Posted by Frenchic Admin
Painting furniture is one of the easiest ways to refresh your home's look without a major renovation.
Versatile Frenchic paint is suitable for many surfaces and makes your DIY projects easy, even if you're painting for the first time.
For the best result, clean the furniture thoroughly, sand the surface lightly, and apply thoroughly mixed paint according to the instructions. Follow our simple instructions and you'll succeed.
Painting with Frenchic paints is quite simple:
- Wash the surfaces clean
- Roughen the surface and wipe away the dust
- Paint at least twice with thoroughly mixed paint on a dry, clean surface
- Follow the drying times for the paint range
- That's it!
What's the best way to paint furniture?
Furniture painting works best when you tackle the job step by step. It's a good idea to clean the surface, sand it lightly, and use paint intended for furniture. This will give you a neat, durable, and beautiful result. Avoid using craft paints to paint furniture.
Benefits of choosing Frenchic paints
Get ahead by choosing Frenchic paints that level beautifully and dry quickly. Our easy-to-use paints offer a whole new painting experience, and you don't need to be a professional to achieve stunning results. With our instructions and paints, anyone can succeed.
You have a wide range of shades to choose from, suitable for both traditional and modern settings. The English Frenchic shade range is designed to complement historic and traditional settings, and our shades can easily be paired with muted traditional colors and the color palettes of classic English designs, such as 'William Morris'-style wallpapers.
Our stunning historic shades are an easy choice for both more modern Scandinavian interiors and the era of Finnish post-war homes.
Because Frenchic paints are suitable for many different surfaces (metal, wood, plastic, etc.), you'll have less waste during your renovation and can use the same paint for different projects. You'll also save time and material costs, because our paints already contain important protective ingredients and primer.
What can go wrong?
Usually, rushing into a project by skipping steps and interpreting the instructions your own way & not following them leads to an unwanted result.
It's tempting to start painting with unmixed paint on a surface that hasn't been washed or sanded. Even if the paint stays on the surface, you'll notice a big difference in durability and smoothness when you follow our instructions.
How do I choose the right paint and paint range?
It’s that easy: all Frenchic paints are suitable for interior surfaces.
In brief
- Only the Al Fresco range. is suitable for outdoor furniture.
- All Frenchic ranges are suitable for interior surfaces and furniture.
- All Frenchic paint ranges withstand splashes and washing and wiping.
- Waxes and finishing coats are suitable for untreated and painted wood.
- Waxes are for interior surfaces only.
- Finishing coats are also suitable for outdoor use, for example to protect painted exterior doors and garden furniture.
When choosing a paint range, consider at least the following
- Frenchic paint ranges come in different sheen levels: satin, matte or ultra-matte
- Different shades for each range
- Different container sizes for each range: 250 ml, 500 ml, 750 ml or 2.5 L
Also take a look at this: Paint range selection guide.
Test it first
By testing both the color and the painting tools you’ve chosen, you’ll quickly get to grips with the paint’s unique properties: you’ll see how quickly it dries and levels out.
Get a 250 ml tester pot from the Al Fresco or Lazy Range range and try painting a chair or chest of drawers.
You’ll see how many coats you need for an opaque finish and be able to estimate how much paint you’ll need for your larger project.
Testing is worthwhile before taking on a bigger project, such as painting kitchen cabinets, especially if you are not very familiar with painting or are trying a new paint range. Get a 250 ml tester pot and try painting a chair or chest of drawers.
Try different painting tools too: brushes and rollers, so you can find the tools that suit you and get the result you want.
You can explore the colors without opening paint cans by ordering A5-sized color cards from the Peel & Stick range. The handy sticker sheets are easy to attach to a wall or cabinet door and move from room to room. Color cards are available for all shades, and you can browse the range directly here.
Why is it worth painting furniture?
Painting old furniture is a quick and affordable way to update your home decor. Often the furniture is structurally sound, but its color or finish needs refreshing.
Painting furniture can:
- save money compared with buying new furniture
- extend the furniture's lifespan
- give your home a completely new look
- support recycling and sustainable interior design
Even a small color project can change the feel of an entire room. A larger one brings joy for years.
What furniture can you paint?
