Yes ladies, you read that correctly. When I told my MIL and BFF in one what I was up to she said “Your brain must never shut off!” I think that’s a compliment, right? Right?1!?
So you know how metallic accent pieces are all the rage? I really like them, like really really like them. My only problem is that I don’t like when they look like metallic paint. Its too faux for me. So on the restricted budget that I have this week I got an idea using stuff I had in my casa.
I started on the side and lightly wrinkled a piece of foil. I applied a coat of mod podge to the nightstand and put the shiny side of the foil down. I smoothed it down CAREFULLY with a popcicle stick and applied a coat of mod podge to the top of it, and moved on to the next section.
(Just make sure that the ends of the foil are flat.) I didn’t have too many seams except on the top. There was no way that I could have covered it with one piece. I ended up layering it so it looked kind of like silver leafing. I loved it so much I ended up just putting random pieces all over so that it had variation to it.
This is what she looked like when all the foil was on. Basically a nightstand wrapped in tin foil. At this point I was kind of wary because I have never seen this done before and I had zero idea what it was going to turn out like.
Just to make sure that the nightstand was scratch resistant I put another layer of modpodge on the whole piece.
The steel paint was awesome. I painted it on and rubbed it off really quickly. It changed the color of the piece but because I rubbed it off it gave it alot of variation. Next came my best friend. Ralph Lauren Faux Glaze in Black Silk. I put this just on and rubbed it off. I concentrated on the edges and places that had detail, like the drawer. And here she is all finished….
UPDATE: I have had a bunch of questions about the steel paint. I got it at Robert’s Crafts. The brand is Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes and the finish is Steel. I think it was about $5.00 with a 40% off coupon.
They had a bunch of other finishes so if anyone has used them let me know because I am interested if they are all as good as this one.
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What?! It’s freakin’ amazing!
That is a very cleaver idea. Amazing. Thanks for sharing.
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it…it looks gorgeous! I’m now running around my house looking for something to cover with foil!
I have to say that at first, I wasn’t diggin’ it, but then I saw the finished piece, after the glaze, and it took my breath away! It looks sooo good. What makes it even better is that it was basically free. Awesome re-do!
~ The Speckled Dog
Incredible!!! You amaze me. I love it!
Krista
That looks great! Awesome idea!
um…I love this. This has to be the best thing I’ve ever seen!! So great!
oh- em – gee!!! who would have ever thought, how does your brain work anyway? it looks beee-uuu-tii-ful!
wow, mandi! if you don’t win, i will be shocked. love it!!!
I’ll be honest, when I read the post title, I was skeptical. Then I saw the beginning of the “foiling” and I was nervous. Then I looked at the finished result, and I almost peed my pants. It looks awesome!! I’ll never doubt you again!! ;D
I am so glad to see your foil nightstand on your blog! I wondered about it last night! That turned out really cute!
No it’s not bad to want to marry furniture. I have two chairs I’d like to marry…is that considered polygamy? I love how this turned out. It looks freakin’ awesome. I had been toying with the idea of foiling a huge mirror I have. I think you’ve inspired me to give her a go.
that is seriously cool!!! I’m practically a polygamist with all the things in my house I want to marry! 😉
xoxo, cassie
Wow! It looks awesome! Have you had any issues with it chipping off? And what’s that steel paint you speak of? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
Are you kidding me???? FOIL! AWESOME!!! I have got to go foil some things…
Ok- I am so doing this!!!! Been trying to find the perfect solution for my 2 nightstands and this is just the thing!!! YOU ROCK!!!!
That is fantastic! I love the way it came out! Oh and my brain doesn’t shut off either, I would take that as a compliment=).
I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first 🙂 But it is stunning!! You’re amazing!
Mandi, This is so creative and absolutely fabulous! Who would have ever thought tin foil could look so good. Love it.
Hugs, Sherry
You. Are. GENIUS!
So glad you’re entered on CSI, cuz this project is a total winner!
