How to Cover an Ugly Desk
If you have an ugly desk that is still functional, don't throw it away. Instead, cover it up, using one of several methods, to get a desk that matches the rest of your decor. Add color or texture to the desk, basing the cover on the rest of your home's design to make the desk appeal to you. When applying the new cover, always use products that work with your desk's material, such as laminate primer or laminate.
Step 1
Paint over the desk to cover up the old look and create something new. Sand the desk first to prepare it for painting. Use a medium sandpaper and work to a fine sandpaper. Wash the desk and use a primer appropriate for the desk's material. Allow the primer to dry and paint the desk with your chosen colors.
Step 2
Apply wallpaper over the desk to hide its appearance. Use craft adhesive, or another adhesive that will stick properly to the material of your desk, to attach the wallpaper. You can wallpaper the entire piece of furniture or just the top. Have a piece of glass cut that fits the top of the desk and set it on top to protect your wallpaper. You can also wallpaper just the top to save time and money. The top will add color to the room without making you work on the corners and other details of the desk.
Step 3
Cut a piece of wood or laminate that matches your decor and lay it on top of your desk, if the top of the desk is the ugly portion. You can secure this using an adhesive appropriate for the materials you are using, such as wood adhesive for a wooden desk and cover, or you can just set it on top if it is heavy enough not to shift around. This cover will change the look of the desk without having you fiddle with the remaining parts.
References
Tips
- Change the hardware on the desk after you cover it to give the desk a whole new look.
- Apply a coat of lacquer or acrylic to a freshly painted or wallpapered desk to protect it from scratches.
- Quickly cover a desk by throwing a decorative piece of fabric over it.
Writer Bio
Shara JJ Cooper graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2000, and has worked professionally ever since. She has a passion for community journalism, but likes to mix it up by writing for a variety of publications. Cooper is the owner/editor of the Boundary Sentinel, a web-based newspaper.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images
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