See How Easily You Can Paint Antique Furniture

With many antique pieces like desks, wardrobes, and tables, certain paints were used and glazed surfaces were in fashion. When you purchase an antique you might find that the paint is cracking and peeling and you want to refinish it yourself.

But how do you know what paints to use and how do you paint an antique without reducing its value?

Well, there are many items and products that you can use. The first and most basic thing to remember is to keep everything as organic and original as possible. Look in the history behind each period and find out what paints and finished were used in that periods of time.

Certain paints like milk paints were commonly used as they were made organically and do not have any chemicals and detergents that will harm the antique. When restoring an antique with paint, also try to use colors that would have been used at that time. The best thing is to use the same colors that the furniture was painted in when you purchased it, but if this was not the original either, then restore it using the best color that represents the era that the piece is from. Another type of paint you can use is eggshell paint that is mild and chemical free.

Another trick when painting your antique piece of furniture is to use soft brushes that will not scratch the wood or ruin the overall grain or style of the piece. Make sure that the paint is not too thick so that it detracts from the style and if you want you can also use a mild glaze to protect it and give it that correct look. Also make sure that these products are originals that might have been used in that specific time and not harsh chemical products.

Another way to get away with painting a piece of antique furniture if you really have to is to make it look like wood. If the wood is quite damaged and cannot be easily restored, then choose a wood stain or paint the same color as the original wood so that you can keep the original look of the antique and make it look better than before. This will ensure that you do not lower the value of the piece and rather improve its condition.

You should be careful when choosing the finish, to find one that is close to what would have been used at the time the item was made. This might be a natural wood oil, or natural wax like beeswax. Never use modern chemical products on an antique.

When looking to paint antique furniture, most experts will tell you not to. If you really want to refinish it or give it a new lease on life, if it was an originally painted piece, then rather take it to a professional who can do the job properly using the correct techniques, equipments, and paints.

Doing it yourself can be done, but is not recommended as you might not be able to use the methods correctly to get the correct effect once you are complete. A professional who paints antiques all the time will know exactly how to paint it correctly, how much to sand it by, when to stop painting, what to do to dry the paint correctly, and how to use the finishes in the most appropriate way.

Using these tips you can decide whether to paint your antique piece is really worth it or not. You must find out if painting it will add to its value or detract from it and depending on who much the piece is worth to begin with, you can make an informed decision when you want to paint an antique.

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