Mum transforms old dressing table using just two Bunnings items

A Melbourne mum has transformed a piece of old furniture using just two Bunnings items – and in less time than it takes to cook dinner.

A Melbourne mum who posted before and after shots of a cheap, old dressing table she transformed online has shared the two-step method she used after being inundated with positive messages.

Kelly Charles, 41, had purchased a second-hand dresser on Friday for $80 and by Saturday, she managed to transform it into a much more expensive looking table, saving her “hundreds of dollars”.

She shared images of her swanky creation to the popular Facebook group Bunnings Mums Australia, not expecting the huge reaction.

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Kelly Charles, 41, of Geelong, Melbourne, was blown away by the huge reaction to her very simple Bunnings makeover. Picture: Kelly Charles

The mum-of-one used just one coat of a $45 ultra matt chalked paint and $34 clear oil-based timber varnish from Bunnings to create the look.

Since posting about the DIY job over the weekend, it has attracted more 3000 likes and hundreds of comments.

“It’s my first transformation. I was actually was inspired by this group,” Ms Charles of Geelong, Melbourne, told news.com.au

“We bought a house last year and because furniture pieces are just so expensive I thought I would save us money and just recreate old items myself.”

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Kelly bought the old dressing table for $80 on Facebook Marketplace on Friday. Picture: BunningsMumsAustralia

Apart from giving the flat surface two (120 grit) sandovers before applying the varnish, Ms Charles said the bottom half, including the legs of the table, didn’t require more than just one coat of the Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matt Paint.

“I didn’t even need to sand it,” she said.

“You can’t even see my brushstrokes. It goes on like a dream and the best part is it dries within half an hour so you can use it straight away if you need to,” Ms Charles said.

“Honestly, you’re looking at about $600 to $1000 for something of this quality and look.”

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By the next day she transformed it into an elegant and expensive looking hallway table. Picture: BunningsMumsAustralia

Kelly said by upcycling the cheap table, she saved herself hundreds of dollars. Picture: BunningsMumsAustralia

She styled the table with a rattan placemats, candle and potplant before sharing her “impressive” makeover online, adding she was overwhelmed by the huge reaction.

“Looks awesome!!!” one group member wrote.

“Absolutely gorgeous!!” said another

“Very elegant,” a third added, while a fourth commented that she “loves all the upcycled pics” after other members shared their transformations using the same Bunnings paint.

She used this $34 varnish for the flat surface of the table. Picture: Bunnings

And just one coat of this charcoal paint for $45.35, also from Bunnings, to create the look. Picture: Bunnings

Ms Charles said she wasn’t expecting all the positive feedback.

“I nearly fell off my chair. I thought it was only going to get a few likes. I was pretty pleased with how it turned out and was amazed at the reaction it got.”

The mum said another reason behind doing the makeover is to prevent old items going to landfill.

“Most of these things just end up in a person’s garage or they just get thrown out,” she said.

“And I like things with character, upcycling, saving money and to stop things from ending up in landfill.”

Ms Charles, who is a graphic designer, hasn’t been able to work since Victoria faced its first lockdown in March and said dabbling in home renos is a way to keep busy and add new skills to her trade.

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After sharing her makeover to a popular Facebook group, other members also posted their transformations using the same charcoal Bunnings paint. Picture: BunningsMumsAustralia

“I lost everything when lockdown hit — and I won’t be able to work until we can do events again, so I thought what better way to keep busy, then to learn a new trade and upskill – who knows, maybe this is the direction I go down.”

The 41-year-old is already on the hunt for her next project.

“I am always shopping and looking to save myself a couple of thousand dollars – old pieces have character and you never know what’s under that varnish until you see that beautiful wood grain.”