This bookcase was at a secondhand store for $10.99.
It’s made of solid pine wood that was stained a very dark brown and the back board is MDF painted dark brown. It was also painted over in red in one spot. It has a few knots and lots of dings and dents. Since the stain is so dark it would be very difficult to remove, plus the backboard is MDF which cannot be stained. Since it’s not hardwood, part of it is MDF, and it is too dark, I decided to sand it down and paint it.
Note: this section has affiliated links of products I used to refinish the bookcase. I sanded the wood with an orbital sander along with 100 grit sand paper to sand down and smooth out the surface to make the paint adhere to the surface better and make the finish come out more even. I wore a mask, work gloves, and safety glasses during this process.
It took 3 coats of white paint to sufficiently cover the dark stain. I used a roller and a paint brush to paint this piece. Then I added some knobs to the drawers and done! It was a simple and easy project that was done in a small amount of time and for very little money.
Here is the AFTER:
This bookshelf was same exact height has the windowsill in my daughter’s bedroom and acted as an extension of the sill. It also matched perfectly since both were painted in the same white paint. It was a great find at the thrift store!
