Upcycled Magazine Holder | Before & After

Do you have an old magazine rack laying around? Upcycle it with chalk paint, decoupage paste and scrapbook paper like this before and after!

I love wasting time browsing thrift stores for items to repurpose or completely renovate. I absolutely love a good before and after makeover – like this water damaged side table, this ceramic tiled serving tray and this dining room hutch! When I came across this wooden magazine holder, that had clearly seen better days, I knew I had to buy it!

I absolutely love taking something drabby and giving it a totally new life! I can’t even believe how much of a difference a little bit of paint and paper can make to something!

Check out: Before & After Projects Using Dixie Belle Chalk Paint

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure here.

Let’s Make It Over Together!

Supplies

• Magazine Holder, or find at a local thrift store
• Dixie Belle White Lightning Cleaner
• Dixie Belle Chalk Paint, Palmetto
• 6″ Hairpin Furniture Legs
• Mod Podge, matte
• Foam Brush
• Scrapbook Paper, I bought mine at Michaels and in the store they have different colors
• Drill
• Scissors

What is the best way to clean wood before painting?

I brought it home and got busy! Whenever I have a wooden piece I’m going to paint, I always clean it with Dixie Belle White Lightning cleaner. I swear by this product! It is the best cleaner in my opinion! You can see how I’ve used this for many of my furniture makeovers HERE! *note: you do have to wipe the piece down with plain water several times to make sure that you get all of the cleaner off and the paint will adhere.

What kind of paint do you use on wood furniture?

Once the magazine holder was dry, I painted it with chalk paint in my new favorite color, Palmetto by Dixie Belle. It is such a lovely shade of green with creamy hues. I literally love it! There are so many reasons I love using Dixie Belle chalk paint, but one of my favorite is because it covers so well. No priming necessary…or sealing!

I applied two coats of chalk paint and then let it dry for about 20 minutes. Another perk of Dixie Belle…it dries so fast!

Hairpin Legs

Next it was time to put the legs on! I bought these super cute 6″ hairpin furniture legs.

How to decoupage on wood

Using a foam brush and Mod Podge in matte finish, I applied a generous amount of Mod Podge to the front of the magazine holder to create a decoupage finish.

Carefully lay the paper over top of the glue. Use a credit card to help smooth out any air bubbles.

Apply a coat of Mod Podge with the foam brush over the scrapbook paper. Making sure to coat the entire surface of the paper.

Using medium grit sand paper, carefully distress the edges after the Mod Podge is completely dry.

That is it! Such an easy project that has huge results!

Check out these magazine rack makeovers!

Be sure to check out all of the other amazing painted furniture projects that my blogging friends have created!

Creative Moments Damask Stenciled Magazine Holder

The House Of Of Silverado’s Vintage Magazine Rack

Birdz Of A Feather’s Upcycled Magazine Rack

White Lilac Farmhouse’s Caddy Magazine Rack

Tea and Forget-me-nots’s Silk Painted Magazine Rack

Exquisitely Unremarkable’s Wooden Magazine Rack

The Fifth Sparrow No More

The Vixen’s Den