How to Upcycle Furniture: Painting Techniques
Sam Lutz • May 23, 2017
Upcycling is a fun and inexpensive method of turning old furniture into new furniture! During the upcycling process it’s important to apply paint properly and to use the right materials. Below are some of the ways that people upcycle old shelves, dressers and other pieces.
Find the Right Piece of Furniture
When looking for the right piece of furniture, it’s important to remember that upcycling sometimes involves turning one piece of furniture into another. For example, with a little creativity, you may turn a dresser into a bookshelf, or you might turn an entertainment center into a bird cage.
Keep an open mind when looking for different pieces of furniture to upcycle. Sturdiness is the most important quality to look for in your upcycled piece of furniture. Try rocking the furniture back and forth to see if it’s sturdy, and if it isn’t, look for another piece.
Painting Process
Once you’ve picked a piece of furniture to upcycle, follow these tips.
- Prep the surface. Wipe down the surface with a tack cloth or a microfiber cloth. Remove all cobwebs. If you plan to paint the furniture with chalk paint, no sanding or wood preparation is needed. If you plan to paint the furniture with a standard wall paint, sand down the furniture to rough up the wood, then wipe away wood shavings and clean the furniture again.
- Remove all hardware and take out drawers. Use a screwdriver to remove knobs and hinges from the furniture. Remove all drawers before painting.
- Apply paint. Apply the paint to the furniture. Use an angled paintbrush for applying the paint to the corners and angled parts of the furniture.
- Allow the paint to dry fully, then apply a second coat. The paint will be done drying when it is no longer tacky to the touch.
Distressing
Distressing is the process of applying two coats of paint in different colors on top of one another and then sanding down the top layer of paint to reveal the coat beneath. Distressing is typically done with chalk paint.
When both coats have dried, the top layer of paint is sanded down around the edges to reveal the second layer of paint. This creates the appearance that the furniture is care worn and old. Once the paint has been sanded properly, apply a layer of soft, clear wax over the paint to seal the surface of the furniture.
Chalkboard Paint
Chalkboard paint is a perfect accent for any piece of upcycled furniture with a wide, flat area that would make a good message board. You can apply chalkboard paint to the surface of an old mirror, the side of a bookcase or on the front of an armoire. This makes the perfect place to leave messages to friends and loved ones.
Stop In at Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture
At Ace Paint and Unfinished Furniture, we help people start their paint projects and upcycle their furniture. We sell paint in thousands of different shades! To get started on your upcoming project, stop in at our paint store
to pick out the right paint for your needs.
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