal-style chic

From drab to fab in a weekend!

There’s not much that can’t be improved with a lick of paint, and this is especially true for drab pieces of furniture past their prime.

Shaylee Smith from Coastal Inspired recently gave an old bookcase a fresh new look just by using a sander, paint, varnish and some new handles.

While she loves the Hamptons style and has given a dresser and faux fireplace a makeover in the past, she decided to try something different for this project.

“I wanted to create a more natural coastal piece so decided to keep the shelves raw and natural,” she told Home Beautiful.

“I created this by sanding back the stain using an 80 grit Bosch electric sander. I taped up the edges of the shelves and used the British Paints 4 in 1 Undercoat/Primer on the rest of the bookcase. I didn’t need to sand it back as the 4 in 1 is also used as a stain blocker and sealer.”

Coastal Inspired
(Credit: Coastal Inspired)

“Once the undercoat had dried, I used Rustoleum Linen White Chalk Paint then lightly sanded and did another coat. This creates a smoother finish.

“I cleaned up the edges of the shelves and used a satin clear varnish to protect the wood and used a matt clear top coat also from Rustoleum.

“The handles are Hampton Cup Pull Handles purchased from Bunnings, which completes the coastal Hamptons vibe.”

For more project inspo, visit Shaylee’s Instagram page, Coastal Inspired.

Coastal Inspired
(Credit: Coastal Inspired)
Coastal Inspired
(Credit: Coastal Inspired)

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