This DIY bar cart makeover is an easy upcycle project you can do in a day!
I’m telling you.
Forget about eBay.
FB marketplace is where it’s at. People on there are mostly looking to get rid of stuff and seriously have no idea how valuable the stuff they are trying to get rid of actually is.
Unlike eBay, where everyone is trying to make millions by slapping antique or vintage in the description for flat pack furniture that’s not more than a few years old. Yes, I see you!
But yeah I’ve found quite a few things on FB marketplace over the past few months (I’m feeling like I’m due to share a post about this soon). This vintage bar cart or tea trolley was one of them.
When I sent my husband to go collect it, I had actually hoped to leave some of the wood exposed and paint parts (like this dresser I made over) . But on seeing it in person, I realised that the wood wasn’t that pretty and the base of each tray looked quite cheap. So I painted the entire thing.
For those people who are anti painting … please don’t come for me. This wood needed covering up … trust me.
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DIY Bar Cart Makeover
View this post on Instagram
Materials used:
- Dunelm paint white (although you can use any brand of wood paint)
- Dunelm paint Old Gold
- Primer ( I like to use Zinsser)
- Clear varnish
- Frog tape
- Roller and tray
- Paintbrushes
- Sanding machine ( Here’s the link to my orbital sander)
DIY Bar Cart Makeover Tutorial
Lay a cloth down to protect your floor
Sand the bar cart down with a fine-grit using a sanding machine (or by hand, depending on what you have available). Once it’s all sanded, dust everything off.
Paint one coat of primer using the foam roller and the paintbrush (I’m a huge fan of the Harris brushes) for all the hard to get to corners. Allow the primer to dry completely.
The paint I used for this DIY bar cart makeover is from the Dunelm Decorate & Co-ordinate paint range (for a sponsored post on Instagram although this post is not a part of the collaboration), but feel free to use any of brand of paint you like. As long as its a matt, or eggshell type paint for furniture, it should do the trick!
Paint on one coat of white Dunelm paint and allow to dry. This paint dries to the touch in 1-2 hours.
Once dry, apply frog tape to the sides of the top and bottom tray. Apply vertically leaving one painter’s tape width gap between each stripe to get even spaced stripes.
Next, paint the entire bar cart in the Old Gold paint (or any top colour) .
After the final coat, remove the frog tape straight away to prevent any bleed through (although there still was a little – I touched mine up with a small paint brush after).
Once dry, finish with varnish to seal and protect the paint.
And done! This literally took me an afternoon to complete!
All that was left to do was to style the bar cart. I really love this green vase !
I should probably add that this is a non-alcoholic bar cart as I don’t drink ha! This could also be used as a tea trolley too as I’m British and we drink tea like we drink water.
What do you think? Have you ever found a bargain find on FB marketplace before?
Hello Medina,
You know you have the Midas Touch. I have not seen any of your creations that did not look fabulous!! Keep up the good work. I expect sooner than later you will be starting your own business. Your followers are very interested in what you make over. You turn everything old into something new and useful. I hope you receive this email this time: last time my reply did not go through.
I like the furniture you have given a new beginning and utility too.
Ahh you are too kind Helene, thank you so much!