I always feel like when you paint a piece of furniture white you can never go wrong. White looks great in everyone’s home. It can make a sunny room look light, clean and bright or it can make a dark room feel lighter and more cheery.
White painted furniture also sells the fastest. If you are contemplating a color selection for your newly purchased flea market find or your grandmothers antique furniture go with white! White is safe and when you paint furniture white you have a larger market of people who are more apt to purchase your painted furniture, as opposed to your neighbor who has painted a dresser to look like a peacock. (I love a peacock painted dresser! But, they have a smaller market of people buying them. 🙂
I have found that the best white for furniture is Annie Sloan’s Old White chalk paint. It has recently been reformulated to look even more white with no yellow tint. (honestly, I never saw a yellow tint in the old formula but some did.) I also sealed these pieces with Annie Sloan’s clear finish wax.
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Supplies for Painting Furniture White
- Annie Sloan Old White Chalk paint! (I have also used Dixie Belle’s “Cotton” for painting furniture white and recommend, especially if you are working on a small piece.)
- Your favorite paint brush! The Wooster 2′ shortcut angled brush is my favorite. It gets into corners, gives a smooth finish and best of all has a rubber handle! Your hand will not hurt after painting with this brush!
- Clear finishing Wax. I used Annie Sloan. Dixie Belle also sells a furniture wax that you can use and works well.:)
- Wax brush (I like this wax brush because it has longer bristles, making it easier to apply the clear wax. You can also use an old cotton t-shirt (make sure it is cotton or the wax will not go on to your painted furniture smooth.)
- Shop Towels! (You can never have too many shop towels!)
Steps to Painting Furniture White
Begin by turning your paint can upside down. This allows for all of the good stuff on the bottom of the can to work its way back to the top. While paint can is turned over lightly clean your furniture project. If your furniture is in good condition you can lightly wipe it down with a damp shop towel. If furniture is in a bit rougher condition sand any raised edges and remove with gunk making the furniture smooth. (Really that is the important part. You need it smooth so when you apply your paint it goes on smoothly.:)
When furniture is clean turn your paint can back over and lightly dip your paint brush into the can. Start with minimal paint on your brush and starting from the bottom work your way up. You want a good first coat of paint on your furniture project. It’s okay if you can see the underneath finish. Let first coat of paint dry 30 minutes to an hour.
When you can touch the first coat of paint and no paint comes up on your hand you know your paint is dry! Begin adding a second coat of paint in smooth even layers.
After second coat of paint is dry (this will be another 30 minutes to an hour depending on the weather!) you can begin to wax your furniture project. Gently dip your wax brush into your container of wax and going in circular motions work the wax into the furniture project. Wiping off any excess wax with your shop towels. Try not to overwork the wax or it will become rubbery.
Wax generally takes 28 days to fully cure BUT you can still use your freshly waxed surface! That is one of the reasons I like wax. It is not sticky and you can use your furniture almost immediately. 🙂
When your furniture project has been fully sealed with clear wax you are finished! Give yourself a high five! Way to go!!
PRO TIP: You can add stencils to your furniture project to make it a bit more unique! Click here for how to add stencils to wood. 🙂
PRO TIP: Distressing your white painted furniture with 220 grit sandpaper can add a beautiful rustic look to your painted white furniture!
What do you think? Are you ready to paint your furniture white? You can do this! Let me know if you have any questions!
