How To Paint Vintage Furniture With Chalk Paint
A favorite activity of many furniture refinishers is to purchase vintage or naked furniture from furniture stores for the purpose of painting it with chalk paint. This tutorial will discuss some of the benefits of chalk paint over other furniture finishing mediums and how to apply the chalk paint in such a way that it will achieve the rustic, primitive look that distinguishes chalk paint from other types of paint.
Clean the Furniture
Whether you're painting vintage or naked furniture with chalk paint, the first thing you should do is clean the furniture with a clean microfiber cloth. Use the microfiber cloth to remove all dust, sawdust, and grit.
Prep the Painting Area
Lay down a tarp in the area where you'll be painting the furniture, and get out all your painting materials. Your painting materials should include:
- Chalk paint
- Paint brushes (flat and angled)
- Furniture wax
- Furniture wax brush
- Rags
Remove All Hardware From the Furniture
Use a screwdriver to remove any pieces of hardware from the furniture, including hinges, knobs, and handles. Set the hardware aside and place the screws in a baggie so you won't lose them.
Apply the Paint
One of the many benefits of chalk paint is the simplicity of the paint application process. Whereas other types of paint will not adhere to the furniture unless the surface is properly sanded and primed, this is not the case with chalk paint. Chalk paint will easily stick to nearly any surface, even when the surface has not been prepped in any way.
Apply one layer of paint and allow it to dry completely. Use the flat paintbrush to paint flat surfaces, and the angled paintbrush to paint in edges and corners. Once the furniture has been covered in a single layer of paint and the paint has dried, apply a second layer over the first. Again, you won't need to prepare the furniture to accept the second layer of paint.
Put Wax Over the Paint
Apply a layer of wax over the paint. Wax is used to seal the paint and provide a layer of protection. To apply the wax, dip the wax brush into the wax and then apply it directly over the chalk paint. Once the entire piece of furniture has been covered, use a rag to wipe the excess wax away. Once this is done, apply a second layer of wax over the first layer, then wipe off the excess wax from the furniture.
Following the steps above will enable you to paint any piece of vintage or naked furniture that you purchase from the furniture store.