Surprisingly many types of furniture are suitable for painting. Painting works well, for example, on:
- for dressers
- for metal furniture and shelving
- for coat racks
- for storage furniture
- for garden furniture
- for tables
- for chairs
- for bookcases
- for cabinets
- for bedside tables
- for kitchen cabinets
- for wardrobes
- for side tables
- for TV stands
- for wooden benches
- for children's furniture
Many other surfaces in the home can also be painted successfully, such as trim, railings, stairs, walls, floors, doors, frames, paneling, and decorative items.
The best paint for furniture
For painting furniture, choose a paint that:
- provides good coverage
- applies evenly
- stands up to everyday use
- adheres reliably to the surface
- is intended for painting furniture
Versatile hybrid paint is a popular choice for painting furniture because it combines durability with ease of use.
Frenchic paint ranges are designed to make painting projects easier. The paint applies evenly, and its high pigment content helps achieve a beautiful finish.
Explore the suitable ranges:
How to paint furniture, step by step
1. Clean the furniture thoroughly
Before painting, clean the furniture to remove grease, dust, and dirt. A clean surface helps the paint adhere better. After washing, wipe away any dirty detergent residue with clean water before painting.
2. Lightly sand the surface
Light sanding improves paint adhesion. This is especially important on varnished, glossy, or slippery surfaces.
3. Paint in regular coats
Apply the paint in regular, not-too-thin coats with a good brush or roller. Two coats are often enough to cover the old color. The secret to good coverage lies in mixing the paint thoroughly and allowing each coat to dry for the recommended time.
4. Let the paint dry properly
Let the paint dry between coats. Adequate drying time improves the durability of the surface.
5. Care for the painted surface
With proper care, your painted surface will stay beautiful and durable for years. Dust painted furniture regularly. This prevents dust from settling into the surface and avoids unnecessary scrubbing. Care instructions for painted surfaces.
Tips for a successful painting project
The following tips will help you achieve the best result:
- paint at a relaxed pace; don't overwork the surface while it's drying
- mix the paint thoroughly, all the way to the bottom and around the edges, so you can make use of the paint's important pigments and protective agents
- use high-quality, clean and undamaged tools
- protect your surroundings and yourself from paint splashes
- let the paint dry thoroughly between each coat
Careful preparation makes for a significantly better result.
Get inspired by before-and-after projects
Painting furniture can completely transform its look. Explore other people's painting projects in our Gallery or take a look in our Facebook group to see what others have painted.
For example:
- Ikea pine chest of drawers → modern green shade
- dark wooden table → light and fresh look
- worn chair → bold contrasting color
Frequently asked questions about painting furniture
Can you paint furniture without primer?
Often, yes. Many modern hybrid paints, such as Frenchic paints, adhere well to a range of surfaces when the furniture is cleaned and lightly sanded before painting.
Learn more about the 'Self Priming' feature of Frenchic paints.
How much paint do you need?
Paint usage depends on the size and surface of the furniture. Often, one tin of Frenchic paint is enough for several small projects when applied in regular coats.
For example, you can paint a small cottage kitchen with one 750ml tin, and an average family kitchen with just 2-3 750ml tins of Frenchic paint. It’s worth trying it out - a small painting project before a larger job gives you a good feel for how far the paint goes.
How long does it take to paint a piece of furniture?
Most furniture painting projects can be completed in just a few hours or a day. One advantage of Frenchic paints is their fast drying time. For example, a coat of paint from the Al Fresco range dries in just 2 hours - so forget about paints that take overnight to dry and finally make renovating easier!
Start your own painting project
Painting furniture is an easy and creative way to refresh your home. Get inspired by our colors, be bold and try new shades, and give old furniture a new lease on life.
Which paint ranges are best for painting furniture?
Discover the Frenchic paint ranges and start your own project:
- Discover the Frenchic range
- All painting guides and articles
- Get inspired by Frenchic projects - photo gallery
- How to paint kitchen cabinets
- How to paint garden furniture
- How to paint laminate furniture
- How to paint pine furniture
Award-winning Frenchic quality and the Queen’s Award
Frenchic Paint has received the prestigious British Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
This recognition is awarded to only a select few innovative companies. Other recipients of the same award include:
- Dyson
- Jaguar
- Land Rover
The award recognizes the exceptional quality and innovation of Frenchic products.
Our award-winning Frenchic paint is used by everyday home painters, craftspeople and renovators around the world, alongside professional painters, carpenters and designers who value the quality of small brands over mass production and cheap products.
Over the years, Frenchic paints have received several other prestigious awards, which you can read more about on our website here.
No mass production. Nothing like everyone else’s. Just your ideas and a little creative courage with color ❤
