Hello beautiful friends! I’m back today with a child’s rocker makeover. This is another piece from my latest haul that I found at the thrift store for $18.95:
Y’all know I’m cheap and I would never pay that! However, as I was about to purchase THIS DRESSER for $65, the gentleman at the checkout announced that all furniture was 50% off!
So, I got that fabulous dresser for less than $40 and this cute rocker for $9!
Otherwise, I would have left this one behind.
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
Like most of my projects, this one started with a good cleaning using White Lightning:
Once it was cleaned, I swapped out the water for clean water and gave it another wipe down to rinse any residue.
Paint
I decided to give this little rocker a super simple makeover and reached for one of my favorite blues, Savannah Mist:
This piece already had a ton of scratches and boo boo areas, so I decided I wanted to go for a more distressed look that would camouflage all that.
When I want a bit more distressing than normal, I only apply one coat.
Before sanding, I decided to add one row of stripes in Cotton White to the back. (Two coats there.)
My favorite tape for adding stripes is FrogTape for delicate surfaces:
I removed the tape while the paint was still wet.
Once that was dry, I sanded all over with 220 grit sandpaper wrapped around an old sanding block.
Only applying one coat of paint makes it much easier to get a really distressed look.
Sealing with Terra Wax
I finally received my order of the brand new Terra Wax this weekend, so I was anxious to try it out on something! It was made with the new Terra Clay paint in mind but can be used with the chalk mineral paint too!
The new wax is hard, not soft like the Best Dang Wax…more like a traditional furniture wax.
The beauty of it is that it will dry super hard for the best protection you can get from a wax! I used my Best Dang Brush to apply it, but I found that there was almost a coating on the top surface of the wax.
So…I simply tipped it over and was able to remove the bar of wax:
Then I dropped it back into the container upside down, and that side was much more penetrable:
Now you WILL NOT see it being scooped up by your brush, but once you swirl it into your painted surface and run your hand across it, you will be able to feel it.
It will feel slightly tacky.
Once you apply it all over, you will want to let it set up for about an hour.
Then you can go back in with a clean soft cloth OR an applicator pad (also marketed and packaged for the Terra line as Buffing Pads), and give the surface a good buff.
The result is a lovely sheen!
I will admit that the wax is bit more work as compared to using one of the Clear Coats (super easy!), but the finish really is lovely!
Because this wax is oil-based, you’ll want to clean your brush right away. I just cleaned mine with a bit of Dawn dish shop, working it into the bristles before rinsing.
The Result
That was it for this makeover!
Here’s how this sweet child’s rocker looks now:
Sweet and simple!
I just love this soft blue-gray, and you can see how just applying only one coat of paint before sanding makes it super easy to get a more distressed look.
The distressing also hides all the imperfections in the original finish.
I think a painted finish for children’s furniture is so much more whimsical.
He agrees…
And just a simple stripe across the back adds just a little something.
That is another project complete from this haul!
Here’s what I’ve shared so far:
Vintage Banker’s Chair Makeover
Terra Clay Paint Case Makeover
Tea Kettle Makeover
Tray Update with Stencils
Painting the Smalls #18
How to Turn a Spindle Bed into a Bench
Dated Shelf Makeover
80’s Clock Repurposed
Stenciled Demilune Table
DIY Fabric Lamp Shades & $5 Thrift Store Lamps
Thrift Store Dresser Makeover
If you like this rocker makeover, you might like what I did with this one too!
See what I did with it HERE!
I’ll be back on Thursday with my Furniture Fixer Upper girls sharing this oak side table that needed a little TLC!
I’ll see ya then!
UPDATE: No need to wait! See how this pretty table looks now HERE!
XOXO,
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Sandi Allen says
I Love it! That color is perfect! Such a cute little setup area .
Christy says
Thank you so much, Sandi! XOXO
Christina says
Super cute makeover Christy! I love the uncomplicated ones. 🙂
Christy says
Thank you so much, Christina! Sometimes the simple ones are the best! XOXO
Mary Kaiser says
It is so adorable now!! Simple is the best in my book also! I love how it turned out!!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! Sometimes a simple makeover is all a piece needs! XOXO
Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces says
You rocked it! I have dining chairs in that exact style in my home. AND…we both did chairs today in the similar color just different brands. Great minds!!
Christy says
Thank you so much, Larissa! So funny that we both did chairs and in the same color ha ha! Your project turned out so fabulous! XOXO
Shelley Wallace says
Hi Christy,
Great look on this and good to know about the new hard wax… I have a tip for you I use that is a game changer… Murthy’s Oil Soap
Is fabulous for cleaning and conditioning brushes. If you soak a chalk paint brush with dried paint overnight it will soften and remove it. It’s all I use to clean my good brushes. After you clean and rinse the brushes are soft and supple again. 🙌 You might give it a try!! I buy it by the gallon at the Home Centers!!
Christy says
Thank you, Shelley! And I appreciate the tip! It sounds like Dixie Belle’s brush cleaner…it works very similarly! XOXO
Cheryl Atkinson says
Hi Christy! So cute. I’m surprised the new wax for the clay paint is so hard. Sometimes I use Debi’s Design Diary DIY clay paint and her wax is like butter. I need to try the Terra paint so I can make a comparison love the little chair. Savannah’s Mist is one of my faves..
Christy says
Thank you so much, Cheryl! I love Savannah Mist too! The hard wax is hard because it dries to a super hard finish. Much harder than the softer waxes. I just emphasized the hardness of it so that people didn’t expect it to be super soft like the Best Dang Wax. I hope you get the chance to try the Terra Clay. I’d love to know what you think! XOXO
Niki says
Very cute Christy! The little Lion makes and basket of books makes it look inviting.
Christy says
Thank you, Niki! Those were some of my youngest son’s favorites that I hung onto. I miss those days! XOXO
Amanda says
Love this! <3
Christy says
Thank you, Amanda! XOXO
Lizzy says
That’s super-cute and I love the paint choices.
Christy says
Thank you, Lizzy! XOXO
Michele M. says
Christy that is soooo stinkin’ cute! Who doesn’t love a perfect little child’s project? You did a fabulous job on it. It’s is wonderful!
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Michele! XOXO
Joanne H says
The child’s rocking chair is so cute. Amazing what a little paint does… and a few stripes.
Also really like the black and white, “you rock” rocking chair that you shared. The checked seat is fun.
Christy says
Thank you, Joanne! Children’s pieces are always fun to do! XOXO
Denise Cox says
One of my FAVORITE colors!!!
Christy says
Yay!! Mine too! XOXO
Cecilia says
Very, very cute! Love the color.
😊Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! XOXO
Cecilia from Georgia says
Love the rustic look on this old chair!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! XOXO
Constance Colvin says
So sweet and pretty!
Christy says
Thank you, Connie! XOXO
Diana Cosgrove says
Darling little rocker Christy! You’re amazing!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Diana! Thank you! XOXO
Diane says
Hi. I love the chair, it inspired me to do the same color on my child’s rocking chair that I will gift to my newborn grandson.
My question: Where can I get the cute little lion stuffed animal, I would love to get one for my grandson, his hair looks a lot like the lions. Thank you! Diane
Christy says
Thank you, Diane, and congratulations on your new grandbaby! My MIL gifted that lion to our youngest when he was little. It is made by Jellycat, but doing a quick search, I couldn’t find another like it. There are lots of cute lions out there though. Good luck in your search! XOXO