Find Out How To Paint Shabby Chic To Give Your Furnishings A New Look

By Margarita Joseph


Those who enjoy household projects may find it fun to learn how to paint shabby chic style and transform their ordinary furniture into delightfully whimsical pieces. It is not difficult to learn and follow some basic instructions and one need only spend a small amount of money to produce amazing-looking furnishings.

First, the furniture must be cleaned and dried. Then its handles or knobs, if any, should be removed and if there is any damage to the piece, now is the time to repair it. With some sandpaper, surface sand the entire piece, smoothing out uneven spots and removing any glossy finish.

Sanding the furniture well is very important as this prepares the surface to receive its new coat. Paint stripper can also be used to remove any existing layers that are already present on the piece, provided it is sanded afterwards. Dust from sanding must be eliminated using a tack cloth before proceeding to the following step.

Next, the primer should be applied. Most primers are white in color and can either be sprayed on or applied with a roller or brush. Once the primer has dried completely, it can be painted with a dark tone like tan or brown. This color acts as the first layer and will show through the lighter coat, giving the piece its "distressed" appearance.

After the dark coat has dried, the first layer of light color can be added. It is best to select a flat, latex paint in a muted shade of blue, lilac, green, pink, white, or ivory. These paints are quite reversible if a mistake is made. With each coat, it's necessary to re-sand the piece before the next one.

The final coat should match the other light-colored one, but this time an acrylic lacquer will be used instead. When this layer has dried, it's time to sand around the corner and edge using fine-grade sandpaper. This action will allow the dark shade to show through underneath and give the piece its shabby chic appearance. More or less sanding can be done depending on what look is wanted. After dusting the piece and letting in stand overnight, it can have a clear shellac applied the next day to complete it.

Another technique can also be used to create the distressed look. To start with, apply petroleum jelly to areas such as the edges and corners. Painting will be done layer by layer and then rubbed off where the jelly has been applied. The entire piece can then be covered with a matte finish. This results in more of a chipped or aging paint appearance.

The last step is to pay attention to any hardware. If they fit with the new image of the furniture, they can be put back on, or if not, some suitable new ones can be added instead. By discovering how to paint shabby chic, it's a great way to save money and also make one's home look charming and stylish.




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