How To Use Paint To Enhance Your Thrifted Wood Furniture

​I love quick and easy updates like painting furniture, it can make a big impact on the look of your space. A question I often get asked is should solid wood furniture be painted? Some believe that wood should be never be painted over. Depending upon the piece and the condition is important to consider, however most often my feeling is if the finish is looking outdated, discoloured and does not work with your style, then it's time to make some changes! When you are transforming furniture it’s about being creative and focusing on how to get the best parts of your furniture to shine. That is why using paint can be used to update wood furniture and keep the wood finish. Here a few pieces of furniture I thrifted from my local Salvation Army Thrift store, with tips on how you can keep and update the look of the wood by using paint.

Before

I found this gorgeous console while thrifting. The console was a  mix of laminate veneer on top and teak veneer on the bottom drawers. I decide to strip back the doors back to raw wood and used hemp oil to protect and bring the wood grain to life. The rich, deep green I used is a stunning contrast to the gorgeous orange tones of the wood. ​

After

Before

This delicate coffee table I found thrifting has gorgeous detail but the outdated colour of the wood was distracting. I stripped the top, removing the original finish to expose the raw wood. It has such beautiful grain, I wanted to showcase it. I used Hemp oil to protect it and bring the rich colour to life. Painting the skirt of the table and legs a crisp white puts all the focus on the stunning wood top.

Before

​This impressive console is a great example of how you use paint to enhance the look of wood. This piece was in great condition then anything, It sat in my studio while I devised a plan. A few people very concerned that I was going to paint this beauty and paint over the wood. I was definitely going to paint it, but was going to be strategic about where to paint this piece to make the ornate details the star of the show. 

Painting this console in Fusion Mineral paint, Midnight blue created a harmonious effect between the rich, deep tones of the navy and the warm tones of the stunning burled wood grain. With the previous finish the details were lost but by painting in certain areas it has accentuated the details.

Next time your thrifting and find wood furniture that you are unsure of whether or not to paint it, remember you can easily update it by using paint to  enhance the look of the wood. Happy Thrifting!

Author

​Erin Rochon is an Interior Decorator, an avid upcycler, thrifter, and furniture refinishing artisan. She has a passion for creating beautiful spaces by merging the world of upcycling and DIY together with Interior Design.
Within a few years of starting Bluebird Upcycled Style, Erin has built a successful business and has become a creative force in Ottawa, inspiring others to upcycle and create through her workshops and classes. Often appearing on CTV Ottawa Morning Live and Daytime Ottawa, sharing current design trends with a twist, Erin loves incorporating upcycling and thrifting into designs trends, teaching viewers  through her vlogs and blogs. She was thrilled to be a guest blogger for Celebrity Interior Designer Amanda Forrest as her first blog. Erin continues to blog about her passions; thrifting, Interior Design and painting furniture. She has r been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 50 Interior Design blogs and is a Creative Expert for Salvation Army Canada. Erin is thrilled to share her passion as a TV host for her show The Thrifty Upcycler airing September 19 2019 on Rogers TV.