Chalk Painted Furniture: Upgrading a Painted Chest of Drawers
In this post: Have you got a reproduction piece of chalk painted furniture that looks more forced than timeworn? See how to upgrade a painted chest of drawers.⇒
Sometimes paint is like magic.
Like almost nothing else, it can completely transform a room, a piece of furniture or pretty much anything else. It can be the quickest, as well as the most economical, way to make significant changes.
In the right hands, paint can take a piece from modern to vintage and back. It can fix a multitude of sins, and remarkably it can save something that was headed straight for the garbage bin.
Paint can take your worst piece and turn it into your favorite piece.
Just like magic.
Painted Chest of Drawers
Such was the case with the piece of furniture we’ve had in our back entry foyer.
When I bought the piece I was looking for a small white chest of drawers with a French country feel. It would provide storage for our hats and gloves and other small necessities one grabs when leaving the house.
But I was limited by the tiny space it needed to be shoe-horned into. I found a piece that fit my parameters in terms of size and spirit. Even the color was a distressed white.
However, the cute little reproduction piece was saddled with a terrible paint job.
You see, it turns out furniture doesn’t wear out in even rows. No, like most things, it becomes worn at the edges and in the most heavily utilized areas, like near the handles and other raised areas.
Yet our sweet little chest was periodically distressed in evenly spaced rows like a printed pattern. Instead of looking timeworn it was incredibly forced. (See below.)
This has been bugging me for years and now that I’ve learned how to paint furniture, I knew this piece had to be put on my list.
With several other projects out-of-the-way, this seemed like the perfect time.
Step one was to decide on the colors I’d use and after making my selections, they were provided by my sponsor and favorite paint company, Pure & Original. What I love so much about Pure & Original is its rich lush texture and gorgeous finish. They also have a delicious array of colors from which to choose!
In this case I wanted the chest to appear white when completed, even though I would use multiple colors to add complexity and depth.
I always start with the darkest color first and this time was no exception. For the base color I used Old Linen from the Classico Chalk Based Paint line and painted two flat coats.
The color is indeed quite light and already the piece gave the appearance of white. Still I knew I’d be adding several layers of highlights, building as I went along and getting lighter and lighter.
For the first highlight layer I used Bone Classico. The color looked Incredibly close to the base layer and I was concerned it wouldn’t be visible at all.
Yet when painted on, and particularly when dry, it added a lovely note of depth due to the subtle highs and lows.
In fact using colors that are close in weight and value makes it easier to paint as the results become much softer. I love this technique and prefer to build layer upon layer than to use fewer tones with harsh contrast.
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Next I added Milk White, also from Pure & Original’s Classico Chalk Based Paint line and for the very top layer I used Sea Salt, a color that’s as close to optic white as you’re going to get. This last was used sparingly, reserved for the topmost highlights.
As my paints get lighter and lighter I use less and less of them, and this way the layers build with intricacy to an optical crescendo.
I often refer to my paint technique as a bit of a dance, with brush in one hand applying paint lightly, and a damp sponge in the other that I use to blend any rough edges.
The key is to avoid large blobs of paint and to ensure the splotches are intentionally uneven. They should look random and most of all, never look like a lined up pattern.
While it takes time to find your ‘voice’ in painting, chalk paint is very forgiving. The use of the sponge is certainly helpful, as is the dry brush technique I used to apply the paint in the first place.
Yet when all else fails you can always paint over it.
My best tips are to build slowly and to work relaxed. If you’re uptight, it will show in your strokes.
After the final coat of paint I applied clear Classico Italian Wax from Pure & Original and let it dry overnight. In the morning I buffed it gently for a slight sheen and the result was a lovely protective coating.
Once I was done I added back the hardware I had removed during the prep and stepped back to take a look.
At this point I decided to gild the handles a bit with Rub ‘n Buff Gold Leaf paint and I’m thrilled with the result. As much as I love gold I try to use it sparingly so as not to cheapen the effect, but for this piece, the warm accent added the perfect finish.
I absolutely love how the piece looks in the space, just a tiny bit lighter than it was before, but significantly warmer and a lot less forced. My hope is that it looks genuinely timeworn, but even if not, hand-painted is always preferable to mass-produced.
And that little golden glimmer adds a touch of enchantment.
Just like magic.
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Lovely little chest and it looks so much better now! What paint did you use on the drawers handles?
I’m so glad you think so. Thanks!! Ah, I meant to add the gold paint in. It’s Rub ‘n Buff Gold Leaf. (Will add it now… :-))
Hi Lory! Beautiful job!
Where can I find the two lovely pieces you have hung on either side?.. and the lovely cherub statue?
That ties it altogether ?
Thanks so much! The plaques I found in an antique market. This is the closest I’ve found online. They are currently out of stock but due back in a few weeks: https://rstyle.me/+JGs2IpATBTmPoSyxKwM8NA The statue you can get here: https://rstyle.me/+iDXAXPkW2Q8DR4Vxjinu0w
Lory, your chalk painted chest is gorgeous! I also looked at your chalk painted sewing machine table because I have one just like it. I read the story of your father using the sewing machine and sewing slipcovers. He was very talented and so are you!
Aww thank you so much! Any mention of my dad always warms my heart… ❤️
Hi Lory,
Sophisticated and lovely as always! I just started myself painting my furniture although with different brands. I guess it’s a process over time to get comfortable with my own work. Which brushes/sponges did you use (brand/size)?
Thank you so much for all your advice and the inspiring updates on all your projects.
Blessings for all your future projects.
Thanks for your kind words, Andrea! And good luck to you on your projects… 🙂 The brush I use is the round brush from Pure & Original, the same company that I get the paint from. (It’s linked in the post.) I believe it only comes in one size. Hard to measure because it’s round but I’d say it’s about 1″ in diameter. The sponge is literally the same sponge that sits by your kitchen sink. ANY sponge. ?
The chest looks beautiful. It’s interesting to learn how you created depth and texture with shades of paint. I wonder if the same technique would work with shades of light blue?. Very nice.
Absolutely it would… 🙂 And thanks!
Lory, I love what you have done to that beautiful chest! The gold handles just add that special touch! You have given me the courage to paint a small table! Thanks for sharing with us!
Your painting of the chest and updating the pulls beautifully transformed the chest! Love it!
Thanks so much!
Beautiful transformation Lory! Thanks for the specifics – I may try something similar on my desk if I can’t find a new one I like. The paint sounds great too!
The chest is absolutely stunning!! The gold paint on the handles really elevated this piece so beautifully. I save all your posts to give me the courage to paint a piece of furniture – hoping to achieve this goal in 2021. Thank you for sharing your beautiful ideas!!
Absolutely beautiful and the technique is very soft and pretty. I have used chalk paint in the past but not Pure and Original. Where could I purchase it? Did you pit a link in the post? I may have overlooked it. I so enjoy all of your post and am a big fan. Jean
I had a business for a while when chalk painted furniture was all the rage. I rescued so many pieces from the landfill and turned them into treasures. Such fun and I loved the results!!
Very nice job! My question is, what color is the wall behind it?
Your painting technique was very interesting and the little chest looked great. Thanks for the info.