Project One - Bedside Table

For one of my first projects, I set about transforming an old corner bedside table that my Dad made about 25 years ago. There is only a small space between my bed and the door, and I wanted something slimline but practical to fit in the gap, luckily it was perfect! He did make a pair, but I decided to just use one.

1. First remove all of the beading from around the edge, be careful not to damage it as you'll need it later. Sand down all of the wood so you are left with a nice smooth surface, and brush the dust off so it does not stick in the paint.

2. Then prime everything with a dedicated primer. you can get several different kinds, but as I was covering a mixture of materials, I used a Melamine Primer which covers absolutely anything! You must always prime wood before you paint it as it prevents your carefully chosen colour from soaking into the grain of the wood. This is especially true if you want to use a gloss, as without a primer it will simply crack and peel off when it dries. Lecture about Primer over, let us move on!

3. Once you are happy that your entire piece has been covered with the primer and none of the old wood is showing through, leave it to dry and then paint with an eggshell paint. When painting furniture, doors, windowsills or other areas that take a lot of wear and tear, use an eggshell paint as it is more hardwearing and wont chip so easily. Eggshell is also perfect for lovely vintage aesthetics as it has a chalky finish. You will probably need two coats, so let one dry completely before starting on the next. I used a fantastic paint by Craig and Rose in their Opulence range called "Pale Cashmere". Have a look at their beautiful range at their website.

www.craigandrose.com

4. Once that is dry, you can start thinking about your decoration. For mine, I splashed out on some beautiful Cath Kidston wallpaper in 'Antique Rose Bouquet', but you can use anything from painted decorations, fabric, decoupage or really anything that takes your fancy.

5. If you're using wallpaper, measure the area you want to cover carefully, and draw out the shape on the back of the paper. If you have beading that you can use to hide the edges, make sure you have a border that you can fold around the edges.

6. Once you are happy with the shapes, mix up half of PVA glue and half water to create a paste. Mix well and spread onto the back of the wallpaper, making sure that you go all the way to the edges. Leave to soak in whilst you cover the wooden surface with neat PVA, and then carefully place the paper on top. I would suggest that this is a two person job. If you have corners, start there and work your way out, being careful to smooth it as you go so you don't get any air bubbles trapped.

7. When the paper is attached and dry, attach the beading back around the furniture. I decided to replace the old nails with pretty gold tacks that complimented the lighter colour.