Transforming old brass drawer pulls into vibrant, personalized hardware using the elegant technique of paper napkin decoupage and a durable epoxy finish.
Embarking on a furniture makeover can be one of the most rewarding DIY projects for your home. It’s an opportunity to breathe new life into cherished pieces, infusing them with modern style and personal flair. Last week, I delved into a painting marathon, tackling a hand-me-down dresser for my daughter. While the dresser itself was in good condition, she envisioned a fresh, contemporary look that truly reflected her aesthetic. The complete guide to painting the dresser will be shared in an upcoming post, but today, we’re shining a spotlight on what truly became the centerpiece of this transformation: the spectacular brass drawer pull makeover.
The original hardware, classic Chippendale-style brass pulls, were perfectly functional. However, their traditional appearance simply didn’t align with my daughter’s desire for something unique and vibrant. Buying a whole new set of pulls, especially for a dresser with numerous drawers, would have significantly inflated the project’s budget. It was during a serendipitous trip down the clearance aisle at Michaels that inspiration struck. Among the discounted items, I discovered an array of beautifully patterned paper napkins, and an exciting idea began to take shape.
These were originally classic brass Chippendale style pulls, sturdy and timeless, yet ready for a modern upgrade.
My daughter specifically requested hardware that was distinctive and memorable. While the thought of purchasing new pulls crossed my mind, the cost quickly became a deterrent. It was in the Michaels clearance section that I stumbled upon these charming napkins, sparking the innovative idea for this transformation.
I had been eager to experiment with the acrylic resin product, EnviroTex Lite, for some time. Considering that the delicate paper napkins would require robust protection to successfully cover the drawer pulls and withstand daily use, creating napkin-covered drawer pulls seemed like the perfect small-scale project to test its capabilities. The combination of decorative paper and a high-gloss, protective resin promised both beauty and durability.
The final results exceeded all my expectations, turning simple brass into miniature works of art.
DIY Guide: How to Transform Brass Drawer Pulls with Paper Napkins and Epoxy
This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of giving your old drawer pulls a stunning, customized facelift using an easy decoupage technique with paper napkins and a durable epoxy finish. This budget-friendly DIY project is perfect for adding a personal touch to any piece of furniture, from dressers and cabinets to bedside tables.
Supplies You’ll Need for Your Drawer Pull Makeover:
- Old Drawer Pulls: Your existing brass or metal pulls are perfect for this upcycling project.
- Decorative Paper Napkins or Gift Wrap: Choose patterns that complement your furniture and room decor. Thin paper works best for a smooth finish.
- EnviroTex Lite Pour-On High Gloss Finish: This two-part epoxy resin is crucial for a durable, glass-like finish. Available at most craft stores in various sizes. For approximately 14 pulls, less than 8 ounces of the product should suffice.
- Spray Adhesive: A light-tack, repositionable spray adhesive (e.g., Scotch Super 77) is ideal for securing the napkins without excessive stickiness.
- Sharp Scissors: Essential for precise cutting of your chosen paper.
- Toothpicks: Useful for propping up pulls during painting and supporting them during epoxy application.
- Wood or Foam Blocks: To elevate pulls for even epoxy application and drying.
- Optional: White Spray Paint (Primer + Paint in one recommended): To create a neutral base, ensuring the napkin’s true colors shine through.
- Mixing Cups and Stir Sticks: For accurately measuring and thoroughly mixing the epoxy resin.
- Drop Cloths or Protective Sheeting: To protect your work surface during painting and epoxy application.
- Disposable Gloves: Highly recommended when working with spray paint and epoxy resin for personal protection.
Achieving a flawless finish with the paper napkins required some experimentation, but the following steps proved to be the most effective and yielded beautiful results.