WOW! This is totally amazing! I am highlighting this at somedaycrafts.blogspot.com Grab my “featured” button.
Love, love, love this! By the way, did I say that I love this!. In fact, I love it so much I’m going to copy, copy, copy, this on a piece of old furniture (actually an old high-boy/buffet)that I’ve shortened the legs on to ‘act’ as a sofa table. It has been sitting for quite a few years with me wondering how I wanted to finish it. Eureka! I hope you don’t mind copycats, Mandi. This is stunning. I just hope mine comes out just as exquisite. I’m also seriously interested in that steel paint. Thanks for the great idea.
That is such a cool idea. It looks like silver leaf but way less messy. Great job.
The secret weapons sent this piece over the top. I love it.
That is seriously way beyond cool.
Hi Mandi, I love your projects! Just making sure my followers know about a give-away on my blog. Hop on over to enter! Warmly, Michelle
I’m bookmarking this page, so I can try it at home!! I just got a free “Craigslist” nightstand that looks just like yours…might have to try it out on it!
You may be tired of hearing this but this project is just about the cleverest (is that a word?) thing I’ve seen! I’m loving it! Definitely want to try this! Thanks so much for sharing.
AWESOME! I have a feeling you are going to start a foil craze now!! You know, like the burlap craze that is going on! WHAT?!! lol!
GENIUS! Thanks for sharing!
I just found your blog. Love it! REALLY love that nightstand. What a brilliant idea.
Fantastic! you’re so creative!!!
This turned out fabulous! Foil…..who knew?
It cracks me up that you stopped over and saw my dresser revamp… I spent a good chunk of my afternoon yesterday OOGLING over your tin foil nightstand!! I got pulled away before I could comment, but I will now: IN-CRED-I-BLE! Great job! Glad to have a new friend (I’m your newest follower!) and thanks for visiting over at Ten June!
xo- M
Wonderful, wonderful and absolutely beautiful and gorgeous! I’ve been toying with the idea of doing something similar but it’s always great when someone else does it first so you can see how it turns out 🙂 Only your results are so great I wish I had been first 🙂
Is there any chance you can put up some more pics of the piece, different angles and lights etc? I would like to see much more of it, I may want to marry it myself 🙂 Excellent job!
This is gorgeous – I’ve been checking out the faux tin furniture and this is the best yet!!!! A winner project! You can’t lose!
woops! Just fell on the floor from amazement! Back up now and have to say that technique might be the most fearless thing I’ve seen done to a piece of furniture! The end result is amazing! Going to be attempting that idea real soon. Thanks for sharing!
OH MY GOSH – Tin Foil? Really? Tin foil – who would have thought! This turned out totally awesome and so dang cute/cool! I am featuring it on my blog tomorrow for my friday favorites because I just love it that much! tin foil…..
Wonderful idea!!! I am hosting a Thursday Linky called Thrilling Thursday. I would love for you to stop by and link up!
Thrilling Thursdays @Paisley Passions
~Lori
Oh my freaking heck. You are incredible, I want to try this, but I’m scared it would never turn out as well as yours. I don’t know how you do it, awesome job!
Hey there, just popping by again to let you know I’ve mentioned your awesome creation on my blog Five Sixteenths! please stop by: https://fivesixteenthsblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/fan-fridays-can-do-diy-spirit.html
No way! You wrapped a night stand in tinfoil! It looks incredible.
Thanks for linking this fabulous idea up to my party. Hope to see you again next week 🙂
Wow. That turned out incredible. SO incredible I’d love to own one. I think the style of the little nightstand what perfect for this project.
Wow!! I am stunned! I love how it looks with the accent on it – you obviously have a brilliant mind!!
Wow, Mandi. I’m your 45th comment! I’ve never had that many on anything. Thanks for your sweet comments on my blog. Good Luck with the Studio 5 endeavor. I’ll plan on seeing you!
