Ideas for Patterns for Painted Furniture

Nature

• Nature patterns on painted furniture are a style that is versatile. With freehand techniques, you can paint elements of nature, including flowers, leaves and vines. Stencils make the job even easier for beginner painters. Create flowers, such as yellow and orange sunflowers, painted over a large table to make a focal point in a room or paint a vine of leaves up and down table legs to add to a country kitchen décor. Painting natural elements on furniture brings an outdoor atmosphere to an indoor setting.

Sponge and Rag Painting

• Sponge painting is simple to apply and gives furniture a textured look. It works by applying different colors of paint with a sponge. When colors are applied in overlapping layers to furniture with a sponge, it creates a pattern of blended dabs of paint. This is an easy technique for beginners and is well suited for any style, since colors can be customized to suit your taste.

  Rag painting is applied just the same as sponge painting, only with a rag. A rag is best to use to achieve a more textured look.

Faux Finishes

• Faux finishes, such as marbled and crackled patterns, can make a piece of furniture look old or modern, depending on how they are applied. When applied correctly, painted marble resembles real marble. It looks beautiful on tables and chairs, and many colors are readily available. Faux marble adds elegance to furniture and does not require bright colors to make a bold statement.

  Crackle finishes, though, are made to make furniture look old and worn. Crackle glosses are available in paint stores and is a necessary ingredient to make paint look cracked.

Shapes

• Square, lines and circle shapes look best in modern décor. Customize the size of the shapes to fit your furniture. For instance, tabletops look unique covered in colorful circles, both large and small, and chairs with straight lines have a clean appeal. Diamond shapes give furniture legs a fun pattern, while a plaid pattern makes bookcases more interesting. Shapes are also fun for kids' rooms and perfect for dressers and toy boxes.