Friday, February 24, 2012

Refinishing Laminate Drawers- Cover your laminate with Fabric!

My last post was so... um, inspirational.

 I  Happy Hubby put this thing together for me. I found some handles out in the garage, but the screws were too long so Hubs was sent to work with them to cut down.

So this thing has been sitting in my living room all day long while we have walked around it and stared at it. 

I tried to fight the urge. The urge to change it, to do something to it...

But there it sat, boring and laminate and so...white.


And I gave in.

I found this very popular Ikea fabric I had in my stash, why not?! This baby needed some texture!
I cut strips a little wider and longer than the drawers.


Guilty pleasure: I love love love a brand new bottle of Mod Podge.
I had to capture this before I popped the top!


I sanded the laminate drawer faces with 220 grit sand paper and slapped on a medium thick coat of Mod Podge. I had never Mod Podged fabric before today!

I laid my strips on top of the drawer faces (I only did one at a time, allowing the first to dry completely before taking on the second). Since Happy Hubby had already put the thing together, I was not going to take it apart again, so I just propped the drawers open with a yoga block.

I used a brush, but fingers worked better on the edges. Plus, sometimes it's really fun to get glue all over your fingers!! I used Mod Podge to adhere the fabric onto the wood. I liked the fabric feel on the front of the drawer so I did not put mod podge on top of the fabric on the face, but I loaded it up on the sides on top of the fabric so that they wouldn't come all apart.


Here is the face of one drawer with the top edge (on the right) smoothed down.


Here is how I worked with the corners and tucked them in. I really slathered on the Mod Podge here in the corners. I'll likely seal the corners with even more later, depending on how it dries.


And here it is!



I soooooo love this! A million times better than that stark and boring white laminate! The bottom drawer is still drying in this photo. 

I used my seam ripper to poke a little hole in the fabric where the holes were predrilled in the laminate. We then popped a screw through from the front side and attached the handles.




I can not wait to finish it up!!








The top drawer has dried and I have sanded the edges a tad with my 220 grit sand paper to make them a little less sharp. It worked like a charm.

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I'll post photos when the casters are attached and the printer is at home on top of this *now* sweet little thing!

Now I'm thinking of a million things I'd like to adhere fabric to...

Waaaaahooooooo!

What will you Mod Podge fabric on to?!

Have a rockin' weekend!
xo

Lauren D.



Creatively Living


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21 comments:

  1. This looks really good! Way better than laminate. I just discovered Mod Podge myself and I love it too! Great job! Visiting from Debbiedoos Newbie Party!

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  2. Love the way this turned out! Your newest follower.

    Holly

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  3. Such a great and clever idea! Love it! Now I have some ideas for a dresser of mine...LOL!

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  4. Wow!!! Turned out awesome! Perfect fabric for that project too, since it's graphic! You should totally put some little legs on this!

    I'm going to feature this on FB later this week!

    Thanks for linking up @ Creatively Living!
    --Katie

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  5. This looks fan-freakin-tastic!! Great job! I, too, am a lover of the Mod Podge. There's always a new bottle or 2 around my house! This looks amazing! Found you through Iheart Organizing and am a new follower!

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  6. Oh my what a lovely transformation, I love the fabric you chose. Hmmm, I think I have some laminate that is in need of attention:) Thanks for inspiring. Also, inviting you and your fab project to join me at my cheap finds and transformations party. Your project is sure to knock some socks off! Here's the link if you're interested and have a great weekend!
    http://www.thescottscrib.com/2012/01/lathrifta-strikes-gold-lathriftas-cheap.html

    Oh and I'm stalking you now;)

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  7. I have this same piece and have considered covering the drawers with fabric - I was just not sure how it would turn out -- now I think I will try it tomorrow! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. I haven't used Mod Podge since the 80's. Wonder why I stopped. This is great.

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    1. I think for awhile there people were convinced that Mod Podge was retro, in my opinion it never goes out of style!

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  9. I love this. Is the fabric just cotton or more of an upholstery weight?

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    1. I would actually compare this fabric to a tight linen woven fabric. It is not very heavy at all, and most certainly not upholstery weight. I have had it for awhile because I didn't know what to do with it since it was kind of see through, but with my laminate being white, this was the perfect project for it!

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  10. This is SO fantastic! It looks so super pretty, almost like a chic wallpaper. But better!

    Thanks so much for linking up and sharing!

    xoxo,
    Jen

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  11. That looks great! Why am I so nervous to attempt stuff like this? I fear mine would look like a hot mess, or worse, I would do all that, and then the drawers wouldn't close!

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  12. I recently put a ModPodge fabric layer on my sewing table. I put several layers of MP on to make it really sealed and smooth. I LOVE the way it turned out and will do it on more items in my new sewing room. My next plan is to put it on the inside back of my laminate shelves, you know, where that ugly cardboard stuff is?? My husband replaced the cardboard with some re-purposed paneling we had to make the shelves sturdier. He put the paneling on backwards, because I didn't want the lines to show. The wood is almost as bad as the cardboard but will take the Mod Podged fabric better.

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  13. Im amazed how the glue was applied. I can't even notice it.

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  14. This looks great - can I ask, how is it holding up anything you'd do differently second time around?

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  15. Oh, I absolutely looooved this idea!! I have at least two laminate drawers that will probably be revamped!

    Juhuu!

    Love, Ruthe

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  16. Do you know how long I've been searching for something awesome to do with my bedroom set. Well now you have done it. You not only gained a new subscriber but also a loyal fan! Thank You so much I will be pinning these if you don't mind!

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  17. my landlord is very fussy and not open to new ideas. but there is no backsplash and ugly counter top. he said no to contact paper too. so you gave me a idea. i am going to use liquid starch instead of the modpodge to put material for the backsplash. thanks for the idea. love those baskets.

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