Step-by-Step Makeover Process:
1. Prepare and Prime Your Pulls: Begin by thoroughly cleaning your drawer pulls to remove any grime, oil, or existing residue. A simple degreaser or rubbing alcohol works well. Once clean, line up the pulls on a protected surface, such as a dollar store foam board, which allows for easy transport. Wedge a toothpick into one side of each handle, lifting it slightly. This clever trick ensures the handle remains elevated, allowing for complete coverage when spray painting all sides without sticking to the surface. I sprayed mine outdoors for ventilation and then brought them inside to dry.
Important Note on Painting: Given the thinness of most paper napkins, painting the pulls first is a crucial step. Without a base coat, the underlying brass color can show through, altering the napkin’s intended design and hue. Painting the pulls white not only eliminates this unwanted brass tint but also provides a cohesive, neutral canvas that allows the napkin’s colors and patterns to pop. If you opt for more opaque paper or prefer the look of the brass peeking through, you can skip this initial painting step.
2. Ensure Full Coverage and Dry Thoroughly: After the first coat, allow the paint to dry completely. Then, apply a second, light coat, rotating the pulls as needed to ensure all visible surfaces of the handle are evenly covered. Patience is key here; rushing the drying process can lead to smudges or an uneven finish. Let them dry fully before moving on.
3. Prepare Your Napkin: Carefully lay a drawer pull face down onto the back of your chosen paper napkin. Take a moment to ensure that the desired pattern or design element is perfectly centered on the pull. Many decorative napkins are multi-ply; for the best adhesion and a smooth finish, gently separate and remove the back piece(s) so you are working with only a single, thin layer of the patterned napkin.
4. Make Strategic Cuts: With the pull as your guide, make two parallel cuts into the napkin, extending from the bottom edge towards the top. The ideal width between these cuts should correspond to the space between the two ball joints that anchor the handle to the base. This ensures the napkin can wrap neatly around the handle without excessive bulk.
5. Test the Fit: These cuts should align precisely along the inside edge of each ball joint. Don’t worry if it’s not absolutely perfect at this stage; slight adjustments can be made. Briefly lay the cut napkin over the pull to verify a good fit and confirm that your chosen design is still perfectly centered. This dry run helps prevent errors after adhesive is applied.
6. Apply Spray Adhesive (Lightly!): Remove the napkin and place it face down on a drop cloth or protected work surface. Holding the spray adhesive can at the recommended distance, apply a very, very light and even mist to the back of the napkin. The key here is not to saturate it. Immediately after spraying, let the adhesive dry for about 5-10 minutes until it feels tacky but no longer super wet. This crucial drying time allows the adhesive to become repositionable, preventing the napkin from aggressively sticking in the wrong place. A little tackiness is all you need for a successful application.
7. Smooth the Napkin onto the Pull: Carefully position the prepared napkin over the front of the drawer pull. Gently use your fingertips to smooth the napkin over the surface, working from the center outwards to eliminate any wrinkles or air bubbles. Ensure the central design is aligned and the pre-made cuts fit snugly around the handle. It’s perfectly acceptable to make small, additional snips or slightly overlap the napkin as needed to achieve complete coverage around the ball joints and curved edges.
8. Create Tabs for Wrapping: Once the front is smooth, flip the pull over. You’ll have excess napkin material extending beyond the edges of the pull. Using your scissors, carefully cut slits into this excess paper, stopping precisely at the edge of the pull itself. These cuts will create small tabs, making it easier to wrap the napkin neatly around the pull’s contours to the back.
9. Secure the Tabs to the Back: Fold these newly created tabs over to the back of the drawer pull. Use your fingers to smooth them down firmly. The residual tackiness from the spray adhesive should be sufficient to hold them in place. If you find any areas with excessive overlap, try to smooth them out or trim slightly so that the back of the pull remains relatively flat. This ensures the pull will sit flush against your furniture once re-mounted.
10. Final Napkin Adjustments: Turn the pull back over to the front and give it one last gentle smoothing with your fingertips. Inspect for any tiny uncovered spots or minor imperfections. If you find any, simply cut a very small piece from your napkin, apply a tiny amount of spray adhesive, and carefully lay it over the area. Remember, most small flaws will become less noticeable or even disappear once the pulls are sealed with the EnviroTex Lite epoxy resin.
