How to Paint Country Wood Secretaries

A secretary is a small desk with multiple shelves and a work surface that folds up to hide the contents of the desk. Secretaries come in many styles, from plain and unadorned unfinished wood versions to ornately carved pieces with turned legs and fine furniture details. Most wooden secretary desks with simple lines --- whether an antique find from a flea market or a new piece from the furniture store --- can be transformed into a country-style piece of furniture with a coat of paint and some faux finishing techniques.

Paint remover
Sandpaper
Paint
Painbrushes
Crackle medium

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the desk for painting. If it has been painted already, remove the old paint with a scraper or paint remover. If the piece is in good shape, though, and the old paint isn't peeling or flaking, you can paint over the old paint without removing it.
- 2
  Sand the secretary using a fine grit sandpaper; use a belt sander to speed up the process. Remove the dust with a slightly damp cloth.
- 3
  Apply a coat of primer to the sanded secretary. Allow the primer to dry. Choose a primer designed for painting wood; your local paint retailer can help you find the ideal primer for your project.
- 4
  Paint the secretary in your choice of color. Muted shades or green, red, yellow and blue are most common in country-style decorating, but a classic white, cream or ivory are also appropriate.
- 5
  Distress the secretary to give it a weathered, time-worn appearance. Use a crackle medium, a clear, paintlike substance available at craft or paint retailers, over the fresh paint to give the secretary a weathered wood look. Lightly sand the edges of the secretary to further the rustic look.
- 6
  Pair your freshly painted country-style secretary with a chair painted to match. Cover the chair seat with a coordinating gingham or floral print fabric.

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