Little Girl's Dream Desk

I could have titled this post " How to make a desk that will make your 8 year old daughter squeal with glee and promise that she will love you forever and will try her very hardest to not misbehave as a way to say thank you!" (but I thought that might be a little too long! )

Seriously, my oldest LOVES her new desk.  She'd been doing her homework at the dining room table, but has really been wanting her own desk and spot to work in peace.  

It really wasn't hard to do at all and I now want to give everything a fresh coat of spray paint!

How to impress your daughter in 7 easy steps!

1.  Pick up an old desk at a yard sale or thrift shop.  I scored mine at Goodwill for $25!

The desk (I'd already started sanding the middle drawer)

2.  Remove the hardware, wipe down the desk and lightly sand it ( I just sanded the drawer fronts and desk top because I was so excited to get started).

3.  Lay a drop cloth or newspapers around the whole area where you'll be painting.  I did it outside on a slightly windy day and was amazed out how far the paint mist traveled.  (We now have a slightly pink deck!)

3.  Take out the drawers and spray the fronts with two light coats of primer.  Then spray the rest of the desk with two coats of primer too.

The practical me would have kept it crisp white.

4.   Go against your practical side and simple decorating tastes and start spray painting the desk in the hot pink that your daughter requested.  ( I used Rustoleum in Berry Pink ).  Spray several light coats of hot pink paint on the drawer fronts and desk.  Admit to yourself that the color really does look pretty!

5.   Take your daughter to the cabinet hardware aisle in Home Depot and let her choose out new drawer knobs and handles.  Realize that even though the new hardware costs almost half as much as the desk, a hot pink desk really wouldn't be complete without "beautiful, sparkly, crystal-jeweled knobs"

The beautiful, sparkly, crystal-jeweled knobs

All the new hardware

7.  Allow the finished desk to dry completely, then move it into its new spot.

8.  Add a little spray paint and scrapbook paper to an old corkboard, cover a tin can with a bit more of the scrapbook paper, gather up a couple prized possessions and photographs and the new homework area is complete!!

Mommy admits it was a great color choice and looks really pretty!

 Sharing this Pinkalicious transformation at:
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