How to Give a Goodwill Shelf & Mirror a Vintage Vibe
With some chalk paint, wax, and sandpaper, I share how to give a Goodwill shelf & mirror a vintage vibe.
I take you step by step on how to repurpose the Goodwill shelf & mirror into incredible rustic chippy pieces you will love for years to come.
Here is the before photo of the Goodwill shelf & mirror on my wall.
I don’t know what it was, but this whole arrangement felt off to me.
After living with it this way for a week, I decided to give them a good ole’ makeover with Annie Sloan chalk paint.
The first DIY is a Goodwill wooden shelf.
I found this at Goodwill for $6.99.
It has that vintage look that I love.
The second DIY is a Goodwill wood mirror with coat hooks and an ornate vintage-inspired metal keyhole.
It is so beautiful.
I paid $20 for this mirror.
I wanted to love these the way they were, but to make them work for my space, I gave these a new look.
Do I regret it? No way!
They turned out like the pieces I’ve seen in decor boutiques that I’ve drooled over until I looked at the price tag. Yikes!
I’ve seen them for $60 to $100.
My brain automatically thinks about how I can get that same look for cheap.
So, I want to take you along and show you how you can have expensive-looking pieces for cheap, too!
If you’ve been following me, you have probably seen the many DIYs I’ve painted with chalk paint.
Here is a link to all my chalk paint DIYs with just one click.
I don’t know what it is, but when I was done painting, sanding, and waxing these, they fit perfectly in my home.
Now, let me show you how to give a Goodwill shelf & mirror a vintage vibe.
It’s a bit messy but oh so easy.
What you will need:
- Liter of Annie Sloan Chalk paint in the color Old White
- Stir Stick (I used my table knife, that’s how I roll.)
- Flat head screwdriver or paint can opener to open the can of paint.
- Painters tape is for DIY #2 (Mirror)
- Annie Sloan flat paint brush (Whoops, the photo is backward.)
DIY #1: Shelf
The amazing thing about painting with Annie Sloan chalk paint is you don’t have to prep the surface.
Step One: Paint the shelf.
This shelf has a teeth-like design on the front.
When painting, gouge the paintbrush down into the crevices to get the paint into the grooves.
Paint the top and underside of the shelf.
Step Two: Sand the shelf
Now, this is the messy part of this DIY.
It is recommended to do this outside or in your garage.
I placed this on top of a garbage can.
It seems unorthodox, but it worked.
Taking the 80 grit sandpaper, rub all the edges.
You will need to rub until you get the chippy look you desire.
I rubbed all the sides and even the top.
Step Three: Apply Annie Sloan clear wax
Rub a good amount of the clear wax over the entire surface.
The sanded areas will appear darker and give it that yummy vintage vibe I was looking for.
DIY #2: Mirror
Step One: Tape the mirror
Before you start, tape the mirror.
Tip: If you get paint onto the mirror, use a razor and scrape it off after the paint dries.
Step Two: Paint the mirror
Just like the shelf, you want to paint the entire front.
This included the metal hooks and vintage-inspired keyhole.
Apply a second coat.
The shelf above didn’t need a second coat.
But this mirror does.
So, I painted everything a second time.
And painted the sides that only needed one coat.
Step Two: Sand the painted wood
Once the paint is fully dry, you will sand it for that vintage chippy look.
It looks pretty cool, not sanded, too.
But once I show you the after, you will agree it was a great idea.
Fold the sandpaper into fourths.
Just like the instructions for the shelf, sand all the raised edges.
I focused on the metal hooks and the raised decor piece at the top.
Imagining what it would look like if the hooks were well-worn, I focused on the tips and the area around them.
I used a small broom to sweep off the dust as I went along.
Step Three: Wax
Taking a microfiber cloth, apply a coat of clear wax over the entire front and sides of the mirror.
Let that dry overnight.
Now, I have two Goodwill finds that add that vintage vibe to my home.
Some up-close photos of the Goodwill shelf & mirror on my wall.
What do you think?
Did it give the wall a more rustic farmhouse vintage vibe?
It’s my thing to collide the rustic with the Victorian elegance.
I think it fits right in.
And to find these pieces from Goodwill was a plus.
I saved tons of money and got the look I wanted.
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Here is a recent video sharing some tips for creating the home of your dreams for cheap. And yes, one of the tips is thrifting. Check it out!
For more inspiration, here is a link to a set of French Provincial chairs I painted recently.
And if you want to get some ideas on how to collide the Victorian and Farmhouse styles, go here.
Thank you for coming by Victorian Lane Farms
Love this, good job!!!
Thank you, Areil! It was a fun project with a big impact. Have a great day!