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DIY Striped Painted Trunk | Tutorial

Hey! I hope you’re having a great Tuesday!! I’m in full on planning mode for #projectentry, pulling together all of the details. We CAN’T wait to finish it up!

Today I’m sharing a bold painted trunk, originally posted on Infarrantly Creative, if you missed it there, read on!

A few weeks ago, I found a beaten up trunk at a thrift store for only $7. Yes, $7! I love thrifting! Once cleaned up, it was better, but it still needed a wow! Inspired by the an issue of HGTV magazine, I created a bright, modern take on an old trunk.


First, I cleaned it up. Mine had stickers on it so I used Goo Gone and a Brillo pad. Then I wiped it down with a little white vinegar and water.

Now it was ready for paint. My trunk had a plastic finish, so I used a Kilz Adhesion Bonding Primer since it’s formulated to stick to glossy surfaces. The consistency is perfect straight out of the can (not too thin and not too thick), it also resists brush strokes, and it adheres super well! (I also used here on a laminate dresser)

I was sent this to test out from Kilz, but I wasn’t compensated for a review, all opinions are all mine.

I brushed over the entire trunk with the latches open, so the lid was cracked. This prevents the paint from closing it shut.

I was originally going to do a white and gray stripe, but I wanted something different – something bold. Inspired by my new favorite Lula & Georgia rug, I painted it with an orange and coral stripe.

First, I gave it a coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Barcelona Orange.

Once dry, I created stripes with 1.25″ painters tape. To make sure the lines were even, I used small pieces of painters tape between rows to offset the stripes. The latches were a little tricky, I just tore smaller pieces to get in the crevices.
After taping, I removed my guide lines, pressed the tape down firmly to prevent bleed through and brushed on a custom mix of Behr Cool Lava and ASCP Barcelona orange. 
Once dry, for added protection, I brushed on a thin coat of clear polyurethane. 

I LOVE how bright and happy it is now. Thrifting is great because at a low price point, you can afford to experiment make things your own – so get creative and go bold!

—

Eames chair tutorial here, DIY painting here, DIY Gold Leaf print here

DIY TUTORIALS// furniture redo// paint// Uncategorized// Uncategorized13 Comments

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Comments

  1. Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says

    June 17, 2014 at 12:46 pm

    Love the colors you choose and stripes are always one of my favorites.

    Reply
  2. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper says

    June 17, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    oh my goodness i adore this!!!! it needs to be in emmy's room, ok? 🙂 so cute! love the colors!

    Reply
  3. Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says

    June 17, 2014 at 2:33 pm

    Love this trunk. What a bold splash of color. The artwork on top is awesome too!! What a great vignette.

    Reply
  4. Summer Hogan says

    June 17, 2014 at 7:58 pm

    I'm so glad you posted this! I found a trunk this weekend at the thrift store that I've got to paint! Love your colors!

    Reply
  5. Julia Konya says

    June 17, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    Love that color combo!

    Reply
  6. Karen @ a house full of sunshine says

    June 17, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    Love the choice of colours. So happy!

    Reply
  7. Jessica Guido says

    June 17, 2014 at 11:59 pm

    I love it!

    Reply
  8. Beth of designPOST Interiors says

    June 18, 2014 at 1:12 am

    Once again your styling is my favorite part! The trunk colors are perfect for summer and I love them with your prints!

    Reply
  9. Shanti @ Everyday Bohemian says

    June 18, 2014 at 2:26 am

    OH my GOSH this is perfect timing!! I have practically this exact same trunk and I have recently been wondering if it would be possible to paint it. Pic of mine, awkwardly hidden in the background

    I think I'd want to keep the hardware brassy gold somehow, perhaps deepen the color with rub-n-buff or craft paint, but I'd love to change the color of the trunk and painting it seems to be the simplest option! Thank you!!

    Reply
  10. Michelle {Jarrah Jungle} says

    June 20, 2014 at 6:30 am

    This looks amazing! I love the the colour pallette of the stripes too its not something I would have picked to work together but it totally does! Love it!!

    Reply
  11. Amber Wills says

    July 4, 2014 at 2:39 am

    This is adorable. I love the color combination.

    Reply
  12. smithson says

    July 4, 2022 at 8:18 am

    Good Day To You ,

    is your paintings still available for sale ?
    Regards
    Smithson

    Reply
    • Sarah Dorsey says

      July 13, 2022 at 9:18 pm

      It is not. Thank you!

      Reply

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