let's talk about: paint

Yesterday when I posted about painting that little purple chair, I got a question from a reader.

Joyce said...

I love the paint jobs! I have a question, how do you know which pain to use? I went to Bunnings, and they have 2 whole aisles of paint ( and I have a few projects to do) but I dont know where to start!

So... let's talk about paint! I have more paint than I will ever admit to the world. Gallons and gallons of buckets, dozens of cans - there's a lot of paint roaming around here at the cottage. This post will only cover the types in the photo above. Tomorrow we'll talk about a few other kinds.

Let me start by saying that 1) I am not an expert. This post is about my experiences and how I do things. Being a non-expert means that sometimes I go out on a limb and try new things - sometimes they work, sometimes not. 2) First learn to work with paint, then do it your way. After you buy the product, do it however you want. If it gets mucked up, then redo it.  (But don't go breaking real, actual laws or anything :)

#1 - Spray Paint! My favorite kind of paint! Quick and easy - that's the wonders of Krylon, or Rustoleum or Montana, or whatever you fancy. I like cheap, $1 spray paint occassionally - it works best to achieve imperfect finish when you want a weathered look. I reserve the cheap stuff for flat white paint for when I want to shabby something up, or for woven items like baskets. For more on shabbying, see #6.

Krylon is awesome for covering things solidly. Light fixtures, glass items and metal items all take spray paint well. Yes, you can paint furniture with spray paint - but I only do that if there are turned legs or lots of nooks and crannies. If the furniture is flat, then I go with a brush and a bucket.

#2 - Better Spray Paint. If you want the easiest finishing spray paint you've ever seen, you need GOOD spray paint. I like Montana Graffiti paint. It comes in tons of colors and is a true one coat job. No runs, drips or splotches. However, it's pretty expensive, only found in art stores and did I mention expensive? You can buy it for around $10 a can, but that's 10 cans of the cheap stuff. This is reserved for those "WOW!" pieces. I don't recommend furniture, unless it's a small piece, because I want maximum pieces out of one can.

#3 - Chalkboard Spray Paint. Magic in a can. You can, of course, spray a board or piece of glass, but imagine a child's table top painted with it - instant Rock Star Mom! It's a wonderful invention and I always have some on hand.

#4 - Latex paint - You know, the stuff you typically think about for your walls? Yep, that paints furniture beautifully. I don't mess with oil based paint because of the clean up (and I'm lazy). Water based paint is my favorite. For walls I like eggshell finish.
#5 - More Latex Paint - I like satin finish for furniture. Madeline and I attack furniture frequently. Just take your time and use a good paint brush to get the best results. Sand it well, prime if needed, but paint with slow even strokes and you'll get a beautiful finish. Don't like the results? Then sand it down and start again. If it's going outside, then you need to finish it with #7. If it's inside and you want a little more protection (think table tops), then use regular clear coat, I like Krylon.

#6 - Glaze. Glaze is a shabby girl's best friend. Take a newly painted piece (either by brush or by can), sand a little on the edges and then coat it with some glaze, wipe it off and you get a beautiful finish every time! It adds depth and character, like dirt over time, but it's instant. Gotta love 5 minute fab!

#7 - Spray Poly - I like Helmspar because it's waterproof. I like the spray can because I am much better at spray painting than I am brush painting. It is smooth and even every time (well, every time I get it right!) I put it over any furniture that I paint for a protective finish.

Sooo... that's the first group of paint. Got questions? Ask away! I'll do my best to answer them. Got something to add? Let me have that, too! I'll add the great ideas into this post so that everyone will see them (including the email subscribers.)

Posted at DIY Day