The Big Reveal: My Blue Velvet Triumph

You're at a flea market or thrift store. You see an adorable piece of furniture with the ugliest fabric and/or paint color. So your options are to take it home for $35, hopefully only have to put under $100 into fixing it up OR you can buy something new.

An alternative scenario is that you wish you were the bargain fixer-upper, but you just can't visualize the potential in something old. Some people are just born with this ability but don't worry, anyone can follow some simple tips to engage this part of their brain.

There are the easy DIY's that involve a fresh coat of paint or a knob replacement. Simple frames, for example, cost me a total of $10. $2 for the four frames, $4 each for the two spray paint cans - easy.

Then there are difficult tasks, like the one I am revealing. I do have some sewing skills and I think that definitely helped with figuring out how to approach this couch even without a sewing machine. I used a staple gun for everything!

It is just a part of my artist brain that when I come across some things, I can't help but see the potential in them. Some times I forget the work that has to be put into it and it takes forever like the lovely couch below. 

I bought this couch in March expecting it to be done some time this summer. I just finished it yesterday August 30th! It only took me a total of 3 hours to do (which I probably should have taken more time but I didn't have any more time - I just wanted it to be done!) but accumulating the fabric and tools and paint to get it done took much more time. Above, is the couch shown how it lives in my space, the other photographs do not properly represent that unless otherwise noted.

This couch is absolutely not perfect. It has maybe too much "character" but my apartment kind of needed something strange to put in the center of its very stark black and white space. So below is the beauty before I changed anything. I knew that I wanted to have a pop of color in my space. Velvet is a trend that made its way back into everyone's interior decorating and I have always loved it! But before all that I fell in love with the shape of this settee. Bucket shape has always been a love of mine - more so with chairs than love seats but it definitely won my heart in this case. The legs were also something that attracted me, 60s retro is very much back in decorating style.

So ugly, I know! That pattern actually lived in my apartment all summer - I can hardly believe it myself! Hopefully you guys can see why I thought it had potential though. It was only $65!

After choosing my fabric, I thought I wanted silver metallic paint. So I went on Lowes and ordered what I thought was metallic silver, but it wasn't! I actually ordered a silver 'satin' paint (linked below). But I opened the jar and actually liked it more so I just went with it! Initially I painted ALL of the woodwork expecting to have it all showing but those arms were way too hard to cover with my only tool being a staple gun, so I ended up wrapping the fabric around the arm.

My goal for this couch was achieved - I covered this couch in 3 total pieces. I did not photograph the steps because I am obviously inconsiderate to anyone that actually reads this blog but if someone really wants to reupholster their couch in this train wreck way, I'd be happy to make a video demo or something. I'm sure any sane person would just go pay someone else to do it but not this gal! Depicted below is how I approached the task. One piece for the bottom in blue, one for the seat - purple, and one piece to start at the back and come around to the front and under the seat - yellow.

So then I just went at it! Starting from the little strip in front and then I went around back and worked my way over. The hardest part were the arms and deciding how I wanted to do them. I made it up as I went along really. But I am so happy with the results.

Like I said, it's not perfect whatsoever but I love it because I did it all by myself! That really is the most rewarding part. (Above does show how it looks in the space).

I hope this post doesn't make you crazy! I know it is very scatter-brained but it's because I am too! I actually cannot get the song 'Blue Velvet' out of my head for the past two weeks. I hope this finds you inspired to get the bargain beauty piece in your space that you always wanted. I also hope that this helps your life stay simple and easy (and not crazy).

Best,

Michelle

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