What Are the Treatments for Painted Furniture?

Simple Wood and Laminate Painting

• Wood furniture is made of solid wood like oak, maple or pine, while laminated furniture is composed of thin wood layers glued together. To prep wood furniture for painting, sand glossy surfaces; do not sand dry, chalky surfaces. Apply an oil-based primer paint followed by two thin coats of latex paint. Finish with two coats of clear polyurethane varnish. For laminated furniture, sand the surface with a palm sander until white flecks appear before applying a coat of primer. Let the primer set for a week and apply two coats of a favorite paint color.

Antiquing: Initial Prepping and Waxing

• Antiquing is a treatment that makes wood furniture look old. To prepare a piece for antiquing, first make black specks with a permanent marker to resemble wormholes. Remove some color from the edges and round them off to make the piece appear worn. Use paint stripper or sandpaper to take some paint off the surface; you want to reveal some of the underlying paint layers that lie close to the wood grain. After each stage, use a paste wax to brighten a dull patina.

Antiquing: Final Prepping and Glazing

• Sand and strip the waxy layer until the surface is clean and smooth. Sand typically worn spots such as arm rests or hand grips, and hit the piece with a chain, oak plank or hammer to randomly indent, scratch and ding the wood. Polish with a soft cloth and then sand again to expose the wood grain. Mix a glaze solution using equal amounts of varnish, dark-colored paint and water and roll or brush it onto the wood. Dab with a cheesecloth and then apply two clear coats of polyurethane varnish.

Milk Painting

• Real milk paint is a powder made from casein, a milk protein, which is mixed with lime to break it down. Its natural earth pigments give wood a unique, flat finish. To use milk paint, first clean the wood surface with Bix TSP concentrate and then sand and wipe clean with a damp rag. Apply the paint with an angled sash brush; run sandpaper over the surface to remove stray paint flakes. Brush on another coat of milk paint and sand again. Finish the project by applying two coats of polyurethane varnish. Buff the surface with wax and nylon stockings.

Crackling and Stenciling

• Crackle paint is a one-step paint that "cracks" as it dries. Apply a coat of flat paint first and then apply the clear crackle paint with either a sponge or brush. As you're applying the crackle, look for the "cracks" to appear. Finish the job with a clear polyurethane varnish. To stencil a piece of furniture, you will need a flat, curved artist's brush. Attach the stencil to the furniture with painter's tape and then jab the somewhat dry brush into the stencil holes. Rinse the stencil with water after each color.

Hand-Painted Artwork

• Choose solid wood furniture to hand paint. Browse magazines and catalogs for ideas that fit the look you want, such as shabby chic, cottage, Victorian or French country art. Stain the entire surface. Lightly sketch the desired design in pencil. Squirt acrylic paint tube colors onto a palette and mix until you get the colors you want for the image. Design themes include fruits, vegetables, flowers, vines, ribbons, ivy, sunflowers, poppies or verses.