Small Project Saturdays: Inspired Salvage
Maxwell, Apartment Therapy’s founder, needed some occasional tables for his living room, so he took to the internet, checking the Classifieds for good options. He found two stools, versatile enough to be tables or extra seating. But while they were similar, they definitely didn’t match. Want to see how he spent a couple hours on a Saturday using Glidden paint to make them a matched set? Watch our quick video and see the How-To below!
Maxwell’s Tip: Use paint color to unify mismatched found pieces, like dining chairs or side tables.
How To Make a Matched Set
You’ll Need:
Two mismatched but delightful ‘finds’
Dropcloth
Sandpaper (220-grit is fine)
Wet or tacky cloth for wiping dust from sanding
Dust mask
Glidden paint color(s) (Maxwell used Rich Navy for the base and Minty Green for the accent)
Paint brushes
Paint tray and mixer
Step 1: Set up your workspace with a dropcloth or newspaper to protect your floors.
Step 2: Put on your protective mask and start sanding! This crucial step will make it easier for your paint to stick to the surface.
Step 3: Wipe off the dust with a damp or tacky cloth.
Step 4: Stir and pour your base color into a tray. Maxwell used Glidden® Duo® Paint + Primer, which meant no priming coat. The coverage was so great, you might only need one coat, but we recommend two coats, just in case.
Step 5: Load up your brush and scrape off excess. Start painting! We recommend an angled brush for this project.
Step 6: Let dry according to the instructions on your paint can. Maxwell’s took about 30 minutes, but he gave it an extra 30 to be safe.
Step 7: Use painters tape to create paint areas for your accent color. Maxwell taped off three inches of each leg, as well as a few inches of a stretcher on each stool to add colorful detail.
Step 8: Stir and pour your accent paint into a tray. Use a small brush and paint the accent color on your selected areas.
Step 9: While the accent paint is still wet, peel off the painters tape. (If you wait until it dries, it may pull some of the paint off, as well.)
Step 10: Let dry another 30-60 minutes, then enjoy your newly matching set!
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