If you are like me and tend to tire of your possessions easily, it pays to go to thrift shops and garage sales for shopping. I pay $5 for a beat up old coffee table or chair, sand it down and paint it. After I'm done with it in a few years or so, it still looks like new, I place it in my own garage sale for $15. I have never lost money on this technique, usually I make about two to three times the money. I get to change my decor often without spending much money. It is so much fun to make something look so different!
By Susan from Elkhart, IN
Share on ThriftyFunThis page contains the following solutions. Have something to add? Please share your solution!
On a trip to the laundromat, I saw what appeared to be a chest of drawers. I pulled over and stopped so that I could get a closer look. Indeed it was a chest of drawers. Looked ugly enough. Some sort of mustard yellow puke color. All 5 drawers were there. The bottom of the chest looked as though it had been sitting in 5 inches of water. Long enough so that the lower decorative part of its foundation and bottom slat of wood had disintegrated. I opened the top drawer and it appeared brand new, albeit dusty, dirty and webby.
My 44 year old rock maple kitchen set is going to look brand new, "I hope."
Painting smaller pieces of furniture is a wonderful way to utilize left-over paint. Not only that, but paint actually protects the wood.
Cedar chest restored and hand painted with Alice in Wonderland. Polyurethane finish. Donating it to a group that help children that have been abused.
Ask a QuestionHere are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community or ask a new question.
I have a wooden dining room set with 4 chairs and cupboards but they look very worn out and old fashioned. I was thinking about repainting them but can't decide what color to choose. Can you help me out?
By ANGELA
You can paint it with a brownish-red paint or a color that is a little bit dark and then try to put a varnish on it so the color would really stand out or shines. If you really want your wooden dining room to look good and new, you better choose a new table-cloth, new things to put in it and just make sure that the cloth that you will use suits to the color of the chairs.
Good luck! I hope my answer helped you!
I am interested in painting wooden furniture to reuse in a new home. I have a table with chairs and hutch, end tables and a coffee table that I want to give a new look to. Also, since the dining and living room connect, should I paint all wooden pieces to match? I am very new at painting to re-use!
You want to paint furniture a COLOR? Why not stain it? Wood is so beautiful!
If the furniture has a shiny coat, it will need a good sanding. After you sand you will have to prime the furniture first. It may look blotchy after you prime but this is normal, it is just to cover the wood so the paint will have good adhesion.
I have a shelf/coat hanger made out of unfinished pine. I would like to paint it distressed black. Does anyone have a good, easy way of doing this?
Do you want some of the grain of the wood to show? If so, thin your paint with water (about 1/2 paint, 1/2 water and apply. You can distress the wood by hitting it with sharp objects ie, hammer, pick, chains. Etc. If you do not wish to have the grain show, then I think you would just paint it after distressing it.
Paint it black and then sand it with sand paper. Or if you would like another color to show through, paint the undercoat one color and then black, then sand, it will bring out the undercoat.
I would prime first and, yes, if you want the grain to show sand it a little first.
I need to repaint a baby bed. What kind of paint is safe? I have started using an enamel based paint. Is this OK? It has a flat feeling to it. Could I use a gloss over it? Ideas anyone?
First make sure the paint is lead free. The paints I have used all stated that they were safe for infants and toddlers. I would reccomend reading the label, if in doubt ask someone where the paint was purchased. Take Care ! JAN
i would check with say sherwin willams cause this paint will go in the babys mouth better safe than sorry
I believe the best paint is Milk Paint you can find it on the internet if you google "Milk Paint" and also non toxic paint you will find links . Try this link
I'm trying to paint a piece of furniture black with a dull finish, but it has a shine. How do I dull it?
By Michelle
How do I paint old furniture?
By Jack Zhang from New York City
I have just painted my daughter's room to match a comforter set we bought. The top half is white, the bottom is chocolate brown, and a dark pink stripe goes around the middle. I repainted an old bedroom set tan (it was originally off white/yellow?). I'm afraid that now the finish may be too light. Should I try using the brown wall paint and a decorating finish on the furniture or leave it alone?
Could you highlight the bedroom set with chocolate and pink? Like chocolate drawer fronts with pink knobs. Or maybe decorate it with some kind of stencil?
Hi, try painting a large piece of wood the tan color and then sponge paint the darker color over it,do it a couple of different ways to see if you like it and then paint your furniture .If you didn't like it you haven't ruined your furniture.
My new custom made bed (pine) was treated with linseed oil. I was assured it's non-toxic. Well, it has been 2 weeks, and the bed still emits an odor. It gives me a sore throat and cough. What can be done? Can I paint it over with a latex paint? I am allergic to all household chemicals, so the paint should contain no VOCs.
By Irena from Portland, OR