Thinking of upcycling your old wooden furniture? Refurbishing experts say that mineral paints are your best bet.
Once you’ve had a piece of wooden furniture for long enough, it’ll begin showing its age. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t perfectly usable, right? If you think it’d be a waste to throw it out, why not give it a new lease on life with some paint? But don’t settle for just any paint - give it a fresh coat of mineral paint, and it’ll last another lifetime!
But what sets mineral paints apart from other types of furniture paint? Well, mineral paints are composed of quartz sand, potassium carbonate, and mineral pigments and fillers. Unlike acrylic paints, which only bond with the surface of an object, mineral paints soak into the substrate through the process of silicification, wherein the paint is chemically bound to the silica in the material itself.
As a result, these paints are longer-lasting than acrylics once cured, and they are more resistant to weathering, scratches, discolouring, and flaking - this makes them suitable for upcycling all types of furniture, especially those in high-traffic areas.
Picking your paints is only half the battle; you have to know how to apply them, too.
Luckily, it’s easy enough if you’re working with mineral paint. Before refurbishing wooden furniture, you should clean the surface with a sugar soap solution to remove dirt, grease, or wax residue; you can also lightly sand the piece to promote better curing.
After the furniture has been prepared, the first coat of mineral paint can be applied thinly - experts recommend a synthetic brush or foam roller for large, flat surfaces for even layering.
Once the initial coat has dried completely, you can apply additional coats. Pro upcyclers say that two are usually sufficient, but worn items or darker paints may look more complete with a third coat.
If you want to add some of your own personal flair, you can consider stencilling or distressing the edges of the furniture before the paint cures. For furniture that will be used heavily, such as tabletops, you may also want to think about finishing the piece with wax or a clear topcoat for extra protection.
Now that you know how to repaint your furniture with mineral paints, you’re probably wondering what brands to go for. A lot of experts recommend Fusion mineral paints for DIY projects, as they cure within 21 days, feature built-in topcoats, and require little to no priming or sanding. Because they are self-levelling, they will also mask most brush strokes, creating a smooth and professional finish.
You can try other brands too, of course, and they’re available all over Deux-Sèvres. In fact, most mineral paints can be purchased online from speciality retailers like La Deuxieme Chance. If you don’t want to make the trip to a physical paint store, you can have the paints you need delivered right to your doorstep!
