Ideas for Furniture Painting & Stencils
Painting and stenciling furniture gives old pieces new life and helps them fit into your room's decor. Both do-it-yourself projects are fairly simple and start with a trip to your local home and garden or hardware store for some basic supplies. Spend a day painting and/or stenciling some furniture and you'll find you have the ability to transform boring pieces into instant treasures.
-
Prep Work
-
If you're planning to paint a piece of furniture, you will need to properly prepare the existing surface first. If the finish is paint, simply remove any chipped or lifting pieces, and sand the furniture with a fine gauge sandpaper. If the finish has been varnished and sealed with a polyurethane clear coat, simply sand the area lightly with fine gauge sandpaper. In both cases, brush away the dust the sanding has created before proceeding with your project.
Painting
-
If you're painting a piece of furniture, purchase a latex paint in a semi-gloss or glossy finish. Glossy paint is easiest to keep clean, as the smooth finish can simply be wiped down with a damp cloth or sponge. Two coats of paint will likely be required. Allow about a half hour of drying time between coats. Let the piece of furniture dry for 24 hours before using it.
Stenciling
-
If you're stenciling over the painted furniture, you will still need to allow 24 hours for the second coat of paint to dry before beginning the stenciling portion of your project. Affix the stencil template to the area you wish to stencil, using double-sided tape. Pour latex paint in the color you've chosen into a shallow pan or bowl. Dip a small piece of sponge into the paint and dab it onto the stencil. Allow it to dry for about half an hour before removing the stencil template. You may want to outline the stencil with a fine tipped artist's brush for a cleaner, more detailed motif.
Most people find that one coat of paint is plenty for stenciling. Too much paint can make the motif you've chosen turn gummy and not wear well on the piece of furniture. Allow the stencil paint to dry for at least 24 hours before using the furniture.
-
