DIY lover gives Facebook Marketplace side unit a neon pink makeover (we're obsessed)

Prepare to feel inspired by this pink side unit makeover

before and after
Artwork by @roshanutt
(Image credit: Steph Stafford)

Many of us caught the DIY bug hard this year, and our love of a Facebook Marketplace bargain isn't going anywhere. One DIY enthusiast has nabbed a super cheap piece of unwanted furniture on Facebook, and after a lick of bright pink paint, it is completely unrecognizable.

The side unit has gone from something you see at the back of a vintage furniture shop to the kind of item you can totally imagine being sold at Wayfair or World Market. While some wood purists disagree with the chalk paint movement, this vibrant transformation has breathed new life into this formerly lacklustre piece.

Before

before and after

(Image credit: Steph Stafford)

Before Steph got to work, the unit was a dark wood tone, that had picked up a few bumps and scratches over time. But Steph knew it had potential, and we think it could work brilliantly as either a hallway storage idea or a living room storage idea to add a splash of color.

before and after

(Image credit: Steph Stafford)

The unit was an incredible bargain at just £20 from Facebook Marketplace. Steph used Rust-Oleum Neon pink paint, which comes in a tiny tin, around the same size as a Farrow & Ball sample tin. On the plus side, it only cost £6. 'When the tiny tin rocked up I thought it would need loads but actually, about two tiny tins did the whole thing as the coverage was amazing,' Steph says. For fellow pink lovers, our pink room ideas is jam-packed with ways to incorporate a rosy hue into your home.

After

before and after

Artwork by @roshanutt

(Image credit: Steph Stafford)

Steph also replaced the handles, and this detail really finishes off the modern look. She opted for leather handles from Rowzec via Etsy for £28. 'I've always wanted to own something super bright but I couldn't find the right color so I figured I just had to do it myself,' Steph tells us. 'The Rust-Oleum was great that I just did two coats and it was good to go, no sealing, waxing or anything'

'I just gave the whole thing a quick sand and then a coat of Zinsser BIN primer and then straight on to the neon pink for the punch!' she adds. 

before and after

(Image credit: Steph Stafford)

When she shared the transformation on Facebook page Resourceful Living - Lisa Dawson, the post was met with lots of positive comments.

'I’m a color lover and think it’s fabulous!' wrote one.

'I LOVE this,' said a second.

Another commented, 'I think that looks lovely. Very joyful.'

It goes to show you can give a tired piece of furniture a new lease of life without spending too much money. We certainly feeling inspired.

Millie joined Real Homes in early 2021 as a homes news writer. When she isn't writing about trends, makeovers and houseplant care, she spends her free time making tweaks to her rented flat in North London. Her next project is a very basic armchair reupholstering job to help create a cosy reading nook in her living room. She loves browsing antique centres, tending to her small front garden, and is never without some fresh flowers at home.