Funky and Creative Painting of Furniture

Good Old Furniture

• Stretch your decorating budget by updating good old furniture. Look for pieces in good working condition with classic or interesting lines. This will often allow you to find quality furniture at a big discount. Buy an orbital sander and a variety of sandpaper and a tack cloth, and you are ready to prep that furniture for paint. It is important to sand off or remove the old finish and sand the furniture so that it is ready for primer. The prep process often takes the most amount of time, but good preparation will produce better results.

Painter's Tapes

• Check out the different painter's tapes in your home improvement store. If you want to paint stripes, there is a tape just for stripes. If you want to make curved shapes, there is a special tape for that too. Tape off your design. Think big. Look for big patterns placed at angles across the furniture. Remember, if you really hate the result, the solution is a can of paint away. Always paint over primer for the best results. Use small foam rollers for a smooth finish and even coats. Allow each coat to dry completely before painting your next color or coating.

Graffiti

• Plan out a graffiti paint treatment. Sit down and draw out the words, images or designs you would like to create. This is helpful when you try to execute your painting. Draw the finished design over your primer using pencil. Imagine the furniture like an unfolded canvas and allow the graffiti to wrap over the sides and top. Spray the furniture outside in a well ventilated area. If you mess it up, allow the paint to dry and prime over it and start again. The result will be an art piece.

Vinyl Stencils

• The new kids on the block for cool painting treatments are removable vinyl stencils. Peel and stick the stencils on the primer painted furniture and then roll your paint over the stencils. Peel up the vinyl, and you have really cool shapes. Double the effect by painting your furniture a solid color first, then the vinyl and the second color. You can add stencils over stripes and other designs to increase the complexity of the paint treatment. Finish any of your painting treatments by lightly sanding the dry paint to smooth out any bumps. Spray the furniture with a clear coat finish. Use several coats to make the finish durable.