Vintage School Desk Makeover: A Glittery Transformation for Your Little Princess

Like many parents, I had envisioned certain things for my children’s personalities. I secretly thought my daughter, Ayla, would be a fearless tomboy, climbing trees and collecting bugs. Boy, was I wrong! Ayla is a princess-loving, pink-obsessed, and necklace-wearing girly girl through and through. At just two years old, she demands wardrobe changes multiple times a day! Honestly, I’m still a little surprised, but her favorite games involve jewelry (‘jewly’ as she calls it) and dressing up her ‘babies.’

But hey, that’s perfectly fine! I can adapt and embrace her love for all things sparkly and feminine. To prove it, let me share a recent DIY project. This fall, while driving past an antique shop, I spotted a charming old school desk sitting on the sidewalk. Knowing my wife, Alicia, was planning a ‘big-girl bedroom’ makeover for Ayla when she turned three, I immediately pulled over to investigate.

Vintage school desk before the makeover. — The vintage school desk, awaiting its transformation.

The Hunt for the Perfect Vintage Desk

The asking price was $45, but after a little haggling, I snagged it for $30. The next challenge? Tetris-ing it into the back seat of my Honda Civic. Ayla, strapped into her car seat next to the desk, bombarded me with questions, as two-year-olds are known to do.

“Daddy, what’s that?”

“A desk, sweetie.”

“Why?”

“For your big girl room.”

“When?”

“When you get bigger.”

“How?”

“By, um… growing bigger, silly!”

“Why?”

“Because, um, that’s what people do! They grow up.”

The interrogation continued along these lines for the rest of the trip. (You get the idea!)

Close-up of the vintage school desk. — A closer look at the classic school desk design.

Sparkle and Shine: The Glitterblast Inspiration

Later, the stars aligned when Krylon reached out about their new and incredibly sparkly Glitterblast line. We had collaborated on some fantastic sponsored projects using their spray paints over the summer, and I knew this was the perfect opportunity. Considering Ayla’s fondness for pink and glitter, it was a no-brainer to incorporate Glitterblast into the desk makeover.

Krylon Glitterblast spray paint. — Krylon Glitterblast: The key ingredient for a sparkly transformation.

Step-by-Step Glittery Desk Transformation

Here’s how I transformed a drab, old school desk into a glittery dream fit for a princess:

Step 1: Disassembly and Preparation

First, I carefully took the desk apart. (Finding replacement parts for a vintage desk would be a nightmare!) Then, I thoroughly cleaned and sanded each piece to create a smooth surface for painting.

Disassembling the school desk. — Carefully disassembling the desk for individual painting.

Step 2: Priming the Metal

Next, I primed all the metal surfaces with a coat of black Krylon DUAL spray paint I had leftover from a previous project. In retrospect, a lighter color like white, red, or pink would have been a better choice to enhance the vibrancy of the glitter.

Metal parts primed in black. — Primed metal parts, ready for the next coat.

Close-up of the black primer on the metal. — A closer look at the black primer. A lighter color would have been better.

Step 3: Wood Restoration

While the metal parts were drying, I sanded the wooden components, cleaned them thoroughly, and applied a coat of clear polyurethane to protect the wood and enhance its natural beauty.

Sanding and coating the wooden desktop. — Sanding and applying polyurethane to the desktop.

Step 4: Pink Undercoat

After (oops!) reading the Glitterblast directions, I realized a base coat of pink was necessary to ensure the glitter truly popped. Glitterblast doesn’t add color; it only adds colored glitter. So, I painted over the black primer with a vibrant shade of pink.

Step 5: Unleash the Glitter!

Finally, the moment we’d all been waiting for: glitter time! I quickly discovered you can’t really overdo it with Glitterblast. The more you apply, the more dazzling the result. In this case, more glitter was definitely better!

Spraying the seat with 'diamond dust' Glitterblast paint. — Applying the first coat of ‘diamond dust’ Glitterblast.

First coat of glitter applied. — The first coat of glitter is complete!

Close-up of the glittery finish. — So glittery!

Metal tray painted pink. — The metal tray and stool after the pink undercoat.

The Grand Reveal: A Glittery Vintage Desk for a Princess

And here it is, the finished project! I photographed it outside because we’re keeping it a surprise for Ayla until her big-girl room makeover is complete.

The finished glittery school desk. — The finished desk: A glittery dream come true.

Angle view of the completed desk. — Another view of the completed desk, showcasing its sparkle.

Inside view of the desk. — The inside of the desk, ready for treasures.

I’m absolutely thrilled with how it turned out! The glitteriness is even more impressive in person than it is in the photos. I promise to share more pictures once it’s in Ayla’s room and, of course, her reaction! Stay tuned for updates later this year.

A huge thank you to Krylon for sponsoring this project! I couldn’t have created this magical desk without their amazing Glitterblast spray paint.

Do you have your own awesome DIY project using spray paint? I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!

Looking for More Vintage Inspiration?

If you’re passionate about restoring vintage pieces and adding a unique touch to your home, here are some additional project ideas to explore:

5 Fantastic Vintage TV Makeovers
How to Repair the Webbing on a Vintage Mid-Century Chair
How To: Create Wall Art Using a Vintage Flag
How to: Make a Vintage-y Button Pillow

Transforming vintage finds into personalized treasures is a rewarding experience. With a little creativity and the right tools, you can give old items a new lease on life, adding character and charm to your home. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or just starting out, I hope this glittery desk makeover inspires you to embrace your own creative vision and embark on exciting projects of your own!