Painting
Functional Objects

For me, dipping a brush in a glob of wet paint is healing, especially when I can slather it all over a big piece of furniture, or even something as small as a birdhouse. There is no better satisfaction than seeing something formerly frumpy morph into something fabulous. It sounds easy, right? Just grab some paint and dive in, no? Sure, it’s simple, but here are a few secrets to help take it to the next level.

Supplies: Paints, drop cloth, assorted brushes, water, stencils and/or stamps (optional), varnishes.

Paints: Craft acrylics work great. I live and stroke by Delta Ceramcoat. I like that they give great coverage in only one or two layers. If you are working on a big project, like a set of Adirondack chairs, visit your local paint store and have them mix you up a gallon of semi-gloss latex. If you want to add detail on top of that, then you can use the craft acrylics.

Primers: Personally, I only use primers on items I’m revamping, outdoor pieces or heavy-use objects like kitchen cabinets. Also, if the item has a dark base and you want to lighten it, a primer will come in handy. You can buy this at any local paint store, or for smaller projects, at the craft store.

Raw wood furniture or objects: Use a medium grade piece of sand paper to smooth down the edges and any bumps or grooves. If you don’t do this, sometimes there are little splinters that can get caught on clothing or even skin (ouch!). So sand away and then dust it off with a towel or feather duster and get to work!

Fabric furniture: Yes! You can paint fabric furniture! The smoother the texture the better. You can either buy from a secondhand shop or visit stores like IKEA, that have an affordable selection of canvas furniture (they also have great raw wood items too!). Base coat with a primer to even out the surface, and then paint as desired. Add accents with large foam stamps or freehand with brushes. Once your design is dry, add a coat of polyurethane varnish, let dry and repeat.

Metal, plastic, glass: There are specialized paints for these surfaces, but honestly, I’ve used acrylics on all of them. For the first two, I prime before applying my paint. And then I seal with varnish. Always make sure to prep your surface before painting, especially if working with secondhand pieces. It’s just plain gross and lazy to paint over bumps and dust bunnies! If covering metal chairs that you want to accent with designs, check out Kylon’s product list. And – if using a spray varnish, always wear a mask and work in a well ventilated area, like outside or in the garage.

Varnish, varnish, varnish!: This will seal in your work. For fabric furniture, use a water-based brush on polyurethane. For heavy use items, use a spray on, several coats. If you have painted a table and want it to last for, like, forever – I’d go with a top layer of resin. I like Envirotex Lite. Tip: If you use this, let it cure overnight in an enclosed outdoor area like the garage. If you leave it outside to dry, I guarantee you’ll wake up to find a mosquito, spider or fly embedded in it. You’ll cuss and stomp your foot. Believe me. I know from first-hand experience! 

Clean up: Always rinse your brushes out as soon as you are done using them, that way they will stay nice a soft for the next time!

This article available for reproduction with permission.