Our parents and grandparents knew the saying; “Use it, use it, make it or do without it.” In the money-strapped times we have right now, anything that helps us get more out of the things we own is a good idea.
The box pieces are particularly fun to ‘upgrade’. The easiest way to change them is to simply get a stain darker than the piece, paint it on with a brush, and rub it in. old time! For a little more fun, use your imagination and apply a lighter cream or gray color and rub it in. This gives the piece an aged or ‘cottage’ look while also brightening it up. Either way, paint or stain fills in scratches, holes, dents, and worn spots, highlighting the carving, and giving the piece a great new look.
Painting a piece of furniture will give a totally different effect. This is not difficult, but care must be taken to have a professional looking piece. Preparation is almost as important as the actual paint and takes a bit of time, but it’s necessary if you don’t want something that looks like it was used in a college dorm room.
Tighten any loose joints or screws, nails, etc. Clean the part well with a cutting solution of grease and oil. I like to use TSP because there are no fumes and only gloves are required. It is available at pharmacies and home goods stores.
Apply a ‘no sand’ type solution to improve adhesion and allow to dry thoroughly. If the wood is very dark or reddish tones, a good idea is a coat of sealer to prevent the stain from spreading, otherwise, a base coat of paint, light or dark, depending on the color you are going to paint with. the piece.
Next, a thin coat of your main color, followed by a second coat after drying.
At this point, you can scratch, sponge, decoupage, stencil, add trompe l’oeil, or any other interesting additions: wallpaper cutouts, fabric, faux leather, decorative trim, or molding—these are just a few of the possibilities. .
Finish with a coat of no-yellow polyurethane or furniture wax and you have a great new piece of furniture. These techniques are good on anything from a side table to a full dining room. I have painted pieces with veneers, laminates and other inexpensive finishes.
The most important rule of thumb I always use is to allow time for the paint to cure, not just dry, between coats. I allow 24 hours between coats and 48 hours after final finishing before reattaching doors, drawers, handles, etc. Paint takes longer to fully cure, but the generous drying time helps prevent chipping and lifting.
If you’ve never painted furniture before, there are “how-to” books at libraries and home improvement stores. This type of project requires more patience and imagination than great skill or experience. Start small, plan out the look you want, spend a generous amount of time doing the project, and have fun. Sometimes the finished piece is a wonderful surprise.
Contributions to this article by ON THE GO 4 U design consultant Suzanne Copenhaver.
