HOW TO PAINT YOUR FURNITURE

This step-by-step guide to using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint will put you on the right track. Remember, our paint requires no sealer and is great indoors and outdoors. It is not chalk paint and is not designed to have wax used with it. 

This makes is quick, easy and affordable compared to chalk paint. 
To prepare and paint your pieces with Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, follow our simple process:
  1. Make sure you have the right equipment as this will ensure the best results. We have paint brushes and roller kits in our online store and we recommend you use these. Our furniture painting brushes will give you a beautiful smooth finish, and our texture and wash brushes are for creating a white-washed effect or a textured finish.
  2. You may need to water the paint down before you begin if it's too thick. Simply pour some paint off into another container and a small amount of water and mix well until you get a smooth consistency.
  3. Rub the piece all over with a medium grade Scotchbrite pad ensuring any grime is completely removed (you may need to sand some stubborn ingrained dirt) and any shine softened. 
  4. Repair, fill and sand any lumps or bumps if you want to.
  5. Clean your entire piece well all over with a degreaser and wax remover (like Diggers Degreaser & Wax Remover available at Bunnings or other hardware stores). This is to ensure any furniture polish, wax, oil, grime or dirt (including fly dirt) that could be on your piece is removed completely. Do not use sugar soap or any other cleaner. If your piece has previously had chalk paint and wax applied, you will need to sand the wax off well first, then degrease.
  6. Apply one very sparse coat of paint all over your piece. Paint in all directions if using a brush and roll the flat surfaces. You should be able to see through this coat easily, and it should dry pretty much as you're putting it on. Let this coat dry well before proceeding with your full coats.
  7. Between coats, rub your hand over the surface to discover any imperfections of dust you may have in the paint and gently rub out with Scotchbrite or 240 grit sandpaper.
  8. Wipe over with a damp cloth to remove sanding dust.
  9. Now apply coats to cover (water paint down a little if you're getting brush marks). If you're using Tangerine or Mustard, a coat of Ash underneath helps to give better coverage of your top coat.
  10. For your final coat, water your paint down slightly by adding a small amount of water at a time, mixing well and testing how it flows. This will give you a smoother finish without brush marks.
  11. Always leave your piece to fully cure for 7-10 days before using it or putting drawers or cupboards back together. Once cured, firmly buff your piece with a clean soft rag all over.
  12. If you want a higher shine than our Low Sheen finish, you can apply a semi-gloss or gloss water-based polyurethane. Many of our customers use Cabots.

​You will only need to sand the surface if:
- The surface is dented, scratched and marked and you want a very smooth finish.
- Paint or varnish is flaking (sand those areas smooth and scuff the surrounding areas so they are all smooth to rub your hand over).
- You are painting a shiny or smooth surface, e.g. Formica, glazed pots, and other smooth/shiny surfaces, scuff well with sandpaper first to rough up the surface to help the paint adhere.
- Your furniture has previously been painted in chalk paint and wax. You will need to completely remove the wash before using Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. Do this by sanding and using a degreaser to make sure it is all removed. 

IMPORTANT NOTES:
​1. If you're painting a shiny or smooth surface, make sure you scuff it well with sandpaper before painting (this will help the paint adhere).
2. When using our Mustard or Tangerine (these have a lighter base) applying a coat of Ash first will help give better coverage of these colours. This can also be useful if you're using our White, Off-White or Vanilla on a very dark surface.
3. We recommend you use our furniture painting brushes to create a smooth finish. A roller is a good idea for large flat surfaces to provide a great finish and speed up the process. Simply brush the corners first, then use a roller to blend and coat.
4. Always leave your piece for 7 days to cure (for the paint to fully harden) or 10 days in the cooler months before using it or putting anything on the surface. Keeping it in a room with a radiator heater on low for 24-48 hours will help with this process in the winter months or equally, in a sunny room or outside in the warmer months.
5. Some timbers will expel natural oils when painted showing discolouration which is usually yellow (but I have seen pink) when you apply the paint. Don't panic, this is totally fixable. Apply two coats of Shellac (or other sealer from your hardware store), then continue painting as normal and it will no longer bleed through. 

Find out how to achieve our proven processes at one of our furniture painting workshops today.

Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint is proudly produced right here in New Zealand and has numerous benefits:
  • Suitable for interior and exterior projects.
  • Professionally manufactured in New Zealand using sustainable processes.
  • Buy direct from the distributor Upcycled & Co.
  • ​Cost effective compared to chalk paint.
  • Eco-friendly with low VOCs.
  • Easily mixed to achieve an infinite colour range​.
​

Paint Information

Sizes: 1 litre cans and 90ml test pots.
Use: Furniture (indoor/outdoor), walls, home decor items and paint effects.
Directions: Clean item thoroughly. Stir paint well. Dilute with water as required to achieve desired paint effects.
Touch Dry: 30 minutes
Re-coat: 1-2 hours
Cures: 7 days
Application: Brush, roller, sprayer or speed brush.
Clean up: Warm soapy water.
Optimum Air Temperature for Use: Minimum 10C maximum 35C.
Coverage: 12 sqm per litre (dependant upon the finish you want to achieve as some paint effects take more paint than others).

​COLOURS:
NATURALS – White, Off White, Vanilla, Linen, Latte, Chocolate, Sand
BLUES – Sky, Navy, Aqua, Duck Egg
GREENS – Jade, Moss, Sage
REDS – Ruby
GREY & BLACKS – Ash, Jet, Charcoal
METALLICS - Gold and Silver

Learn how to mix our colours to achieve endless shades with our Colour Mixing Tutorial here.
​
DISCLAIMER: 
The colours on our online chart are as close as possible to the actuals. You may need to sand a surface if you have flaking paint or varnish or if the surface is particularly dented and marked and you want a smooth finish. Sometimes shiny surfaces can benefit from a quick scuff with sandpaper, however the way you apply the paint to these surfaces is usually the key.
​
SHIPPING:
Purchase your paint from our online furniture paint store and we will have it sent out to you. Your order will be with you in 2-5 working days. ​
Residential - Flat Rate NZ$10.00 per order 
Rural - Flat Rate NZ$15.00 per order ​