Introduction
If you find yourself in need of a little extra elbow room and don't have it in the budget to go out and buy a new desk, fear not. A simple and inexpensive plastic folding table can easily be dressed up to look the part of a chic, modern, minimalist writing desk.
Step 1

Prep The Surface
The first step before any painting project? A little bit of elbow grease for a solid scrubbing. Paint sticks to a clean surface, not a dirty one.
Step 2

Prime
After cleaning, priming. Primer is SO important, especially when you’re talking about plastic and metal. There’s nothing worse than putting in the work on a project only to watch the paint flake off at the least little bump a few days later.
Pro Tip
Apply all primer and paint in thin, even coats.
Step 3

Paint The Stool Seat
Next up, I painted my trusty little stool with a semi-gloss white spray paint and once it dried, I prepped it for copper treatment on the legs. I used some plastic wrap and painter’s tape to protect the clean white paint on the seat and then got ready to pull out the spray paint.
Step 4

Accept the Unexpected
Sometimes, conditions just aren't ideal for spray painting. The bubbling seen here is a result of trying to paint in a garage that was too cold. Back to the drawing board.
Step 5

Apply Liquid Gilding To Table Legs
Once I had my table spray painted in the same semi-gloss white and had given it a day to dry, I moved it upstairs and got ready to tackle the legs. After the debacle with copper spray paint, I decided to go with liquid gilding instead.
Step 6

Apply A Second Coat Of Gilding
I used a small soft brush to avoid harsh brush strokes.
Pro Tip
Gilding is smelly stuff, so if you’re using it, open the windows and wear a mask to avoid a paint fume headache.
Step 7

Allow To Dry Fully
Since this desk will only be used lightly, I decided not to apply a clear coat to seal it. If, however, I start to see wear and tear, I'll make a few touch ups and then spray on a clear coat.