We love giving old/used furniture a new lease on life, by adding a layer or more of awesomeness✨
Over the years I’ve painted more pieces of furniture than I can even remember from small to big & everything in between, tables, chairs, sideboards, cupboards & bookshelves. I think you get the picture☺️ Even had my father offer to buy a set of ceramic vases from me, he was trying to save them from the paint brush.
I have tried almost all types of chalk paint, even making my own at one point. It’s a wonderful paint with many benefits, the most beneficial is not having to do much prep work like sanding before the starting a project. Over the many projects we’ve completed we’ve gained much knowledge & understanding working with this type of paint and would like to share our top tips with you.
- Use a good quality paint, when I lived in the Netherlands my go to paint was Pure and original & Painting the past. And now that I’m back in South Africa Annie Sloan is my top choice.
- A good quality paint brush is always a good idea, there is nothing worse than a bad brush. Quality saves time & makes your job easier.
- Depending on the state of the piece furniture, some preparation might be necessary, I will always advise to wipe it clean before beginning to paint. Keep in mind that your finish will only be as good as your base, so if there are a lot of scratches & dings you should fill them with wood filler to avoid this being visible once painted. Sand where it is really required.
- Always give the paint a good shake & stir before beginning.
- Painting 101, always paint in the direction of the wood grain.
- For a smooth finish add a little water to your paint. It’s also advisable to give the first coat 30mins or more of drying time before applying the second.
- Once done painting you will need to apply a sealer to the chalk paint in order for it to set. Waxing is the most preferable method of choice, it gives the paint a suede silky finish. Top tip, less in more, so don’t apply the wax too thick. It will require a couple of days before it’s fully set.
- The other option is a clear vanish, purchase a product that has non yellowing mentioned on the label. Varnish seals & sets faster & leaves more of a shine or gloss.
- If you’re looking for the distressed look, rather use a wax & seal it before sanding the corners and edges as this will reduce the quality of chalky dust.
- Top tip, if you’re looking to add a dark wax for an aged effect, always add the clear first. Otherwise, the dark wax will penetrate the paint and change the appearance.
Happy painting✨
