Hand-Painted Furniture

Painted furniture is by no means a new idea yet it continues to remain in vogue. The advances in paint formulas have virtually removed the need to do any preparation whatsoever, hence the rise in popularity of hand-painted pieces. Effects tend to ebb and flow rather than the concept itself and the current trend seems to be moving away from aged and distressed finishes to that of a more refined contemporary look. (Mid-century pieces are ideal contenders to be brought bang up to date with the use of a strong flat colour. Whether it be chairs, tables or sideboards these can be given a new lease of life with a coat of paint.)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The pieces I have been working on of late have been inspired by the strong primary colours used by Joules in their range of bed linen. I chose an Annie Sloan chalk paint to overhaul these two antique-pine bedside tables.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The drawers have been painted inside with a pretty pink F&B eggshell that I had in stock and lined with a floral pattern paper which I copied from a Joules carrier bag. I chose to leave the drawer pulls and feet unpainted as I wanted the cabinets to reference the natural pine furniture that they were to sit alongside.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Both units were given a coat of clear wax to add a soft sheen to an otherwise very flat finish; it will also add a layer of protection to the paintwork. Another benefit of using chalk paint is that you’re not limited to the surfaces that can be covered. I have seen it used successfully on wicker and melamine furniture as well as wood. I gather it can also be used on walls.
Moving forward I have a stock of furniture and accessories that I want to paint. I’m keen to experiment with more unusual finishes such as crackle glaze, image transfer and découpage, as well as some interesting colour combinations! I will use this blog to keep you updated with my progress and to post any interesting ideas that I come across in the meantime.
Visit http://www.anniesloan.com for tips, techniques and tutorials on how to update your  furniture and accessories.