Transforming old & worn furniture with Simply Colour paint.

The best way to transform old furniture and Simply Colour your space wonderful!

We’ll guide you through the simple (and exciting) process of upcycling old and used furniture into statement décor pieces by painting them with Simply Colour’s Trim Paint. It’s easy to apply, with a beautiful finish, and you don’t have to be a DIY expert to do it. Plus, we‘ve got the colour for you! If you can imagine it, you can paint it. So read on for more inspiration!

From drab to fab – see the potential in any old piece

Does your bedroom, dining room, lounge or any other space in your home need a little update? A little something-something to bring in colour to lift your mood? Or perhaps add a little quirk and character to make you smile and bring out your creativity? We’re not talking about renovating anything. We’re talking much, much simpler than that – updating a piece of furniture by painting it. It’s such a simple décor trick that not only metamorphosises old, tired, and boring furniture, but also breathes new life into any old space.

Which furniture is right for a paint make-over?

The short answer: anything really (unless it needs a major overhaul, because we don’t cover furniture repair in this blog article).

The long answer? See the list below for popular furniture pieces that can be painted and revived with Simply Colour’s Trim Paint:

1. Wooden chairs, tables and dining sets
2. Old dressers and chests of drawers
3. Bookshelves, cabinets, and shelving units
4. Kitchen and bathroom cabinets
5. Nightstands and pedestals
6. Desks and credenza’s
7. Outdoor furniture including patio furniture like chairs, tables, and benches
8. Wooden or metal stools and ladders
9. Children’s furniture including cribs, changing tables, toy storage chests and kists
10. Any laminate or melamine furniture that could include any of the above.

How to take furniture from meh to amazing

Painting furniture has become a fast growing trend because it is an easy and affordable way to modernise old furniture. We recommend using Simply Colour’s Trim – a premium quality enamel paint with a luxurious satin finish. It can be used on new or previously painted surfaces such as doors, window frames, cupboards, skirting boards, furniture and of course, even walls, giving a superior sheen finish.

Five more reasons why people love this paint:

1. It’s water based, so it’s easy to apply and brushes and rollers are easy to clean (no turpentine required).
2. It’s low-odour.
3. It dries quickly to a tough, long-lasting and washable finish.
4. It’s mould resistant.
5. It can be used indoors and outdoors!

So now that you’ve chosen a great quality brand of paint, you need to move onto choosing the colour that completes your vision for the furniture piece and how it will fit into the intended space’s colour palette.

Colour considerations

You may want to go for a striking, bold colour that makes the furniture piece stand out and be a feature in the room. Or, you may want to opt for a colour that is contrasting or complementary to the existing wall colour and décor colours in the space. Let our colour expert guide you, you can play with all the colours in our colour box! Our paint colours are designed to inspire you and turn your fantasy into reality.

Design the look

After choosing your paint colour, it’s time to take your creativity to the next level. Transform any old table, dresser, set of draws or kist into a must-have piece that belongs on the cover of Visi magazine. You can do this by adding patterns and designs through the use of stencils, furniture stickers, wallpaper and decals. From floral to filigree to mandalas, Moroccan, geometric, art deco and so much more, look for stencil ideas here. You can find furniture stencils, decals and stickers at most hardware stores, décor shops and craft stores. 

It’s all in the details

Lastly, add the final touch to your furniture statement piece, that icing on the cake that will be eye-catching, start a conversation, and make the piece creatively satisfying. Simply add an element that stands out, for example, on drawers and pedestals consider adding contrasting metallic handles or ceramic knobs that have ornate detail. Another décor idea is to look at changing the legs to uplift the piece – check out wooden cone legs, hairpin legs and metallic legs that come in a brass, rose gold or a gold look.

Painting your piece is the first step and the foundation to creating something exciting, so check out our prep steps ahead to make sure your piece is on-point. 

Step-by-step guide to painting furniture

Before starting your DIY project, here’s what you need to have ready to ensure it stays fun and your furniture turns out beautifully:

1. Simply Colour Trim Paint in the colour of your choice
2. Drop cloth to protect floors
3. Sandpaper Block (Medium and Fine)
4. Tack cloth/ lint-free rag
5. Paint brush (having a range of small, medium, and large brushes can come in handy)
6. Foam roller versus flocked roller (foam rollers give a smoother finish and are great for cabinet doors).
7. Screwdriver.

Types of materials that work best with Simply Colour Trim

You can apply Simply Colour’s Trim paint to most furniture materials including wood, wood veneer (if in good condition), metal, laminate and melamine.

Step 1: Prep before painting

1. Remove hardware and drawers: Using the screwdriver to remove any knobs, handles or other hardware. For cupboards and draws you may want to remove them from the carcass for more precision and easier painting.
   
2. Put the drop sheet down: This will protect your floor from paint splatters and makes cleaning up a breeze.

Step 2: Preparing the surface of the furniture

1. Sand the surface: Sanding is especially important with surfaces that are uneven; have flecks of old paint or rust (metal); or the surface has been treated with a high gloss or oil. Melamine and laminate surfaces will always require sanding. Only skip to cleaning the surface if your piece is untreated pine, has been previously sanded or if you’re painting over with the same colour.
   
2. Clean the surface: Use a tack or lint-free cloth to remove any debris or dust. Preferably use a damp cloth to clean the surface. It’s important to wait for the surface to dry before applying primer.
   
3. Apply Primer: We recommend using Simply Colour Primer and applying two coats before painting with Simply Colour Trim. Primer allows the paint to adhere to the furniture, so your piece will be a lot more durable and long-lasting.

Step 3: Time to transform your furniture

Paint! The fun part is here. You’ve done all your prep, you’ve picked your colour from our contemporary, cool and always-classic range, and now it’s time to create the magic.

Start by mixing the paint thoroughly by stirring it with a dowl stick. Never dilute our paints with anything. Pour the paint into a painting tray or separate container so as not contaminate the paint in the can, and then close the lid so your paint doesn’t dry out.

Then begin by lightly dipping your paint brush into the paint and painting a thin first layer all over the furniture piece. Take your time, painting in a smooth motion. Wait for it to dry (about 30 minutes) and then paint a second coat. After applying the second coat, wait about an hour, then check to see if you’d prefer to give your furniture a third coat. Simply Colour’s Trim paint covers really well, so the third coat may be unnecessary.

That’s it, you’re done painting. Clean your brushes with water. Leave your furniture for 24 hours before putting handles back on or reattaching draws and cupboards.

A last word of advice for painting furniture

Make sure your upcycled furniture piece is a “Nailed it!” and not an “Epic Fail”, by taking heed of the following advice for painting used and old furniture:

• Do not paint during cold or wet conditions (10 degrees Celsius or lower) as paint performs best in dry and warm conditions.
• Do not apply directly to unprimed metal surfaces (the paint won’t stick).
• Keeping your painted furniture in high-moisture areas is not advised.
• Make the project fun BUT chilled, don’t rush it! Wait the recommended amount of time before applying the primer/paint, and reassembling the furniture. 
• Don’t go thick. Apply thin coats of paint for an even, smooth and bump-free look.
• Don’t skip the primer! As we’ve mentioned above, primer as the foundation layer helps the paint to adhere to the surface. Without it, the paint will peel.

Lastly, there are no shortcuts. So have your equipment ready, do your prep, use a superior quality paint like Simply Colour’s Trim, and you’ll create an insta-worthy décor piece. You may even start a trend that others follow.

We want to see what you’ve done! So, once you’ve finished your furniture make-over project, share your success story and photos with us, email: hello@simplycolour.co.za with the subject line “My Furniture Make-Over Project”.

Happy painting and creating!

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