A Two-Tone Painted Desk That's Artwork in Your Office

Are you a numbers person? Do you enjoy the structure of working with numbers, formulas, and the sciences? Or are you a creative – someone that enjoys designing, writing, and strategizing? Or, maybe you’re both. If there’s even a shade of creative in your blood, this two-tone abstract painted desk could be just what sets off those creative sparks in your office.

Your furnishings should be a direct reflection of you and your personality, because the more you enjoy the items with which you surround yourself, the less your mind will wander about the mishaps going on around you, and the more work you’ll get done when you need to.

So whether you’re a full-fledged creative or you dream about it on the side, get creative and add a little art to your workspace; just as I did with this otherwise plain desk.

The desk was found for free (Yes – FREE) using one of the techniques you can read about in my ebook. I’d love to send you a copy. Yup – also for FREE. Just click the image and it will be delivered to your inbox:

As you can see, the desk started off in just a basic dark expresso. My son actually has a very similar desk in his bedroom. We purchased it at a big-name furniture store a few years ago. It’s not real wood and the top on this one was really scratched, so painting and adding a protective topcoat actually improved its durability.

The design was created by first lightly sanding and then priming and painting the bottom half in a bright white emamel.

For priming it’s perfectly fine to use inexpensive paint brushes from the dollar store; but once I get into brushing on the paint and clear topcoats, I prefer wood-handled angled Purdy brushes.

While this BIN primer is dry to the touch in less than an hour, I advise you to allow it to sit overnight to ensure full adhesion to the furniture.

Then the next day, the top was painted in General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint.

Using downward vertical strokes, the first coat of the black was brushed down below the line of the white. The second coat was brushed down to about two inches above the new white line. The third coat was brushed down to about 4 inches above the white – resulting in the darkest area at the top and shading down toward the white.

What’s your favorite color? Imagine this in blue & white, red & white, or purple & white? Oooh… I’ll have to try those colors next time – gorgeous!

Now I can’t take all of the credit for the design. Carrie over at #ThirtyEighthStreet painted this amazing two-tone black & white desk using a dry brushing technique. Her’s was so amazing that I had to try my own version.

While our techniques are different, so too are the styles of desks with which we started. And I like that they’re a little different.

The design goes full-circle around the entire desk. Whether you have it against a wall or floating in the center of the room, this abstract art will show.