NOT LONG AGO OUR INTERIOR WAS CLEAN MINIMALISM AND LIGHT AIRY SPACES, BORN OF THE PRE-RECESSION IDEOLOGY THAT A MINIMALIST LOOK EQUALS LUXURY.
Today, when it comes to furniture, many of us choose vintage-style gems over the polished, minimalist look. It’s fair to say that the shabby chic look has value.
Aside from adding a shabby chic feel to existing items in the home, your preferred sources will be charity shops, markets, and auction houses, which are great places to pick up unique items at a low price. Alternatively, websites are full of bargain furniture.
The shabby chic look is best achieved with wooden furniture and a few coats of Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish furniture paint.
Want to give it a try? Here's everything you need to know before making it shabby, oh so chic…
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
- Wooden furniture
- Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint
- Rust-Oleum Furniture Finishing Wax
- Sandpaper (light and medium grit)
- White spirit
- Wire wool
- Cloth or rag
- Mixing sticks
- Masking tape
- A range of brushes and rollers in various sizes (depending on the size of your chosen piece of furniture)
STEPS
- Move your chosen piece of furniture to a well-ventilated area and place it on a newspaper or dust sheet.
- As with any painting, make sure the surfaces to be painted are clean, dry, and free from loose paint and grease.
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Since older furniture is likely to be contaminated with old varnishes, etc., it's best to clean the surface before you start painting.
Top tip! Previously painted surfaces should be sanded to provide a key. If the wood has been waxed, a wire wool pad plus white spirit should do the trick. If it’s varnished, use sandpaper.
Mask off any areas you don't want to be painted with tape to ensure a clean and tidy finish.
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Apply two thin coats of Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint, using a back and forth motion, slightly overlapping strokes to avoid butt lines. Remember to allow four hours between coats to ensure a smooth finish.
Top tip! Lightly sand the base coat with fine sandpaper, around 180 grit should be enough, for a cleaner finish.
Now for the fun part, for that natural worn look, use fine-grit sandpaper and gently rub the areas of paint you want to remove, revealing the bare wood underneath - this usually works best on rough edges and corners.
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If you're feeling creative, why not use Chalky Finish paint colors to achieve a look that complements other furniture in your chosen room?
Top tip! Still want that essence of luxury? Use Rust-Oleum metallic furniture paint as a base coat.
Once you are happy with the look of your shabby chic creation, seal the paint with Rust-Oleum furniture finishing wax in clear or dark depending on your chosen paint shade for longer-lasting durability.