My Pretty Thrifted Painted Bookends
Spray paint is magical, isn’t it?
As much as I dislike to use it sometimes (because of the smell), it’s one of those products that can take the ugliest thing and make it look like it jumped off the pages of HGTV magazine.
In this case, however, these little bronze bird bookends weren’t ugly–they were cute as heck!
I spotted them at the thrift store recently and knew the were coming home with me!
And for $2.99 on a discount day, I pounced on them!
But I’m not a “bronzy” kind of chick, and as cute as they were, I knew that a quick “pssssh, pssssh, psssh” from my left over spray paint from my painted door mat would be perfect!
Here’s what they looked like before painting them.
BEFORE
And here’s what they look like now!
AFTER!
This was the only spray paint I had on hand (the paint left over from my pretty painted Welcome mat).
You probably remember them from my 9-year-old son’s mid-century modern dresser makeover I showed you the other day.
My son is an avid reader.
I’m talking book-in-hand 24/7 if he could. In fact, he used to get in trouble in first grade for taking out his books and reading in class while in class while his teacher was talking. HA!
I plan to put some book shelves up in his new room soon, but right now, he can stash his books on top of his new dresser with these book ends.
Right now I’m working on my family room for my 30-Day September Makeover Challenge so when I’m done with that, I’ll move to his room! (Pst–you should totally join!!)
I almost regret painting them, though.
It wasn’t until I looked at that “BEFORE” shot that I saw how pretty they really were with their patina.
…..Or it could have just been my mad photography skillz that made them look better than they really looked. HA!
Because in the thrift store, they were cute…..?…..but there weren’t screaming “Leave-me-bare!”
Click HERE to PIN this project!
Oh, well.
They were only $6.00, plus a discount.
If I ever truly regret painting them, I’ll just do a post on “How to Remove Spray Paint When You Totally Screwed Up!”
So tell me, what do you guys like to spray paint? And have you ever painted anything that you later kind wish you hadn’t?
Download the 5 freebies!
Thrift Diving inspires women to decorate, improve, and maintain their home themselves...using paint, power tools, and thrift stores! Use these 5 printables, checklists, and ebooks to get started!
Serena,
I think they look great! I’m glad you didn’t make them white. It seems like everyone is trying to make every decor item white, and although I think that is a nice look, it is a little to sterile and bland for me. I like color and your bookends look beautiful.
I agree, white would have been just “blah”!
I think they look vety fresh and clean. They look great on his dresser with the same paint.
I like what you have done!!!
I love them. I actually spray painted something the other day for the very first time and noticed that the paint was thin and watery. Is this normal? I thought the paint would come out and cover everything at once. I had to repeat the spray lots of times in order for the cover to be uniform. YES, IM NEW AT THIS and YES, I WAITED UNTIL AGE 50 TO GET STARTED so any advice is greatly appreciated.
You are such an inspiration. The bookends are fresh and crisp looking. Keep up the good work !
I thought I was going to feel that you should have left them as is but…after seeing the final results, I think painting them was the right choice. So eye-catching and crisp. Love your confidence and style.
Awww….thanks, Debra! Some have said the birds don’t belong or “match” a boys room, and I have to agree. But it was all I had on hand, plus, I couldn’t resist turquoise! I may end up using them in my family room, and then just cut some funky design out of wood and make him his own book ends! 🙂 We shall see….
I’ve spray painted lots of odd pieces of wicker furniture black it it’s held up very well outside!
That’s awesome! Did you use a primer, or just a spray paint that has primer in it?
I like them both ways but think I like them painted best. 🙂
Thanks, Robin!! 🙂
I probably would not have painted them, but that being said, I think they’re darling. I would have snatched them up for sure! I was thinking about wether I had spray painted something and then regretted it. Nothing came immediately to mind but it reminded me of something that happened to me. Recently I bought a metal key holder at the thrift store for a $1. It’s a row of cats from the back and their tails are the hooks. I’ve seen them before and they’re usually black. This one had been spray painted gold!!!! No problem I thought, always have a can of black spray paint around. I got it out a while back to paint it and find a spot for it. I sat there looking at it and thought to myself, “This color is spectacular!” It really makes the piece fun and unusual. Never never ever would it even have occurred to me to paint it gold, so I’m super happy that someone choose to be more adventurous than I would have been!! Score!
That sounds really cute, Lyn! I think you hit on something there–the fear of being adventurous. I think we sometimes draw a box around what we “can” and “should” and “can’t” and “shouldn’t” do. Even when it comes to painting wood. We’re afraid something won’t turn out, or that it’s not the way it shouldn’t be. But I like that this is a reminder that it’s okay to try something new! (Especially when it’s only a few dollars and has no sentimental value, so no fear of having a deep regret). Glad to hear that you love the gold!! 🙂
I absolutely agree! Typically, it is not permanent anyway. Recently I started stripping a desk to repaint it, the paint was think and an enamel…. I actually got to the wood and discovered some very cool features….. so I decided to strip it completely and stain…. then I ran out of time. So, I threw some poly over what I had done so that they dark blue paint I was using wouldn’t stain the wood (it was so cool to see my theory backed up by the dip people!!), and painted…. Maybe someday I will get time to strip it as I wanted!
I love spray paint ! The birds turned out great. You shouldn’t regret painting them. You always find the cutest “stuff” !
Thanks, Debbie! Yeah, like someone else said, “You can’t even get a cheeseburger and fries for that price” so I shouldn’t sweat the $6.00. LOL