If you are looking to live in your own wonderland and you are not sure where to start, start here. A DIY evolution to make your home a little more like wonderland is to paint your furniture. I was recently given this cutie little chair [see before picture below] and instantly thought, “I am painting this!” Come along with me to Sherwin Williams wonderland to learn all about different paint colors, different paint types, different paint finishes, and different painting accessories to evolve your own furniture from blank to bright.
Before:
After:
Benefits of Painting your own Furniture.
One: cost. Painting your own furniture in do-it-yourself fashion is very cost effective. Hiring a professional to paint furniture can cost you hundreds of dollars whereas a DIY project is around $50!
Two: personalization. When you paint your furniture yourself, you allow your creativity to follow in choosing the color of the paint, the type of paint, and the finish of the paint!
Three: sustainability. Painting your own furniture means you are keeping what you have instead of throwing it away/creating waste and you are bringing new life to what is already around you!
Four: learning. By painting your own furniture or even by reading this blog post, you are learning a new skill and evolving not only your furniture, but also yourself. [GO GIRL!]
Paint Colors.
Choosing a paint color can be very overwhelming, especially when Sherwin Williams offers over 1,700 different paint colors and it can appear that one shade from the next is seemingly the same. When things get super overwhelming, I always recommend starting with the color wheel. Using a color wheel can help you establish your base color and accent/complimentary colors.
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Start with your base color. How do you want to feel when you walk into the room you are painting or how do you want to feel as you sit in the chair you are painting? Lucky for you, each color has the ability to evoke emotions within us. Use this guide to apply the feeling you desire to the furniture you are painting.
Red: Passion, Love, Anger.
Orange: Energy, Happiness.
Yellow: Happiness, Hope.
Green: New beginnings, Abundance, Nature.
Blue: Calm, Responsible, Sadness.
Purple: Creativity, Royalty, Wealth.
Black: Mystery, Elegance, Evil.
Gray: Moody, Conservative, Formal.
White: Purity, Cleanliness, Virtue.
Brown: Nature, Wholesomeness, Dependability.
Tan: Conservative, Piety, Dull.
Cream: Calm, Elegant, Purity.
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Once you choose your base color, use the color wheel to see which colors will compliment this color. Then, use these colors within the room as accents such as pillows, artwork, and rugs.
For more tools to help you visualize and choose paint colors for your next project, visit Sherwin Williams color tools here.
Types of Paint.
Once you have decided that you are going to paint furniture yourself, the piece of furniture you are going to paint, and the color of your paint, it is time to choose the type of paint. For this specific project, I used Sherwin Williams Latitude Exterior Acrylic Latex paint. Typically, you would want an interior paint for a chair, however, this is all this specific Sherwin Williams store had in order to receive the color I was looking for. For this specific project, achieving the color was more important than the finish/type of paint.
Here’s a little breakdown of the different types of paint from Sherwin Williams. Please note, I am not a Sherwin Williams professional! You may need additional paints or primers for your specific project. For more information, visit their website here or your local store!
Interior Paints.
Emerald Interior Acrylic Paint: A paint with exceptional coverage, resist water streaking, and helps prevent stains.
SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex: Paint and primer in one that dries quickly.
Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex: With anti-microbial and stain-blocking technology.
Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex: For a silky and rich finish with easily cleaning and maintenance.
Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel: For frequently cleaned and used areas.
Color To Go: Paint sample for creating test swatches in your space.
Emerald Designer Edition Interior Latex Paint: For walls with a flawless finish.
Premium Ceiling Paint: Ceiling paint with mildew resistance.
ProClassic Waterborne Interior Acrylic Enamel: For a smooth finish on interior doors and trim without leaving brush stroke marks.
SuperPaint Interior Acrylic with Air Purifying Technology: Paint with air quality improvement technology!
Captivate Interior Latex: Paint and primer in one!
Porch & Floor Enamel: For keeping porch, patio, basement, concrete, wooden, and laundry floors looking new for longer!
SnapDry Door & Trim Paint: For painting dry time in as little as one hour.
ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd: For toughness and durability on interior doors, cabinets, trim, and furniture.
ProClassic Alkyd Interior Enamel: For smoothness on interior doors and trim.
All Surface Enamel Latex: For durability on wood, metal, drywall, and other surfaces with a latex base.
All Surface Enamel Oil Base: For durability on wood, metal, drywall, and other surfaces with an oil base.
SuperPaint Interior Latex with Sanitizing Technology: Paint with antibacterial properties to keep your walls sanitized!
Sketch Pad Dry Erase Coating: To transform surfaces to dry erase boards.
Faux Impressions Latex Glaze: Works with the basecoat color to have a translucent glaze effect.
Krylon Chalkboard Paint Brush-On: For creating a chalkboard surface.
