French Polishing and Bespoke Furniture
What’s great about pine is that it takes well to paint . What’s better about chalk paint is that it can stick to just about any surface – all different types of woods, metal, glass and even concrete. Inherently clever, chalk paint is a product that thrives on wax and grease, even the waxy finish on pine furniture .
Prepare Your Space. Start by laying down drop cloths and preparing the area. Sand and Clean the Piece. Sand the surface of the piece. Paint the Piece. Apply Wax and Top Layer of Paint (Optional) Distress the Piece with Sandpaper and Steel Wool. Apply a Stain (Optional) Protect the Finished Piece with Polyurethane.
No, you do not. But you do need to properly prep the surface first. Wiping it down with a clean soapy rag is always advised, and you may want to use a deglosser. I choose to use an oil-based paint instead which will adhere to a varnished surface and is a great way to prep for a final coat of paint .
If you don’t seal pine with a primer , the first coat of paint will be blotchy, because pine absorbs paint (and other finishes) very unevenly. If you omit the primer when you’re painting knotty pine , you’ll be able to see dark spots around every knot.
Honestly, there is no special paint for pine wood. You could use any kind of paint especially since it is primed already. I have used oil based, chalk type paint and latex paint with equal success. They each have their advantages but I primary use latex paint for my furniture .
A wood-on-white effect brightens the room and black elements offer high-contrast, which are keys to modern design. For more light reflection, give pine walls a couple of coats of high-gloss varnish or white paint; or, deemphasize knots with dark gray, blue or green stain.