Warmly, Michelle
Fantastic! Thanks so much for linking up!
awesome! i can’t believe how great that thing looks–and with TINFOIL!?!?!?
amazing. brilliant.
way to think outside the box–and what a payoff!
I would have never thought to do that…great project for sure…thanks for sharing how too…
nice blog also
Love this. Almost reminds me of mercury glass a little. love the Sophisticated Finishes paint, too. I got “pewter” crazy with a few things and posted about it a couple of weeks ago. Found you at the DIY Club.
Jami
Wow! Totally creative and inexpensive too! Great job!
You beat me to the punch. After I did a pumpkin in this same technique, I’ve been wanting to do this to my piano, which needs some love. I’ve held off, but you’ve convinced me to move ahead.
Thanks!
https://froufrugal.blogspot.com
Wow, I would love to try this. I think my husband would flip. He already thinks I have lost my mind with all my crazy ideas! What make of tin foil did you use? Thanks…
Um…you are pretty much my favorite person right now! I have thought of doing this exact thing for years but was never brave enough. And the paint touch is awesome. Thanks a million for sharing.
I think this turned out pretty amazing. I have a french chest that I have been thinking I would silver leaf but looks like using tin foil turns out wonderful. I might have to consider that. Thanks for the tutorial.
That is amazing! I would never have thought to use tin foil like that – very clever and it turned out great!
It turned out great! Nice work! 🙂
I have to agree with others, I was worried at first. But oh my oh my, the end product is amazing!!! If you don’t marry it, I will!!
Turned out so well I’m off to troll Craigslist to find something to tin foil!
Wow! I think this is the coolest thing EVER, it looks great!
Tania
I can’t believe that is really tinfoil! Love it!
Your creativity is amazing! Superb job… round of applause 🙂
Mustard Seed Creations covered a picture frame with foil to get a metallic look and used a glaze for color. I wondered at the time if the same technique would work on furniture.
I guess you answered that questions. Thanks!
I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I linked to this post today from the new Home & Garden channel at Craft Gossip. 🙂 My hope is to share many of the fabulous projects I see everyday with the vast CG audience. I hope you will not only stop by and subscribe to CG, but will tell your friends about the new category! Hope you see some traffic from it!
Your feature will appear in the main Craft Gossip RSS feed, on the main home page and can be found directly here
https://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/tin-foil-nightstand/
If you would like a “featured by” button, you can grab one here!
https://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/grab-a-craft-gossip-button/
This is beyond fantastic! I’ve been brainstorming ways to get this look for months and completely overlooked the most obvious!
This is gorgeous! And… frankly I’m a bit jealous I didn’t think of it… (Mentally assessing all surfaces in my apartment to figure out which one(s) could use some tin-foil treatment)
I just found you through Craft Gossip and now I need to lurk around a bit to see what else you have going on here!
OK you win the prize. Love it. Will try this soon.
WOWZERS, I LOVE it!!!!!!! So creative, so amazing, I want to copy it!
Wow, this blew my mind a little — I never would have thought that something like this would work. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, you may marry that piece of furniture…LOL It’s just gorgeous!
Absolutely awesome!
You did a beautiful Job!
Thanks for sharing.
Bill
I put off looking at this post that was sent to me thinking yea, yea, yea, tinfoil. humph, gonna be trashy looking. But I have to say what a fantastic piece of furniture. I think it’s beautiful. Now where’s the tin foil, LOL…….
this made me very happy! thank you for sharing such good ideas!
You are freakin’ amazing! I love it. I’m gonna have to find me an old nightstand. Your brain really never shuts off! 🙂
ok that? Is freaking AMAZING!
Looks super cool, but I’m surprised that the same person who would undertake a project like this would post such horribly out of focus pics. I was hoping just one of the “after” pictures would be sharp, but alas…
Whatev Joe.
Anyways. Lifehacker is mean. Tipnut is awesome. I have gotten some seriously great traffic from them. Nice job on your DIY project. I think it’s pretty in your house.
