I feel like I’ve been sharing this bookshelf a lot lately! Recently, I showed it styled with some of my latest thrift store finds, and before that, it was filled with a collection of camp dishes. I even shared it right after we first added the bookshelf to the butcher block table here in our dining room. But today, I’m excited to share it once more—this time because I just gave it a fresh coat of distressed blue paint!
I came across this next photo on Pinterest of a shelf in a Ralph Lauren store and instantly fell in love with its blue, distressed finish. It inspired me to recreate a similar look using the bookshelf in our dining room.
Since this bookshelf is laminate with a shiny finish, it needed a coat of primer before I could paint it. It could have also benefited from a light sanding, but I skipped that step since I was aiming for a distressed look anyway. I was out of my usual primer (this is the one I typically use), so I reached for some chalk paint I had on hand instead. Chalk paint is designed to adhere well to laminate surfaces, making it a great stand-in for primer when you’re in a pinch.
I started by applying two coats of chalk paint, then layered on a beautiful light blue color called Windmill Wings by Benjamin Moore. I loved how pretty it turned out, but it looked nothing like my inspiration photo—which was funny because, when I was picking colors from my fan deck, it seemed like the perfect match!
Before the light blue even had a chance to fully dry, I decided to add a darker blue to the bottom half of the bookshelf. If you look back at my inspiration photo, the shelf appears to be two-toned—although I’m pretty sure that’s just due to the lighting in the picture.
I happened to have some dark blue paint on hand—Van Deusen Blue by Benjamin Moore, which we had actually used on our dining room walls at one point. For this project, I simply lightly brushed the darker blue over the bottom half of the bookshelf.
The next day, after everything had dried, I used a piece of sandpaper to lightly go over the edges and rough it up a bit. Since I skipped sanding before painting and used chalk paint instead of primer, the finish will likely wear and distress even more over time—but honestly, that’s the look I was going for!
At first, I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but once it fully dried, I realized I loved it. The whole piece has a bit of a denim look to it—which is exactly what I was hoping for. My inspiration photo featured a lot of denim textures, and I think that’s part of what drew me to it in the first place.
From the start, I knew I wanted to leave the inside of the bookshelf its original wood. I loved the warmth and rustic charm it brought into our home, and I didn’t want to lose that. At the same time, I thought adding just a touch of blue would give the piece a little extra personality.
Then came the fun part—decorating the shelves! I decided to switch things up from how I had styled them before, although I did keep a few of the same pieces in the mix.
With the newly painted blue bookshelf, I thought some nautical décor would be the perfect touch. I added a shadowbox with a boat print, a piece of driftwood, and a round jar with a candle and some rope. My inspiration photo featured wicker baskets above the shelf, so I decided to incorporate some baskets above mine as well.
So What do you think? Have any Questions or Comments? Please let me know below or email them to me at thewickerhouse@yahoo.com or come find me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
You are welcome to PIN any of the Images from my blog on PINTEREST. Find a Pin It button by hovering over any of the pictures.
If you like the type of decor that I share, then be sure to check out my SHOP MY FAVORITES Page. I keep it updated with all of the fun Coastal, Cottage, and Farmhouse Decor that I come across on a daily basis. I personally want EVERYTHING that I have listed there.
You can also Check out more on my Amazon Page [HERE]. It too is full of all sorts of favorites. And I also just opened up a Walmart Storefront as well for all of my fellow Walmart shoppers. Take a look around!
Thanks for Stopping by,
Emily
*Disclaimer: This blog post contains Affiliated links which means that I earn a small commission for purchases made through these links.
