Instant Fix: Refresh Your Furniture With Some Punchy Paint
Give old furniture new life with a bold color, pattern or idyllic scene
Have you ever walked by an old, beat-up dresser you loved at a flea market or garage sale but passed on it because the wood was beyond repair? Well not again. You can breath new life into any old piece of wood furniture with the application of paint and color.
More: Sit Pretty With Mismatched Chairs
More: Sit Pretty With Mismatched Chairs
A mid-century dresser becomes a cool modern console with a new coat of royal blue paint. Remember to apply a coat of primer first and let it dry completely before applying color.
The type of primer is very important. Oil-based primer for oil paints. And latex primer for latex paints. Oil is recommended for wet environments such as a bathroom to resist mold. I like the idea of using an antique style dresser as a bathroom vanity. Paint it to match the wallpaper and drapery.
Primer is important because without it, your paint will chip, peel, and bubble. Stains from the wood below will show through. It is key to achieving a saturated color such as this sunshine yellow-colored dresser used as a changing table in a nursery.
Think about the paint sheen: glossy, semi-gloss, matte. A small dresser painted in matte gray is urban and sophisticated. The candy colored hues of the previous examples pop with their glossy sheens.
You can achieve the pricey shabby chic look at home on your own. After applying primer, a few thin coats of white paint, let dry completely, then gently sand away some areas to create a distressed, aged look.
To create a matching bedroom set out of a mismatched bedframe and nightstand, pick one unifying color. A deep fuchsia does the trick in this girl's bedroom.
A larger collection of a mismatched table, chairs, and benches can be married by using one paint color to create an outdoor patio set. Special outdoor spray paints, such as Krylon, are recommended to withstand varied weather conditions.
Another idea is to celebrate the architecture of the furniture with a two-tone paint application. The structure receives a dark shade of espresso brown, the drawer fronts a contrasting bright white.
You can also attempt patterns such as this playful harlequin design.
For the especially artistic among us, a furniture face can become a blank canvas for a beautiful scene to unfold. You must be willing to set aside many hours for this effect, but the result is both grand and functional.
White Claude Special Edition 8 Drawer Set
Get inspired by retail options out there. This Jonathan Adler dresser gives us the idea to paint the dresser frame in white and the drawer fronts in different shades of blue.
Windsor Love Seat
An Anthropologie bench inspires one to try an ombre effect (best done with spray paint) that leaves some of the natural wood revealed. Try different effects on an inexpensive second-hand piece; if you aren't happy with the results, you can just paint over it in a solid color.
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More:
Idea of the Week: Give Old Furniture a Delightful Dip
Color Coated Casegoods: Way to Charm Up a Room