Upcycled Tray

From Gilded to Grounded: A Standing Jewelry Armoire's Dark Moody Transformation

Sometimes, a "bright and airy" makeover just doesn’t fit the vibe. I found this standing jewelry armoire after it had already been given a white and gold facelift by someone else, but it felt a bit too "glam" for many people. I knew it had the potential to be something much more sophisticated, mysterious, and—of course— moody . In this tutorial, I’m taking you through the process of retaining some of the previous DIY and layering on a deep, velvety dark green finish. We’ll be leaning into those shadows, highlighting the unique curved silhouette. Whether you're looking to tone down a piece that's "too bright" or you're ready to embrace the dark academia aesthetic, here is how I turned a high-contrast piece into a seamless, moody masterpiece.

This is how I took a solid maple cabinet door and upcycled it into a fun tray.

After scrubbing the door up, I filled the predrilled holes and painted the entire tray front and back Homestead House Milk Paint in Quaker blue and sealed all sides with Fusion Mineral Paint 's tough coat. The next step was a wash of Fusion Mineral Paint chocolate which catches nicely in the nooks and crannies.

Dry brushing Fusion Mineral Paint inglenook and homestead blue were next. All layers were sanded and once again clear coated with Fusion Mineral Paint tough coat all sides in two coats.