If you have an old piece of furniture lying around, you can easily transform it into something that can change the feel of a room. Breathing new life into your furniture can be as easy as a few simple brushstrokes. Known as ‘upcycling’, painting or decorating your furniture is also a fun weekend project that can be done in a small space, garage or on your balcony.
1. What’s your style?
If you are keen on making over, begin with choosing a style or color that you are most connected with. To determine your particular style, you should ask yourself a few simple questions. Turn to the rest of your home for some help. For example, do you have a sleek and modern kitchen with smart appliances? Or is your living room filled with intricate antique furniture?
2. Pick your piece
Beginners should ideally start with a small, easy piece that features large flat surfaces. You should steer away from items that have spindles because they can be quite tedious and challenging to paint. As a rule of thumb, decide whether you want a standout piece or whether you’d prefer it to blend with the rest of your interiors.
3. Sand, prime, sand
Although painting sounds simple- simply gran a paintbrush and pint, right? Well, if you want a professional-looking finish that is going to last, there are a few guidelines that you need to follow. Be sure to start any painting project by sanding your furniture and get those glossy finish off so that the paint will have a good surface to ‘grab’ onto. When doing so, be careful not to gouge the surface! Once your furniture is dry and dust-free, paint on some primer. Primer helps your paint adhere to the piece better. You can prime using a mini foam roller, foam brush or even spray. After it fully dries, sand away any drips and wipe your piece down with a tack cloth.
4. Paint away!
Now that you have your piece primed, its time to paint it away! It is recommended to use interior latex paint in semi-gloss finish. Apply three thin coats of that and allow six to eight hours in between coats. It’s important that you sand away any drips or residue on the piece.
5. Protect it
After your last coat of paint has dried for at least 24 hours, you are ready to apply a thin coat of protective finish! Sealing your furniture provides extra protection against the weather or water. It is recommended to leave it alone for a day or two before using it our touching it, otherwise, it can get sticky and stained with fingerprints instead.
Painting over old furniture is a wonderful way to revitalize and spice up your home.