Once all your drawer pulls are beautifully covered with the chosen paper napkins, it’s time for the final, transformative step: applying the durable and high-gloss EnviroTex Lite resin. This layer will protect your designs, enhance their colors, and provide a lasting, professional finish.
Mastering the EnviroTex Lite Epoxy Finish:
Before mixing the resin, ensure your workspace is clean, level, and well-ventilated. Protect your surfaces with plastic sheeting or newspaper. Have all your pulls ready and positioned for the epoxy application.
Setting Up for Epoxy Application:
- Elevate Each Pull: Each pull needs to be elevated on a block to allow the excess EnviroTex Lite to drip off freely without adhering to your work surface. I initially used foam blocks, but some resin residue stuck to the backs of the pulls, requiring a light sanding to remove. While not difficult, using small blocks of wood or foam blocks wrapped in wax paper or plastic wrap will ensure the pulls can be easily removed once the resin has dried. A fantastic tip from a reader, Lyn, suggests using sugar cubes as they provide perfect, non-stick bases for drying handles!
- Support the Handle: Insert a toothpick into one or both of the ball joints of each pull. Angle the toothpicks upwards so they lift the handle and prevent it from touching the base or any surfaces, allowing for a full and even epoxy coating. Ensure the toothpicks are not touching the sides of the pull itself.
Important Note on Ball Joints: When applying the EnviroTex Lite around the two ball joints that connect the handle to the base, exercise caution and apply it sparingly! You only need a thin layer in this area to achieve a shiny finish. Applying it too thickly can cause the resin to seep into the handle mechanism, potentially “freezing” the handle in place once dry. It can also fill the screw hole on the back, making re-installation difficult. I made this mistake on my first few pulls. To ensure the handle remains fully functional, apply the resin more generously to the middle, flat surface of the pull where it will self-level beautifully. The joint areas only need a minimal, shiny coating.
Working with EnviroTex Lite requires a bit of speed, which is why I don’t have step-by-step photos of the mixing and application process. However, the procedure is straightforward: you mix equal parts of the resin (Part A) and the hardener (Part B). Pour them into a clean mixing container and stir thoroughly for at least two minutes, just as you would cake batter. Make sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the mixing container frequently to ensure both components are fully incorporated. Incomplete mixing can lead to soft or sticky spots in your final cure.
Once mixed, immediately pour the resin over the surface of each drawer pull. I found it easiest to start pouring in the center of the pull and then gently guide the resin outwards to cover each side. It’s truly fascinating to watch the resin self-level, creating a perfectly smooth, glass-like surface. If any tiny bubbles appear on the surface, gently exhale on them; the carbon dioxide from your breath will cause them to pop, almost like magic. Do not blow too hard, as this can introduce dust or create an uneven surface.
I preferred mixing small batches of the resin as I needed it to ensure optimal working time and minimize waste. Once all the pulls were coated, I left them to dry overnight in a quiet, dust-free room. To protect them from dust and airborne particles, I covered them with a large cardboard box. By morning, the resin was hard and brilliantly shiny. While they are touch-dry, the directions state that the resin should cure for a few days before the pulls are put into active use to achieve maximum hardness and durability.
Always follow the EnviroTex directions precisely. While it might seem intimidating, it’s not a difficult product to use. The key to success lies in thoroughly reading and familiarizing yourself with the entire process before you begin. I encountered no problems and was genuinely delighted by how straightforward it was to achieve a professional-looking finish once I understood the importance of accurate measurement and thorough mixing.
Transforming these old brass drawer pulls with paper napkins and epoxy was not just a cost-effective solution but a deeply satisfying creative endeavor. The unique patterns and vibrant colors brought a completely fresh and personalized look to the dresser, making it a truly one-of-a-kind piece. This DIY hardware makeover proves that with a little imagination and the right materials, you can elevate everyday items into extraordinary accents for your home.
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