Super simple way to give your built-in shelves or built-in drawers a COMPLETE INEXPENSIVE MAKEOVER—including making your shelves look like real wood! And guess what!? You can get faux wood shelves ONLY USING PAINT!

Getting the modern wood shelf look doesn’t have to be hard or even expensive. I’ll walk you through how to do a budget-friendly shelf / drawer update in 4 easy steps!

A quick disclaimer before we get started…

In order for me to appear in google searches, I am required to put a certain amount of transition words (e.g., firstly, additionally, etc.)… Unfortunately, fluff words are NOT my strength… Remember, I am a pharmacist… not a writer… Therefore, I would like to apologize in advance for my random and awkwardly placed transition words… I’m just trying TO GET GOOGLE TO NOTICE ME!

via GIPHY

FORTHWITH, let’s get started!

UNDOUBTEDLY, I absolutely hated the boring tan/vomit color that they were before and figured there had to be an easy DIY fix… SUDDENLY, I came across liquid wood paint to give you a faux wood look. ADDITIONALLY, it comes in a bunch of different stains!

As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you!

Steps

First, check out my youtube video for how I updated my built-in shelves! Of course, do not forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel! 

ADDITIONALLY, I talk pretty fast, so feel free to turn on the captions!

So they were an ugly beige color that I HATED. I love a good greige, but that is NOT what this was.

Framework for Built-in Shelves

1. Remove handles from drawers

2. Remove drawer fronts & shelves

• For my drawers, the drawer fronts were just screwed onto the drawer, so I just had to unscrew them.
• My shelves were resting on shelf pins, so I just had to lift them up.
• Cassie tip: I used painters tape and a sharpie to label which drawer it was so that my job was easier when I had to put them back up (e.g., left middle)

3. Sand / or use deglosser

• Since I was repainting the frame the be white, I had to sand down the frame so that the white paint would stick.
• I used a simple sanding block.
• Before I started, I covered my drawers with an adhesive plastic paint drop so prevent the drawers from becoming full of dust

4. Paint back wall

• The paint I used was a paint and primer combo, so I didn’t prime the wall.
• The paint I used was BEHR MARQUEE #PPU18-01 Cracked Pepper semi-gloss paint.

5. Paint framework

• And finally it was time to paint the framework.
• I used a white gloss paint.

Drawers

1. FIRST, sand the drawer fronts

• This is to make sure the new paint will stick
• you could also use a deglosser

2. Then, prime the drawers fronts

• I actually put little wood blocks under the drawer fronts so that they weren’t touching the tarp. I didn’t want the paint to attach the tarp and look weird. I also wanted to make it easier for myself to paint the edges of the drawer fronts.
• Here is the primer I used

3. AFTERWARDS, paint the drawers fronts

• Apply the first coat and let it dry
• After it is dry, sand between coats if there are little bumps (it will give it that more professional paint job look)
• Then paint the second coat
• I used a mini paint roller

4. FINALLY, attach the drawer fronts back to the built-in drawers

Built-In Shelves

1. Do the same kind of prep work (eg, sand or deglosser)

2. HENCEFORTH, paint with Retique It Liquid Wood with the Barnwood stain

• I used the same wood effect when I updated my pantry door. So check out my blog post about my pantry door update or watch this brief this youtube video on my YouTube channel! FURTHERMORE, don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!
• Brush on the liquid wood (the kit provides the brush) as a normal coat with long brush strokes and allow it to dry for 2 hours.
• Then, brush on the liquid wood again in rows at a time.
• While the liquid wood is still wet, glide your graining tool along the row changing the angle as you glide it along to get different wood patterns.
• If you end up with a wood grain look that you do not like, you can just paint over it and start over!

3. Stain it

• After that dries, apply the stain. I used the barnwood stain. It’s my favorite and I use it on everything (e.g., my pantry door, my kitchen table, and my slat wall)
• The kit provides the sponge to use for the staining.
• Here is what it looked like after one coat of staining:

• I wanted it to be a little darker / more even, so I did an additional coat of the stain. Finally, I felt like it actually looked like wood.

• Then I put a protective coat on top with Minwax Clear Polycrylic Water-Based Protective Finish Semi-Gloss.

4. LASTLY, put the shelves back

5. Replace drawer handles

• I didn’t like how the old handles looked, so I bought new drawer handles

Decor for Shelves

FINALLY, it’s time for the decor. The decor you use will obviously depend on your tastes and style. STRAIGHTAWAY, check out my recommended products page under the Home tab to see the products I use to style my shelves!

EVIDENTLY, that’s it!

Please leave a comment, ESPECIALLY if you have any questions!

And don’t forget to check out my entertainment suggestions if you get bored!