3 of 25

Write now Article Tools

Page 3 of 3

brushes are used in a different manner to normal paintbrushes, in that you dip them into the paint, then dab them onto a piece of newspaper to remove excess paint. Choosing the colors you require for each part of the stencil and working with one color at a time, leaving drying time between changes, use the stencil brush in a dabbing motion being careful not to let the brush stay on the surface. Here, gentle dabs right up to the sides of the cut outs on the stencil give great results. When all colors are applied, do leave the work to dry and don't be too keen to remove the stencil, since you may damage edges of your work.

PAINTING TRADITIONAL DESIGNS

Tools required for the job:

Tracing paper,
Pen
Carbon paper.
Acrylic paints.
Different sizes of artist brushes.

Here, the preparation and painting of the background color is the same as above, in oil based paints, leaving them to dry. What is great about this method is that you can take pictures from source books such as clowns for nursery pictures, flowers and traditional designs and reproduce them onto furniture in a simple manner. Dover do a particularly good range of source books and the sizes of the pictures are super for adding to furniture items.

With a pen, trace the picture you want to reproduce. Lay the piece of furniture so you can work on a flat surface, and position the carbon paper, then the design and work over the design with a pen. Care is needed not to smudge too much, but even a child can do this kind of work, depending of course on the intricacy of the design chosen. Remove the carbon paper and tracing paper and what is left on the furniture is a tracing of your chosen design. Work filling in one area at a time, and do not paint adjoining areas until each color is dry.

Some of the designs using this method are stunning. Children's furniture can be done as a family project once the initial preparation and background color is finished, because working with acrylics means that if mistakes are made, they can be washed while still damp. Kids love to join in, and the results can be superb, cost very little, and give great satisfaction.

If using this method in an area of high use like a kitchen, finishing the project with a sealing coat of transparent sealer protects the acrylic paint and allows the item to be sponged clean.

There are so many paint effects that can be used for furniture, rather than just the traditional painting, although if less adventurous, chairs can be painted and then matched off nicely with new cushions of contrasting color, and a whole new world of color introduced to make those tired items look inventive, fresh and new.

Have fun making your old furniture begin a new life.

Learn more about this author, Rachelle de Bretagne.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3

Add your voice

Know something about Tips for painting old furniture?
We want to hear your view. Write now!