Completely gorgeous! I love this more than I can even say!
Life hacker is just rude, gold sparkly paint? What the crap?
Honestly, I think its beautiful, and if I didn’t? Guess what? I wouldn’t have left a comment at all, because if its not my cup o’ tea, then I would just move on instead of being rude for absolutely no reason! 🙂
I think I might have to redecorate a whole room just so I can make one of these.
love it! love it! love it!
BRILLIANT! I love this 🙂
~Diane
Hi! I’m a new follower. I love this project. It makes me crazy! I want to refinish something just to do it!. If you have a chance please stop by and see me.
Nancy
Wow, I love how it gives off an aura of antiquity just by using a tin foil as a skin for the nightstand, and it makes me remember how I love my medieval-style interior design. In my living/bar room, I placed some hand forged iron sconces as a form of lighting and hand forged iron tables for my guests to place their food or drinks at.
Love this! Had to share on my FB page!
Brilliant, simply brilliant. I’m in total awe right now. Here, take my spray paint gun as tribute. Wow.
I thought this was stunningly brilliant when I first saw it, and it came in downright handy when I needed a temporary solution to a problem kitchen. I re-vamped my tile: https://randomonpurpose.typepad.com/random_on_purpose/2010/11/tinfoil-tile-and-other-kitchen-re-works.html
Thank you so much for sharing your genius! LOVE your blog!
I did this to the inner section of my kitchen cupboards as they are outlined with a molding. I got the idea from Trading Spaces when I seen Hildy doing that to a ceiling lol. I never thought to use it on a end table or anything. That is so darn clever. I am definitely going to give that a try. In fact maybe for my bedroom. Thanks for the clever idea! Its gorgeous!
I know your sister Amy. I found your blog through her facebook.. And now I am utterly in love with your blog and your creativity! You have such awesome ideas and are so inspiring! I have so many things that I want to try out because of your blog! So thank you 🙂
So clever
Love love love it!
WOW!!! I know you came and commented on mine tinfoil dresser but I never knew you did it also until a kind lady told me to come take a gander and I did. I seen it was featured on Remodelaholic and I linked over to see it was yours. Yours turned out great! Isn’t tinfoil fun?!!! lol. You are super duper talented! We really do have design ESPN! hahah…love it girl! Great job.
Deb
https://dejarenew.blogspot.com
I am obsessed with this idea and have been looking for a simple way to make things look like borghese mirrored furniture…you are brilliant my dear…I love all your stuff. cheers!
You inspired me to mod podge tin foil on the two Pottery Barn formica-ish chairs in my art studio! They were striped laminated paper…now they are the coolest soft silver (tin foil). My teenagers think it is the coolest thing! Everyone loves them. thank you so much for posting your project!
Found you via CWTS. This is the coolest, most creative thing I’ve seen in craft blogland! LOVE it! Here’s what I made using your tute… not near as cool, but I like it 🙂
https://www.pinkpineappleprojects.com/2011/01/tinfoil-frame.html
Hello,
I’m tryin to do this to my two ikea lack tables. the first layer stayed on very well, but when trying to layer the foil over foil the egdes won’t stay down. Do you know what can be done so this doesn’t happen?
Thank you!
I am trying this technique on a frame, and so far it seems to be working. I used a Champagne glaze, though. We’ll see!
I was Stumblin’ and found your page! Truly cool!
WOW! That turned out great! You are a smart one!! Just found your blog from a Facebook post and I sure do like it. Thanks for sharing this cool project. 🙂
Loved it so much I tried it on a little chest that I turned into a jewelry box. Great idea!!! 😀 THANKS!!!
One slightly silly comment, do you have cell phone interference when you are near this nightstand? If so, is it only interfering with phone calls or text messages, too?
I truly, truly would like a response to this as I hear tin foil does interfere with cell phone reception.
Thank you!
Dayam, this is frickin’ awesome! (Sorry, I want to cuss when I’m excited, but I can’t cuz this is blogland and all)! Anyway, suffice it to say I almost choked on my tongue seeing this. It’s great!
