Furniture Makeover-Trash to Treasure
This week’s Lemons to Lemonade flip got a little personal. I picked up a massive 1970s credenza from a fellow furniture flipper whose family no longer wanted it. Furniture Makeover here we come!
It was heavy, previously painted, and honestly… a little intimidating. But for $30, I saw the potential to turn this bulky hand-me-down into a sleek, modern piece that looks like it costs the big bucks.
Let’s see if we could take this dated furniture and give it a brand new life.
Step One: Figure Out What To DO With This?
The first challenge with this credenza was figuring out what it was actually made of. Nearly every inch had been painted previously, so I couldn’t immediately tell if it was solid wood or something else. The markings inside showed it came from the National Office Furniture Company, which was pretty cool to see still intact.
Once I started sanding a test area, I got my answer pretty quickly. Unfortunately, it wasn’t solid wood. Since the material underneath wouldn’t work for staining, there was no reason to strip the entire piece. Before any paint could happen, the prep work had to be done:
- Cleaned the entire piece using Simple Green to remove dust and grime
- Removed stubborn decoupage inside the drawers using a heat gun (which felt like it took forever!)
- Repaired a broken leg using Bondo to make sure it would be sturdy for its next owner
- Sanded the surface with 120-grit sandpaper to smooth the existing paint and stenciled areas
Watch the Step-by-Step How To Here
Because the credenza had multiple surfaces showing through—old paint, raw material, and repaired spots—primer was absolutely necessary.
I sprayed two coats of BIN Shellac stain-blocking primer using my HVLP sprayer to make sure nothing underneath would bleed through the new finish.
The Design Direction (With a Little Pinterest Inspiration)
This was my Pinterest Inspo
Because the credenza had such unique rounded corners and curves, I decided to lean into something more creative.
The base color I chose was Sahara from Lily Moon’s Opulent collection, an all-in-one paint with built-in primer and topcoat. That made the process easier because I didn’t have to worry about sealing it afterward. You can use code Lemonade10 to save 10% if you order Lilly Moon!
Once the base color was sprayed on, it was time for the fun part.
I used a textured roller I found on Etsy to create a patterned effect on the doors. Since I’d never used this roller before, I practiced on scrap cardboard first to make sure the technique looked right.
For the contrasting color, I used Latte from Lily Moon’s Opulent collection, which layered beautifully over the darker base.
The result was a funky, dimensional pattern that gave this old credenza a totally new personality.
To finish everything off:
- Installed simple top pulls from Amazon so the hardware wouldn’t distract from the door design
- Lightly distressed the drawer edges with a sanding sponge for a subtle lived-in look
- Added drawer liners that arrived just in time for the final reveal
Giving a Forgotten Piece a Second Life
Did you love the funky textured design or would you have taken it in a different direction? I’d love to hear what you would have done with this piece?
I could see this credenza working perfectly in a bar area, creative office space, or eclectic living room. It has a very specific vibe, and I’m excited to see how it performs on Facebook Marketplace.
Full Supply List Here:
- Simple Green
- 3×4 surfprep sander– save 10% with code LEMONS
- bondo
- Lilly Moon Paint in Opulent (sahara/latte)
- Etsy Textured Roller
- Handles
- Peel & Stick Drawer Liner
- Staging Supplies
Want to know more about me and how I run my furniture flipping business? Check it out HERE
