As somebody who loves both painting and refinishing furniture, I get a lot of questions about my favorite furniture painting techniques.
Paint is a great way to transform an old piece of furniture and give it new life. But before you pick up a paint brush, you need to decide what painting technique you’re going to use. There are a variety of different paint techniques to use for painting furniture, and the best one for you will depend on the look you’re going for. Here are eight fun furniture painting techniques to consider for your next furniture painting project.
How to dry brush furniture
Dry brushing is a painting technique that allows you to add texture and depth to your painted furniture. You can use this method over stained or painted pieces of furniture.
To dry brush furniture, start by lighting loading your brush with your favorite furniture paint, then lightly removing the excess paint onto a paper towel. You want to evenly coat the paintbrush with a small amount of paint. Next, lightly brush the paint onto your furniture in light strokes. The key is to use very little paint and not overwork the area. You can always add more if needed.
Dry brushing works great for carved details on furniture pieces. The dry brushing highlights the carved details. You can build up the layers of paint to create more depth and dimension.
Watch this video to see dry brushing in action.
Powder glazing furniture
Powder glazing is a step above regular furniture glazing. It goes on wet, dries completely and you remove the dry powder in only the areas you want. No more wiping and reapplying wet glaze. Powder glazing furniture adds depth, dimension, and beauty to furniture and cabinets.
Want to learn how to powder glaze furniture? Let me teach you with my step-by-step video training where I share the exact painting process and also the BEST paint types to use with the powder glazing technique. I compare chalk paint, latex paint, and mineral paint and reveal which one works the best with the powder glazing process.
Decoupage Furniture
Decoupage is a great way to give old furniture a new lease on life. It also is perfect for plain flat surfaces in order to give the item more charm. It’s a simple process that anyone can do, and it’s a great way to add a personal touch to your home decor. I have used many different materials to add decoupage to furniture. Here are just a few to give you some ideas
- Napkins
- Wrapping paper
- fabric
- photos
- aluminum foil
Learn the best practices on how to decoupage furniture. This post walks you through all the step-by-step instructions. I also share my favorite decoupage adhesive and what to use to seal the decoupage materials.
Naturally aged distressed furniture
The best way to distress furniture is NOT to use sand paper. If you are looking for a natural aged finish without the mess of sanding, this is the painting technique for you. The natural distressing technique is done with a paintbrush.
The key is to apply light layers of paint and avoid the areas where natural distressing would occur over time.
Want to master this technique? Learn how to easily distress paint with my simple step-by-step video teachings. Use any paint color and paint brands to achieve this natural distressed finish. Also, this technique can be used over a base paint color for a layered look or over wood furniture to let the wood grain show through.
Raised stencil technique
Adding a raised stencil is a perfect way to add dimension to a smooth surface and plain furniture. Sometimes just adding paint is not enough to give your furniture an update. Adding a raised stencil makes the furniture look like carved wood.
See the step-by-step guide in this post – “How to apply raised stencil on furniture”
Here a a couple of fun ways to use stencils:
Paint pouring on Furniture
Paint pouring is an easy process that involves pouring different colors of paint onto your furniture, resulting in a one-of-a-kind design. Add a touch of whimsy to your own home with this fun and creative furniture painting technique.
Yes, this is the same method you see on canvas, however, when used on furniture, you need different paints and materials to have a lasting finish.
Use bright colors or more subtle colors, either way, it is a fun process to watch as the paint glides over your old dresser.
Paint pouring is a fun, yet messy process. I will teach you the exact steps to contain the mess while using this technique on furniture doors and drawers. I also share the best paint types to use with the furniture paint pouring technique.
Paint layering furniture (and blending)
There are so many different ways to layer paints to achieve an aged look or shabby paint finish. I love doing this finish as it is one that is so easy and great to use on existing painted furniture.
Don’t waste your time stripping off old paint, add in some more layers of paint to give it a true shabby or boho finish. Take a look at this dresser that received a shabby paint finish
Furniture paint meshing
Faux finishes are popular for walls. So why not use this technique on furniture? Color meshing or furniture paint meshing is where you blend together different paint colors while they are wet. This style of painting adds dimension to your furniture makeovers.
You can easily blend 2 to 6 colors together in one coat. This is an easy way to achieve color blending without brush strokes and allowing different layers of paint to dry. Use your favorite colors to create endless combinations and to create a perfect one-of-a-kind furniture piece.
Discover which paints work best with this furniture painting technique. Different types of paint produce better meshing results. Get hands-on training and detailed step-by-step instructions with a video training workshop.
Give one (or more) of these painting techniques a try next time you’re looking for a furniture makeover! With just a little bit of time and effort, you can completely transform old pieces of furniture into something new and beautiful.
DeDe Bailey
DeDe Bailey is the artistic mastermind behind Designed Décor and The Puzzle Table. With a rich background in home décor retail, she has transformed her website into a platform driven by a profound passion for helping individuals craft spaces they adore. As a self-taught furniture painting artist and thrift decorator, she loves sharing her knowledge and empowering others to beautify their homes through furniture painting and thrifting. When she isn’t sharing her wisdom on the Designed Décor blog, DeDe is occupied with showcasing her ingenious jigsaw puzzle table design and expanding her short-term rental located in NE Ohio.
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houseofhawthornes says
I sort of love the paint pouring one. I hadn’t seen that done on furniture before!
Designed Decor says
Thanks, Pam, It is so fun to do the paint pour of furniture as they are all unique!