Scuff Tuff Interior Waterbased Enamel: For protecting walls against scuffs and scratches.
Dry Erase Clear Gloss Coating: for a writable and erasable surface.
Krylon Tub & Tile Ultra Repair Finish 2 Part Epoxy Enamel: for repairing kitchen and bathroom pieces in a porcelain-like finish
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Exterior Paints.
Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel: For a smooth finish on cabinets, doors, and other frequently used/cleaned surfaces.
SuperPaint Exterior Acrylic Latex: Contains a formula for dirt-resistance and mildew-resistance.
Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex: Only requires two coats for new jobs for efficiency.
Emerald Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint: Requires fewer coats.
Emerald Rain Refresh Exterior Acrylic Latex Paint: Created so that dirt washes away upon contact with water and rain.
A-100 Exterior Acrylic Latex: For long lasting quality coverage.
Latitude Exterior Acrylic Latex: For application in extreme temperatures to paint no matter the forecast!
Porch & Floor Enamel: For keeping porch, patio, basement, concrete, wooden, and laundry floors looking new for longer!
SnapDry Door & Trim Paint: For painting dry time in as little as one hour.
All Surface Enamel Latex: For durability on wood, metal, drywall, and other surfaces with a latex base.
All Surface Enamel Oil Base: For durability on wood, metal, drywall, and other surfaces with an oil base.
Rejuvenate Siding Restoration: No primer needed for efficiency in cost and time.
Kool Seal Premium Roof Paint: Roof paint that is UV resistant and will not chalk or crack.
Krylon High Heat Max Brush-On: For exteriors that face high temperature swings.
Kool Seal Tundra Rubberized Roof Coating: For roofs that need ponding water resistance.
Uniflex Elastomeric MB Base Coat: Designed to be a base coat for asphaltic surfaces
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Types of Paint Finishes.
There are ten different paint sheens you can choose from when painting your furniture, walls, cabinets, etc. The sheen is important for the overall durability of your project and for the final look of the project. For this specific project, I used a gloss finish! When painting furniture specifically, do not be afraid to get creative and have fun with your finish! Here is a little more in depth look at the finishes as learned from Sherwin Williams:
One: Gloss.
What it is: Shiny and durable with higher light reflective finish.
Where to paint: Wood trim, cabinets, cabinets, doors, furniture.
Two: Semi-Gloss.
What it is: Moderately reflective, durable, and ideal for areas that get cleaned frequently.
Where to paint: Kitchens, bathrooms, utility areas, closet doors, and trim.
Three: Satin/Eggshell.
What it is: Has a slight shine.
Where to paint: Ideal for high traffic areas such as hallways, children’s bedrooms, woodwork, family rooms, and exterior surfaces.
Four: Matte
What it is: Good for covering surface imperfections with a washable finish.
Where to paint: Living rooms, dining rooms, exterior siding.
Five: Flat
What it is: Non-reflective sheen that is also good for covering surface imperfections although harder to clean.
Where to paint: Adult bedrooms, formal living rooms, ceilings, uneven or textured walls.
Six: High Gloss
What it is: The most reflective finish giving surfaces a high glare.
Where to paint: Trim, doors, windows, cabinets.
Seven: Medium Lustre
What it is: A higher gloss finish.
Where to paint: Doors, trim.
Eight: Pearl
What it is: A subtle shimmer between eggshell and semi-gloss.
Where to paint: Kitchen, bathroom, hallways.
Nine: Low-Lustre
What it is: A smooth and subtle sheen that is easy to clean.
Where to paint: Office, kitchen, bathroom, hallways.
Ten: Velvet
What it is: A flat finish with some sheen.
Where to paint: Entry ways, hallways, ceilings, bedrooms
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For more on finishes and sheens, visit the Sherwin Williams guide here.
Paint Accessories.
You cannot [well you probably could, but it would be more of a challenge] have a successful DIY furniture project without painting accessories. For this specific project, I used a microfiber cloth, a piece of sandpaper, a paint brush, and a drop cloth. Here is why.
A microfiber cloth to clean off dirt and grime from the chair so that it is clean for painting and creates an environment for paint to adhere. A piece of sandpaper to remove imperfections, prevent old paint from seeping through, and helps the paint stick. A paint brush to apply the paint to the chair. Finally, a drop cloth to catch paint splatters and protect the surface you are working on.
Stop by your local Sherwin Williams or www.sherwin-williams.com for interior paints, exterior paints, wallpapers, painting accessories, and more [not a paid ad].
Thanks for visiting Alice-Hilton. Share this blog with someone who is doing great. We hope you leave here feeling like you have emerged into the beautiful butterfly that you are.
AND, YOU ARE DOING GREAT 🦋.