Let’s talk about that buffet again — the one we scored for a steal on Craigslist and tucked into our entryway. Here’s a reminder of what it looked like (sidenote: I will forever say “jog” like “yog” because “yogging” makes me laugh).
It was beautiful, but it had a few bumps and bruises that needed attention. I wanted to give the buffet a little TLC — nothing heavy-duty, just some quick fixes to make it look cared for.
This was a super-fast project — about half an hour total and under $3. Here’s what I used:
Just a small craft brush (already on hand) and a $2.99 test pot of paint from Home Depot in a color that closely matched the buffet. I compared lots of swatches until I found the right one — Cricket by Behr, a soft moody green, blended in perfectly.
My prep work included:
- Using Gorilla Glue to secure any loose trim or small carved pieces. I noticed a few wiggly parts that might chip or fall off, so I glued them and let everything cure for a full day before moving on.
- Giving the piece a thorough scrub with a Magic Eraser to lift dingy spots and smudges. That took care of the grayish, pencil-like marks and made the surface look much cleaner.
Then came the painting.
I used the small brush to paint only where there were large patches of bare wood. After brushing the paint on, I blended it with a swipe of paper towel — the goal wasn’t to create a perfect finish but to subtly distress and blend patched areas into the rest of the piece. We like the imperfections and worn character, so this step was simply about filling obvious gaps and damaged spots rather than hiding age.
Here’s a side-by-side to show the approach. I didn’t try to cover every dark scratch — just the large gouges — and once the paint dried (it always looks lighter after drying) the patched areas blended in nicely.
Another close-up of the difference. Before:
And after:
Now the buffet still reads as old and loved, but it no longer gives off that “dinged with a baseball bat” vibe. Quick, easy, and cheap — exactly what I was after. You might notice our snake-riddled pumpkins aren’t on the console in some photos (they moved to the porch), and I’m planning a little seasonal refresh for the surface soon — craft mode incoming.
After gluing, scrubbing, and spot-painting, I sealed everything with three thin, even coats of SafeCoat Acrylacq — my go-to non-toxic satin sealer that keeps things from looking overly shiny.
We applied the sealer with a small foam roller for a thin, even layer (thick application = gloppy). For detailed, bumpy areas I used a small brush to get into grooves. The key is thin and even coats to avoid drips or buildup.
This little makeover definitely deserves a “lovingly restored” label — though I drew the line at adding an actual sticker, because Clara gets feisty about things. Fortunately she channels that energy in mostly harmless ways.
Anyone else giving old furniture a bit of love without stripping everything down? I prefer these short, satisfying projects — they take a few hours instead of a whole weekend and leave time for guilty pleasures like eating candy corn and regretting it later.
Psst — Clara’s at it again with her hilariously random commentary over on Young House Life.