I’ve been moving furniture around. Since my house is already well furnished, if I add in one little piece, something has to go. And I hate getting rid of things–especially hate getting rid of any storage items. Storage is a big issue in Florida. No basements and the attics are too hot and inconvenient to be much use. Although I tell myself that if I need more storage I have too much stuff, I really do need those extra sheets, blankets, and pillows. But they are all bulky and consume mass quantities of space.
So as a result of moving things about, I also decided to update some of the pieces. Some successfully, some pretty sad. But on this particular trunk, I was happy with the results. I’d never really liked it. Just a pine piece that I picked up at an unfinished furniture store but it provided needed storage in the guest room for blankets, sheets, and pillows. Terry had to reattach the trim a few times since it kept popping off. Not a really high quality piece, and I hated the color that I stained it. Pretty boring. But I didn’t want to paint it since I already have enough painted furniture and I didn’t want to expend the effort sanding or stripping it.
I’d read a few blog posts about Min-Wax Gel Stain. Excessive sanding nor stripping were necessary. I found an acceptable stain color at WalMart–mahogany, lightly sanded the trunk, put the gel-stain on, rubbed it off.
Did it again 24 hours later (no sanding before the second coat) followed up with Min-Wax Poly-acrylic, and voila! A deeper richer look–just what I wanted!
Easy Peasy and family room worthy! Now maybe I’ll make a cushion for the top and a couple pillows and I’ll not only have storage but extra seating!
