High Gloss Paint Makeover for My Office Desk
Remember the desk I found curbside for free that I recently placed in my studioffice?
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It was a very pretty desk with great lines, but I didn’t like the color. I transformed it using very high gloss white paint.
The desk has one large drawer. I posted about:
Desk Before
When I picked up the desk in curbside trash, it had a yellow aged and painted design. Nice, but not quite my style. The legs were pretty beaten up and white where the finish had worn in spots.
How to Paint with High Gloss Oil Paint
To create the durable, super extra high gloss furniture paint finish I used Glidden Oil Base Trim and Door paint that I bought at The Home Depot.
I know, I know… you are saying – “Yuck – no way am I painting with oil”
That used to be me. Once you see how this paint covers and shines, you may change your thinking. It is incredibly shiny and dries to a super hard finish. I needed two coats. It took 24 hours to dry and did smell, but the wait was worth it – no brush marks at all! It is as smooth as glass as the paint self levels.
It is gel paint – very thick! A paint stirring stick stands upright in it. It only needs to be stirred gently– no shaking. I used Bright White, but I think it comes in Antique White, Red, Black, and Navy.
Water-Based Glossy White Paint Option:
If you want to paint your desk high-gloss white and don’t want to use this oil-based paint, my other go-to gloss formula of paint is much easier to use. It is water-based, Rustoleum Painter’s Touch Ultra Cover. It also dries to a super shiny finish, but does not self-level. Even with that said, you will not be disappointed in the sheen of this paint.
- I used this glossy white paint to paint the recessed lights in my house as well as the window trim. I like to see a high glossy shine around lights and windows. It makes them pop. This paint is the best for when you want high gloss and easy clean up.
When using either paint formula, make sure to use a high quality brush. When you have a great paint brush, your painted finish will look like a pro did it.
How to prep and paint the desk:
- I lightly sanded the entire desk with medium grit sandpaper, then cleaned it with a tack cloth to remove all the dust.
- I used my trusty 2” angled Purdy paint brush and simply brushed the paint on. Since the paint is thick – I needed to push the brush into the strokes with a bit more pressure than normal to get it to spread out, but it went on quickly.
- I let it dry for 2 days before I added a second coat.
- Let the finish dry for at least a few days before using.
- IF USING WATER-BASED paint, you can add another coat after about 4 hours. Let desk dry at least 24 hours before using.
Once the paint was dry, I gave it more of my personality by adding my stuff.
You can see how shiny it is – the glass vase has a reflection.
I am thrilled with the desk – I am over the moon happy as I have never had my very own desk before. Growing up, I shared a room with my 2 sisters and we shared a desk. In college I had a desk in my dorm room, but it was dark brown and attached to the wall with built in shelves. It didn’t feel like a desk and I never used it. This desk is my very own – pretty and what I always imagined a desk should look like.
On one side I have all my pens and pencils, my second brain –my DIY Rolodex, desk clock, and flowers.
On the other end I keep all my colorful markers in a thrift store find, photos of my daughters when they were little, and a few favorite objects.
UPDATE:
Since I painted this desk, I moved to a new home. The finish on the desk is still in great shape after 8 years!!!
See how shiny it still is? You can see how it looks now in this post:
