How to Paint Stripes on a Desk
If you have an old desk that is still functional but it creates an eyesore in your home, consider giving it a fresh new look with paint. You can paint wooden or even composite wood desks in a striped pattern to perk them up and turn a bland piece of furniture into a piece of art. While contrasting stripes create a bold look, the pattern is simple enough that anyone can achieve the look with a little time and a roll of painter's tape. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Rag
- Painter's tape
- 200-grit sandpaper
- Tack cloth
- Alcohol based primer
- Paintbrushes
- Extra fine sanding sponge
- Flat latex paint
- Water based polyurethane
Instructions
-
-
1
Remove all hardware from the desk, such as drawer pulls or knobs.
-
2
Wipe the desk with a dry rag to remove any dust or dirt. If you notice any sticky spots, use a slightly damp rag to remove them and then dry the area completely with a clean towel.
-
-
3
Apply painter's tape to the desk to create your striped pattern. You can purchase painter's tape in a variety of widths, so pick a roll that is the same width as your desired stripes to make your job easier.
-
4
Sand the exposed parts of the desk with 200-grit sandpaper. Don't worry if you sand the tape a little, it should not rip from a small amount of contact with the sandpaper.
-
5
Rub the exposed parts of the desk with a tack cloth. These cloths are sticky so they will remove any dust created during sanding.
-
6
Apply an alcohol-based primer to the uncovered parts of the desk with a paintbrush and wait for it to dry. It's fine if the paint gets on the tape too.
-
7
Sand the painted areas with a wet extra fine grit sanding sponge. Dry the desk when you've sanded all of the stripes.
-
8
Use a paintbrush to apply one coat of flat latex paint in the desired color of your stripes to the desk and wait for it to dry. If you can still see the primer through the paint, apply a second coat of latex paint.
-
9
Apply one coat of water-based polyurethane to the desk when the latex paint is completely dry.
-
10
Peel away the tape gently to reveal your striped desk when the polyurethane is dry, and return all of the hardware.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you want to paint the bare sections of the desk a different color, let the polyurethane cure for at least two weeks. Then you can apply tape over the painted stripes and repeat the process to paint the rest of the desk.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
