Beginner's Guide To Painting Furniture Part 1

Welcome to Part 1 of 

My Beginner's Guide 

To Painting Furniture. 

Ooh, and I've had an extra idea for Friday.

If you have a piece that you'd like advice on,

why not link up to my 

Paint, Please link party 

this Friday, 

{button on the sidebar}

which is for letting us ogle 

your very favourite paint projects

{potential or real}:

room redos, 

favourite colours,

painted furniture

.....and anything you'd like advice or help with. 

When I started out painting furniture, 

I felt so intimidated by the information that was out there. 

I just didn't know where to begin.

So I didn't begin at all.

I wanted a site  that explained things 

for absolute beginners and struggled to find one.

I hope to create that here.

My aim is to make it as:

EASY,

ENJOYABLE and

USER-FRIENDLY

AS POSSIBLE.

So let's begin right at the start.

What's the point of painting furniture?

The point is that you end up with a piece 

that is completely and utterly yours. 

No one anywhere will have a piece like it. 

Your heart will swell with pride when 

you admire your beautiful handiwork.

It can be hard to visualise what a piece will look like 

when the colour of the existing piece is right up in your face.

Three words to help you find what will look good painted:

shape, shape, shape.

You need to look for pieces that have a lovely shape. 

It doesn't matter what the shape is but you have to LOVE it!

But all I see here is orange varnish...uugh.

So why not get rid of the colour element? 

Take a photo of your piece 

IN BLACK AND WHITE.

It makes it so much easier to get a feel 

for what it will look like in a different colour. 

{See what I mean?}

This extending solid oak dining table is the piece 

I've picked out to walk you through the process.  

The top is covered in peeling varnish.

{Nice}

The curved edge is laminated chip board. 

{Hmmmm}

The future wasn't looking good for this piece 

but I can see past that using my black and white photo technique.

The shape shines out.

Nice legs, eh?

I think it's worth rescuing.

Find out how tomorrow...