Updating 80’s? fitted wardrobes

[Comefromaway]

Dd is finding our move difficult. (Asd doesn’t like change & she fell in love with a modern open plan style house but the area didn’t work for us. Our new house is much bigger but built in the 60’s. Her new room has fitted wardrobes we can’t afford to change yet but they look dated.

How can I make it look more like a stylish room an 18 year old will. We have got rid of the awful deep peach paint. We also need to get her a dressing table and bedside cabinet as they weren’t left but I don’t want it to look silly against what’s already there. Ourbuilder is going to replace the mismatching wood strip under the over bed units (it had a reading light attached inside). She wAnts lots of storage.

More pics

Annie Sloan chalk paint is your friend.

Sorry that was a bit abrupt. If you need something cheap you could paint them (I personally would leave the handles and the mirrors). Chalk paint can go on a lot of finishes without extensive prep. Google it for ideas. Google the fails. But actually a friend has had great results painting orange pine.

I’m thinking of replacing the handles and Dd does like the mirrors.

I’m not sure paint would go on though. It’s like a thin layer of shiny patterned something on. I was wondering if it could be removed and something stuck on?

He (previous owner) has used one of the same doors in a unit in the garage/workshop. (He was a bit of a diy using scraps of things person) maybe I could use that to test.

Valspar (from b&q) interior eggshell or satin paint is amazingly durable. I used it on our en-suite vanity unit and the island unit in our kitchen (so it gets wet and is well used) about 5 years ago and neither have a scratch on them. I wouldn’t use chalk paint if I were you - it’s not as hard wearing.
You can also get valspar mixed to absolutely any colour you want.

You could fablon them and paint the handles perhaps although nosy question I know but the pic looks like this is likely the master bedroom so could you swap bedrooms and then put up with until you can afford?

We transformed old wardrobes using zinsser bin. I'd wash down the wardrobes with sugar soap and then do a couple of coats of zinsser straight on. It dries really quickly and you can then coat in eggshell/satin etc. You could then get a bedside cabinet and paint to the same colour if wishes.

Another way to update would be to remove the wall units going over the bed if you don't need the storage.

It’s not the master bedroom. The master is the other end of the landing and has an en-suite & dressing room. So the idea is that Dh & I share the en-suite and shower and Dd & Ds mainly use the main bathroom which also has a shower or bath.

The master has no TV point though (perhaps reflecting the fact the older couple didn’t have TV in their room but their adult son did.

Fablon looks interesting.

Off to google what zinsser is.

I wouldnt use Annie Sloan, the trend for shabby chic died out about 10years ago.
You could try and spray them glossy white to match the IKEA Malm dressing table that all the instagrammers seem to have.
DD (22) recently bought one and I have to say it's actually much nicer than I imagined, holds loads and looks fab dressed with plants and a big mirror.

Can the bed go the other way? Then you could build a desk using a counter top and buy draws for underneath if you measure correctly!

No, she definitely wouldn’t like shabby chic. Her style would be more sleek, studio industrial. She showed me something she’d seen on Queer Eye but I can’t remember what it was now.

Her previous room she says is now too little girly. Pretty white wardrobes and dressing table.

I’m not sure. I’d have to measure. She’s going to have a small double bed.

Try putting some magnetic paint under the final colour you want, so she can use one of the doors to attach pictures using magnets like a noticeboard. A friend did it in her kitchen and it worked really well.

I had these in my previous house, i originally used a cupboard film to cover but then I had to remove the overhead cupboards as they gave me nightmares. I liked the mirrors but I put decorative window film on, could still use as a mirror but not as harsh.

Try putting some magnetic paint under the final colour you want, so she can use one of the doors to attach pictures using magnets like a noticeboard.

I'm a bit confused. What do you mean by attach pictures? She's got couple of framed pictures/posters but they will be put up with picture hooks.

the wardrobes look like they are made of laminated chipboard. This can be painted, with a suitable primer. It can also be wallpapered. If you wish, the doors can be replaced by new. The construction is very similar to kitchen units, except they are mostly self-assembly as too big and heavy to carry upstairs once built, and the components are available from places that make this kind of furniture (online suppliers are cheaper than shops). You can get veneered or solid doors if you want.

I'd recommend taking the doors off to paint, and lying them flat to avoid runs. Most likely you can replace the hinges with modern clip-on, spring, soft-close hinges as used in kitchens, they will probably fit straight on to replace the originals. Hinge reinforcement plates are available if the old screws have come out.

If any of the joints, hinges or catches are loose they can easily be fixed. If the wardrobes are screwed to the wall they will be more rigid and less liable to get loose.

Handles and knobs are very easy to source. There are hundreds here. Most of them are attached from the inside of the door using M4 screws,like kitchen handles, but you can fit door handles or knobs if you want. The same products are sold by bedroom companies at different prices.
www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/search?query=cabinet+handle&fi=s

They also have wardrobe fittings like hanging rails, hooks, drawers, slide-in baskets.

I mean pictures, notes cards attached with magnets like you would on the front of a fridge. The magnetic paint means you can do this.

Oh right. We’ve never had stuff on our fridge. When Dd was revising she used to stick post it notes with revision tips on her walls but she’s never been one for sticking photos etc up. She’s quite minimalistic.