In the interest of "better late than never," here's how my redesign turned out. Oh! And there's a "how to" video to boot...
Inviting Suggestions for Change
Interestingly, a lot of their ideas for what needed to change coincided with some of the thoughts that had been rattling around in my head. So, I decided to make it official, sit down, and come up with a game plan...
A Little Elbow Grease and Jedi Shopping
Forever ago, I read a blog post by the Nerdy Teacher about how he refinished the desks in his classroom with IdeaPaint. I have instant gratification issues, so I visited two different local Home Depot stores and bought every last whiteboard paint kit they had in stock, plus a plethora of painting supplies. (Mostly because I just didn't want to wait the amount of time it would take for IdeaPaint process and ship my order.)
Here's how I refinished the tables:
- Use foam rollers to ensure an even application of paint.
- Typically, whiteboard paint comes in kits that contain two jars of different chemical components. Once combined, there is usually a time frame in which the paint must be used. If the paint in the tray is expired and you need to open a new kit, change the foam roller and tray liner as well, so as not to spread any "expired" paint.
- Whiteboard paint has even stronger fumes than regular paint, so be sure to apply it in a well ventilated area.
- Use plenty of drop cloths and protect the floors/surfaces where you are painting your tables or desks. Spills are difficult to clean up!
After painting, the big question was what to do with all of the floor space freed up by having tables. Since buying additional couches wasn't in my budget, I decided to track down some bean bags on sale. (I pretty much refuse to buy most things unless they're on clearance or heavy discount...my husband and I refer to that as "Jedi-Shopping.") Since Back to School season is also Back to College season, I lucked out at Big Lots. Lamps, strings of lantern lights, and rugs also made it into my shopping cart.