Turning a Boring Closet into a Rainbow Wonderland

A few months ago, I decided to tackle a little project in my daughter’s bedroom – creating a cozy little nook for her to play in her walk-in closet. I installed some simple wooden shelves, thinking it would be the perfect spot for her to keep her toys and have a private space to play. But as soon as the novelty wore off, she told me the space was just “boring – it’s just wood.”

You see, my daughter loves all things bright, colorful, and shiny. Rainbows, unicorns, glitter – you name it, she’s obsessed. And to her, “pretty” is everything. So I knew I had to step up my game if I wanted her to actually use and enjoy this little hideaway.

That’s when I discovered UNICORN SPiT, a line of amazingly vibrant paint-gel stains and glazes from Eclectic Products. I decided to use these products to transform the plain wood shelves into a rainbow masterpiece, turning a boring closet into a whimsical playroom that any child would love.

Prepping the Workspace

Before I could get started on the fun part, I had to make sure I had the right workspace set up. Since this project could get a little messy, I decided to use our dining room table as my work surface. I covered it with a plastic drop cloth to protect the table, and then placed the wooden planks on top, elevating them about 3 inches using some disposable plastic bowls.

Next, I carefully sanded the tops and sides of each plank, making sure to remove any rough edges or splinters. After that, I brushed away all the dust with a dry cloth, ensuring I had a smooth surface to work with.

Choosing the Colors

To get the perfect rainbow effect, I turned to one of my daughter’s favorite items – an acrylic rainbow photo frame. I used this as inspiration for the color palette, though I didn’t stick to the traditional ROYGBIV spectrum. Instead, I chose colors that would better match the decor in her bedroom.

UNICORN SPiT comes in 14 vibrant color options, and I even mixed a few of them together to get the perfect shades. For example, I added a little white to a few of the colors to lighten them up and make them more accurate to the photo frame.

Creating the Rainbow Effect

To achieve the rainbow stain effect, I decided to thin the UNICORN SPiT with a bit of water, using a ratio of 1 part paint-gel to 2 parts water. I stirred the mixture thoroughly with a bamboo skewer.

Then, I mapped out where I wanted each color to go by measuring the length of the planks and dividing that number by 6 (the number of colors I was using). I used a faint pencil line to mark where each new color should begin, creating a rainbow grid effect.

Starting with the first color, I applied the stain, allowing it to puddle slightly near the line where the next color would begin. This created a unique color transition. I repeated this process with each new color, slightly overlapping the previous one to get that beautiful marbled look.

Since UNICORN SPiT is water-soluble, I was able to use the same brush for the entire project, just rinsing it off between colors to keep things looking crisp.

Adding the Gloss

Once the stain was completely dry (which only took about 2-3 hours, much faster than a typical stain), I decided to take this project to the next level by coating each plank in Famowood Glaze Coat Epoxy Coating. My daughter loves everything shiny, and I knew this extra step would really make the colors pop.

Before applying the epoxy, I added some of my daughter’s favorite stickers to the boards. Since the coating is so thick, the stickers became permanently embedded, adding a playful, personalized touch.

To apply the epoxy, I first measured out equal parts resin and hardener in two disposable cups, being sure to mix them thoroughly for a full 12 minutes, as directed by the product instructions. Safety first, folks! Then, I simply poured puddles of the glaze down the center of each plank and used a plastic trowel to smooth it out to the edges.

After that, I set up a little tent over the project to protect it from any debris, and let it harden for a full 72 hours. Let me tell you, watching that epoxy transform the rainbow stain was mesmerizing. The depth and shine it added were just incredible.

Turning a Boring Closet into a Playroom

Once the epoxy had fully cured, I was able to reattach the vibrant, glossy planks to the braces I had previously installed in my daughter’s closet. These are just simple 2×2 boards screwed directly into the studs.

I used wood screws to attach the shelves from the top, and while the screws and braces are visible from certain angles, I’m not too bothered by it. They’ll be easily concealed by my daughter’s toys anyway.

With the shelves in place, I added some plastic bins on the floor for additional toy storage. Now, my daughter can easily see and access everything, making tidying up a breeze. She absolutely loves her new “rainbow closet” and can’t wait to show it off to all her friends.

This project was a game-changer for our nightly cleanup routine. The time spent on these tasks has been cut in half, all thanks to a little creativity and some amazing products from Timber Building.

The Finishing Touches

As a little bonus, I even used the leftover UNICORN SPiT and some fun craft paper to transform an old shoe box into a special keepsake box for my daughter’s jewelry. She was so excited when I gave it to her – it’s amazing how a little color and creativity can make something so mundane into a treasured item.

So if you’ve got a kid who loves all things bright and shiny, I highly recommend giving this rainbow wood coat rack project a try. With the help of Timber Building‘s amazing products, you can turn a boring space into a whimsical wonderland that your little one will adore.