Painting Furniture Lessons

Today, I am sharing some lessons I have learned about painting furniture.  I have divided these simple tips based on your ability, so even if this is the first piece of furniture you have ever painted, it will turn out great.

Beginner

• A great finished product, starts with proper preparation.  Sandpaper and a good primer are your best friends.
• Practice makes perfect.  Buy second hand furniture at garage and estate sales to refine your technique.



Estate sale globe painted with spray paint.

• Pick the right paint.  Spray paint works well for smaller pieces with lots of nooks and crannies. Latex paint is fine for larger pieces.

Intermediate

Once you have honed your skills, try some of these tips to up the ante.

• Mix your own paint colors.  I like to use leftover latex wall paint to make custom colors for furniture.
• Try different painting techniques like distressing.  Paint a base color, then a contrasting top coat.  Use sand paper to remove the top color in areas that would typically show wear like corners.
• Change up the paint finish you are using.  High gloss gives a modern look, whereas a flat finish will look primitive.

Advanced

Now you're an expert...have some fun.

• Mix your mediums.  Paint and stain are a great combination, or mix your paint colors for a contrasting look.
  
• Decorate with paint.  Try polka dots for a child's room, or stripes in the entry way.  If you don't have a steady hand, use painters tape or stencils (buy or DIY).  
• Try different types of paint like chalk or milk paint.

Clipboard Message Center

This message center has a chalkboard and a cork board, and is so quick and cute.  It is something you will want to try this weekend!

Start with a clipboard.  I'm using a vintage clipboard that I purchased from a flea market a few years ago.  This clipboard is a little longer than the standard size, but any clipboard will work.  I often see them at garage sales for less than a quarter.  Your clipboard doesn't need to be in perfect condition, this is a great project for recycling.

Next, tape off a section of the board, so you can apply chalkboard paint.  Any shape or size will do, just think about how much writing space you will need.

Allow the paint to dry and cure.  Before you remove the tape, use a piece of chalk to season the board so your writing will be erasable.

For the cork board section of the message center, I used a cork trivet.  These can be purchased at any craft store or dollar store.  You can leave the cork trivet a la natural, or cover it.  I searched my scrap pile for a fun fabric to use.  Simply trace the trivet onto the fabric.

Cut out the fabric and glue it onto the cork.  I used hot glue.  Then secure the fabric-covered cork circle to the clipboard.

Now you can keep your family informed and organized with this clipboard message center!

Contributor Post

I'm over at A Little Tipsy today sharing a fun memo board.  Check it out!

The Best of May

I know I sound like a broken record, but the months are just flying by.  May was no exception...

Salvaged Coat Hanger

Peg Board

Vintage Fan Color Palette

Enamelware

Catch up on the happenings of January, February, March, and April.

Salvaged Coat Hanger

I have my second contributor post to share with you today.  This project only takes a few hours and shouldn't cost much money.  By utilizing salvaged materials, you can make a Coat Hanger.

The supplies you will need are:

Water spigot knobs are easy to find at flea markets and usually cost a few dollars.  They can also be found on Etsy.  My pile has been collected over time, as I would find them out thrifting.  The wood board was a leftover scrap.  If you don't have any scrap wood around, you can buy this already precut at the hardware store.  They come in a variety of lengths.  Pick the right size for your space.

Rusty knobs were painted with several thin coats of spray paint.  I also added some stain to enhance the tone of the wooden board. Remember to always paint and stain in a well ventilated area.

Decide how many knobs you would like your coat hanger to have.  Four worked well on my board.  I used a yard stick to make sure they were evenly spaced.   The knobs are then screwed into the board, from the front.  The thickness of the board and the knob will determine the size of screw to use.  I also added a plastic spacer and/or washer to allow for space behind the knob where items can hang.  Each of my knobs had a different depth, so you may have to use a different configutaion on each.  I also didn't pre-drill my holes, but if you are using a wood that splits easily, you may opt to do that.

Find a place that could use some extra organization or storage, and hang it up.  Your salvaged coat hanger is done!

Vintage Fan Color Palette

Second Contributor Post

My second contributor post is up over on A Little Tipsy...check it out.