Simple & Uncomplicated Furniture Painting

aub blue

my chalk paint

before table

paint supplies

during paint

three coats

new office table

old white

barcelona

antibes

provence

aub blue chair

blue stool

Are you still holding on to that special piece of old furniture that you have wanted to paint forever? A reader wrote and asked, “I really would like to paint this little table/bench/chair but I can not figure out which process would be easiest for me. I would really like to give it a try.  Also, can you suggest a few colors that you think  looks best on painted furniture? Thx!”Well I understand how you might be confused! There are so many different techniques and options today for painting furniture. I am happy to share with you all what has worked best for me, as well as my overall knowledge on painting furniture!For all of my furniture painting projects, I always turn to my number one paint choice which is  Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. I LOVE the product because it is so easy to use. No priming is needed and you can use indoors because it is non-toxic and  odor-free. So instead of the process being a chore by worrying about which primer to use and how to prepare the furniture, I feel that using Chalk Paint® makes it a fun and easy venture.  Here is my stash of chalk paint:This is the before photo of my latest painted furniture project:My first step is wiping down the furniture items with water and TSP, (TSP is an all purpose heavy duty cleaner found in the paint preparation and cleaner section),  which will strip off any wax and grime on your piece and help prepare it for painting. This table I am painting has spent time outdoors and was in pretty rough and dirty shape. After cleaning, I let the table dry thoroughly for 24 hours.My supplies for this project:1. Chalk Paint in selected color.2. A quality roller for smooth surfaces.3. Roller paint tray.4. Quality paint brush. I use the Purdy 2” XL Cub Brush for all of my painting projects.5. Polycrylic Protective FinishFor smaller areas I use a paint brush and for larger areas like this tabletop, I use a roller for a smooth, brush-free look. I gave this table three coats of Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan in the color Pure White:After all the paint coats are dry, normally two hours, I usually finish my pieces by rubbing a coat of Chalk Paint® Clear Wax to protect the paint. (For more instructions of using the clear wax, read here). But for this table, I wanted a strong, shiny finish so I used a clear, protective coat of Polycrylic which was easily painted on over the chalk paint.I have been looking for just the right spot for this special large table. I think my new office, which is a current project I am working on , is a perfect choice:I can’t wait to finish my office project! I am having one wall made into custom bookshelves! Yay! Can you tell I am excited?Here are a few furniture pieces I have painted with Chalk Paint®  over the years. Click on the paint name to see the post which explains about painting each piece:Old White:Barcelona Orange:Antibes Green:Pure White and Provence:Aubusson Blue:Aubusson Blue:So, this is my secret key to painting all of my furniture- Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan. This product is super easy to use and I have always had such great results. My favorite colors I have used are Aubusson Blue, Pure White and Provence. If you have any questions about techniques, colors or creative ideas, the expert I use is Nancy at Sea Rose Cottage. She is wonderful at all questions, large or small.Have a wonderful week everyone!