Love the idea that Tori mentioned about a jewelry box. I have one to try this technique on!
Cheers,
Tracy All Thumbs Crafts
Yeah, so I pretty much LOVE that.
They tin foil gives it such great texture.
I’ve experimented with tin foil on a couple of things, but it always seems to scratch off easily. Does your nightstand have a good durable finish? If so, how did you achieve it? By the way, I want to marry it too!!
i love this so much it is kind of sick. i am now thinking of what i have that i can cover in foil… hold on while my brain tries to think of things… : )
i am visiting from the hate mail blog. i think it’s sooo dumb that people are hating on this piece of furniture. obviously they are lacking in taste. this is gorgeous.
WOW! That is absolutely amazing and beautiful! Thanks so much for the tutorial, I can’t believe that is tinfoil! Deb
Holy crap. That’s all I can say right now because I’m speechless. Thank you for posting this. I’m going to show it to my husband so he’ll stop telling me I’m crazy for wanting to do something with tinfoil. I KNEW it had huge potential! You are genius!
I love your night stand so much that I added it to my project list! Well after a couple of months of searching for the right project I have completed a coffee table! I started small, didn’t really want to do the entire table. So here it is! Thank you for your awesome idea!
https://simplytiffanyb.blogspot.com/2011/05/tin-foil-coffee-table.html
so inspiring i tried it on my dresser: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150200851383988.331488.722458987&l=0f91dae5a3
This look so cool, very well done!
Oh my goodness! This has got to be one of THE coolest ideas I’ve seen in a long time! I would so love to try something like this sometime.
LOVED this idea so I decided to try it on a nightstand of my own!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150644207900085&set=a.10150158665835085.429318.638815084&type=1&theater
Definitely going to try this! 🙂 Awesome idea!
GirlfriendsAreLikeShoes xo
Hey Mandi! Love this so much I featured it in today’s post. Of course, I could make a weekly series just out of your projects! I’ll try to restrain myself tho 😉
Have a great weekend!
I just saw you on the Nate show.. I loved the mirrors so much I am going to make some for my college dorm room. I then found the tin foil project.. LOVE IT!!!
When you say “tin foil” did you mean aluminum foil? I know this is a bit OCD but, for all I know the various foils have different strengths or qualities.
I’m starting my second nightstand and I was frustrated about having to deal with the nod podge and the sliding again so I bought elmer’s spray adhesive. GENIUS!!! I was able to cover the entire nightstand in like 20 minutes!!!
I love, love, love your tin foil nightstand. So much that I decided to try it on my own nighstand…but I had a bit of a DIY disaster. When I used watered down paint to darken the foil, the edges kept coming up as I wiped it off. Did you have this problem??
Thanks! Love your blog!
I tried tin foiling…with disasterous results. You can read about my DIY disaster by clicking here: https://www.level28design.com/2011/08/diydisaster.html
Thanks for the daily inspiration on your blog!
Rachel
This reminds me of my countertops, only yours is so much cooler. We bought house with this green marble laminate countertops. Gross. I didn’t want to change them, since I really want new kitchen one of these days, so I decided to change them into white marble using, that sticky lining for the kitchen cabinets. Looks good unless you really pay attention to details and cost about $3.50.
What a unique and clever idea! I love where the stain gathered in the nooks and crannies.
Honestly I’m not a huge fan of shiny furniture, but this was a really clever idea! And the finished piece looks great!
wow, this looks amazing i love it, thanks for the great tutorial xxx
Love this tin foil redo! Glad I happened upon your blog!
This is amazing. I am completely useless at doing stuff but I have now tagged 3 projects that I am absolutely going to try.
Beyond that I am obsessed with silver leaf..but not just any silver leaf look..but that ancient looking glowy not shiny silver leaf.
I’ve been waiting to get a new contract before I actually buy silver leaf. Now I can do it with foil and other stuff I have. I will subscribe to your blog. First time ever.
