Upcycling really is easy and great fun. But, being aware of these five pitfalls will make your project run smoothly from start to finish.
Many of the people I teach (in-person and online) in my Furniture Paint 101 workshops discover how easy it is when they practised during the class. What I hear most is the people have procrastinated for so long due to fear, and then, like me, they discover that it's way easier than they thought. Today I wanted to share five tips related to common fears people have to help you get started. 1. Reducing overwhelm It can be really inspiring to see images on line when a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoor furniture set has been transformed in Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint. But often, the thought of doing your own projects brings up fear that sees you putting it off again and again and again. The best thing to do is buy some test pots of paint and get started on something small; a mirror, single chair, or some old photo frames are great first time projects. You'll get used to how the paint goes on, giving you the confidence to tackle bigger pieces. 2. Dealing with bleed through Some timbers will leach tannins that bleed through the paint when it's applied. Often it happens with oak or teak pieces, but don't be alarmed if you find yourself in this predicament, there is a fix. A product called Shellac, readily available from your hardware store works like magic. Simply apply two coats over the parts where the furniture has bled, let it dry, then carry on painting. 3. Doubt about longevity of painted furniture Regularly I have followers comment asking how robust the pieces I show actually are. I can assure you they are extremely hardy. In our home, we have pieces (inside and outside) that were painted when I launched the brand in 2017. One small table has sat outside that entire time and is perfect. 4. Getting a smooth finish Our paint is self-levelling and therefore creates a beautiful smooth finish. The important thing to remember here is to get the paint on, then leave it. Because this is an acrylic paint, it dries very quickly and the more you drag your brush back and forth over the surface, the more issues you will have. Doing this will create an uneven finish, but this can be fixed. Simply sand the surface with 240grit sandpaper and apply one more coat watered down by about 10%. 5. Paint adhering to different surfaces You really can paint anything; from glass to plastic, wood, metal and everything in between. And, as I said earlier, interior and exterior projects. Our paint adheres well to all surfaces, providing you follow our instructions carefully. In particular, when painting surfaces that have built-up dirt, wax or grime, and those that are shiny. You will have success as long as you follow each step. I'd love to hear about your upcycling projects and see before and after projects. You can email those to me at kathryn@upcycledandco.com.
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AuthorHi I'm Kathryn,
You're going to love how QUICK, EASY + AFFORDABLE it is to transform your furniture. With Upcycled & Co. Furniture Paint, a 3-in-1 that primes, paints and seals (it's not chalk paint) you won't need to sand, prime, wax or seal - just paint and you're done. I'm super-passionate about sharing what I know about furniture painting to make it easy for you. If you'd love to start a creative business I can help with that too, simply click here. Enjoy! |