From Blah to Bling: Vanity Makeover

I was excited to find this cute vanity in terrific condition because I’d wanted to freshen one up.

It was such a dainty-looking thing, with sweet Queen Anne legs. But the brown and the depressing upholstery had to go.

Step One: Primer & Paint

There were so many moving parts to this refinish. The drawer needed paint and liner and hardware. The bench needed paint and new upholstery, and the mirror needed paint and polish. And, of course, the table itself required paint and protective poly on top.

After priming everything in Zinsser BIN shellac-based primer, I applied two coats of Farmhouse Paint. I selected “Pink Lady” — a blush tone reminiscent of pink champagne.

And the vanity was… still blah. Much too monochromatic for my taste.

So, I took a step back and reconsidered what would make this piece zing. The upholstery I had selected was a darling print on a white background, so I changed gears to incorporate white into the table. I repainted the top in Farmhouse Paint “Classic White” and then added two layers of Minwax Polycrylic to protect the surface.

Step Two: Reupholstery

Fortunately, the bench was in good condition. The seat itself was small, so it was easy and cost-effective to replace all of the foam, batting, and fabric to freshen it up. Ah, my Surebonder pneumatic staple gun… we meet again.

Here’s a tip if you plan to reupholster any seats on your own. Always place a staple in the center of each side when you start (as shown here). That way you can keep your tension even as you add the remaining staples.

Step Three: Bling

The hardware for the drawer pull and the mirror supports was in fine condition but was brass-tinted — not a good match for the pink and white paint. I could have purchased new hardware, but I liked the existing style. So, I decided to apply spray paint in a satin nickel metallic finish.

Then there was nothing left to do but put all those working pieces back together.