I wish more people would write blogs like this that are actually interesting to read. With all the garbage floating around on the net, it is rare to read a blog like yours instead.
It looks like a “faux” finish! actually looks like a tissue paper finish painted with silver paint and then over glazed with with black glaze. sorry to burst your bubble!
Unbelievable! I need to hang out with brilliant talented, aka crazy, minds like yourself! My head is reeling with what I could tin foil!!! I’m off to find your RSS button (I do hope you have one) because I want to see more, more, more of your crazy adventures in decorating! And I’m definitely pinning this! Smiles, Lesli 🙂
I LOVE LOVE THIS! This is amazing and i can’t wait to try it. but i have one question… did you use the thin foil or the heavy foil when you did this…HATS off to you ! What a awesome awesome idea!!
U are amazing…. that looks so high end…. I will be doing this to something soon, just have to find a piece to attack! lol
I love this idea, can’t tell you in words what I think of your brilliance with crafty art. I am awaiting my buddhist altar piece today and plan on using this idea to finish it. I will post pictures for you later!
This is the most fabulous idea I have seen in a while! I will totally be trying this! Thanks for such awesome inspiration!!!! ♥♥♥
Hershey’s Kisses Aluminum foil for doll furuniture???
I totally did tthis with an old computer desk in a goldmetalic finish with the black finish…LOVE IT…If I could post the pic I would..Thans for the idea 🙂
I did the foil to a dreeser that was left here in the home we purchased. The dresser was painted all black. Just to bland for me. I did only the drawers in foil. After that I took red water base paint and wiped it on and off the red paint when in the grooves of the foil. Then purchased ( clearence of course) chrome handles for it . It turned out great. Gives a little extra spark in my sewing area. Total cost 5 dollars for handles everything else had . Now I have a one of a kind dresser.
thanks for all the ideas.
As a disabled senior citizen, I absolutely LOVE this idea — AND — it’s something I can still do within my physical limitations! I have a wooden jewelry box bought at Goodwill that will be my first project for my precious Princess grand-daughter. She’s a little Diva at 4 years old and will love it! Kathie in MN
I love this. Absolutely love this. There is just so much one can do with it.
Thank you so much for sharing your brilliant mind!
I adore you nightstand! Several years ago I was decorating my windowless attic bathroom, very much on a budget. I got the idea to tin foil the ceiling. I crinkled squares of tin foil and glued it to the ceiling, covering the entire room. After adding mirrors and new lights, the room seems larger and much brighter. I’ll have to look for another place to try out the tin foil affect.
Wow this looks awesome.
Love this! Wish I had something to use it on.
I love this! Wish I had something to use it on.
Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes in steel finish… I found it at Michael’s craft store.Hope this helps anyone looking for it.
Modern Options Sophisticated Finishes in steel…Found it at Michael’s craft store. Hope this helps anyone looking for it.
Ok, I’m impressed! Really great piece.
thank you for sharing. I use modern options blackened bronze as my “secret weapon” to transform wood, plastic, leather, anything into a blackened bronze iron looking piece. It transforms old brass…anything! I first paint a brown undercoat if the item need a base, and then use the finish. I apply with a rag to I can wipe and get the right effect without too much of the metallics coming through. So love the new ideas!!
Like everyone else, I was skeptical and amazed. I was looking at your blog because I’m looking for a way to emboss foil with a Moroccan design and place it on the drawers of an old chest of drawers that I bought today and finish it. You certainly demonstrated a wonderful solution, here.
I had to laugh at the opening statements! Does this mean that other peoples’ brains DO shut off?
I’m seriously glad to be in your camp, and say that mine doesn’t. I mean… how can it?
I luuuurve this piece, even so long after, it hasn’t dated in my eyes at all. Lucky you.
I have covered all my picture frames in foil, and now all the varying designs look ‘unified’ and ‘on purpose’. Yay, Foil!