You’ve probably seen pine furniture until you’ve seen it. That lovely pine furniture, with its soft, smooth finish and delicate, aromatic scent.
A smell that’s gotten stronger since pine furniture was so popular a few years ago. What you may not know, however, is how easy it is to make your own pine furniture.
When you come across a piece of furniture that you love but would like to use again in a different way, it can be a difficult choice to make whether to upcycle the item into something new, or just bin it.
Pine furniture is the most popular type of furniture for its durability, low cost, and natural look and feel.
Many people buy new furniture just to have it look old; however, this practice is not very practical. In this article, we’ll show you how to turn your pine furniture into something usable.
5 Easy steps to upcycling pine furniture
Step 1. Wash your hands before you start, and wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from the harsh chemicals you’re going to use. Put on a dust mask, as well.
Strip the wood and soak the pieces in a solution of warm water and washing-up liquid for 5 minutes.
Step 2. Wear eye protection and open up your windows and doors to help ventilate the room.
Prepare a paste by mixing one part white vinegar with two parts water.
Step 3. Don’t wear clothing that you want to save. You might spill the chemical on yourself, and it will permanently stain.
Rub paste into the surface of the wood and leave it to dry for 24 hours.
Step 4. Use a brush to apply the stripper to the furniture. Always brush the stripper on in the direction of the wood grain, otherwise, you will see brush marks when the finish is removed.
Step 5. Leave the furniture to sit for the allotted amount of time (depending on the strength of the stripper).
What is the best paint for upcycling pine furniture?
There’s no denying that pine furniture is in vogue right now, but a quick glance around any furniture store will tell you that the pine furniture painted with just any old shade of paint is inevitably going to look ten years out of date.
However, certain pine furniture paints are far better than others on pine furniture.
For example, high-quality oil-based paints are more resistant to moisture, and this is why they can be used on pine furniture that will be placed in a damp room, which will cause the paint to crack and yellow.
The following are correct paint to use for upcycling pine furniture:
- Chalk paint
Using chalk paint for pine furniture is the correct material choice. If you have pine furniture, you can make it look better with chalk paint.
Chalk paint is a type of paint that is popularly used by artists in their artwork. It is also considered as one of the best paints for furniture because it is water-based and less toxic compared to other types of paints.
You can use this paint with a brush for chalk paint. There are available chalk paint brushes at your nearest hardware store.
Types of chalk paint:
- Chalk paint PROS
- Chalk paint finishes
- Chalk paint colours
- White oil paint
White oil paint is also suitable to use for upcycling pine furniture. White oil paint can be used on pine furniture because the paint can be applied to the soft pine wood, but you have to apply several coats of paint before it can cover the wood.
- Waterborne paints
Waterborne paints are paints that are suitable for upcycling projects. Waterborne paint is a type of paint with a water-based medium that has been formulated to be better suited for a particular technique.
While the traditional oil-based paints are designed to be applied with a brush, these waterborne paints can be used with pressure washers, paint rollers, spray guns and paintbrush.
- Acrylic eggshell paint
Also known as acrylic paint is a paint made with acrylic resin, which is a polymer of acrylic acid and methacrylic acid.
Made to feature strong adhesion to most surfaces, including glass, metal, wood, paper, and other household items, as well as most plastics, it is also suitable for use on most surfaces in the home.
This means you can have the satisfaction of using upcycled materials and actually helping the environment at the same time.
- Adaptable paint with paint conditioner
While many people opt for the more traditional oil paints, there are those that have discovered that using paint conditioner is the best way to create a stunning work of art!
Using paint conditioners in your paint job can be a great way to extend the life of your project, and in many cases, the quality of the surface you end up with.
- Chalk paint brand rust-oleum
There are many ways to achieve a distinctive rustic look with your furniture. This can include painting the furniture, applying a chalk paint or varnish and adding a rustic look to the whole look.
As you may know, rust-oleum is a popular brand of paint and varnish that gives you a finish that can be used on any type of furniture.
- Conventional acrylic paints
Acrylic is one of the most widely used paints for pine furniture because of its durability and ease of use. The paint itself is a liquid that dries quickly and is waterproof, making it perfect for outdoor furniture.
The most common type of acrylic paint is the water-based, although there are also oil-based and solvent-based options.
Pine furniture is sensitive to humidity, so it is important that the paint be applied properly to ensure it will last a long time.
- Conventional oil or water-based paints
The question: “Is conventional oil-based paints or water-based paints better for pine furniture?” has been debated for years.
There are a lot of benefits to both, and some use both. The truth is that this type of paint is suitable for your upcycling project with pine furniture.
- Designer eggshell paints
Have you ever wanted to paint a part of your home a new colour but didn’t want to pay the extra money for the expensive paints?
The Australian company “Remo” makes a line of Eggshell paint that can be mixed with water to produce a beautiful glossy finish.
You can make your own designer eggshell paints to paint furniture, using eggshells, shells, and pebbles.
- Decorative paint finishes
You can make your pine furniture look as good as new by painting it with a high-quality coat of paint that has been specifically designed for this task.
The effect can be subtle or dramatic depending on how much you want to change the look of your piece and how you want to change it.
What materials do I need for painting on pine?
Although you can apply paint to almost any surface, it’s important to start with the right material. Try to avoid using materials that aren’t suitable for the size of the surface you’re painting.
For example, you wouldn’t want to paint a wall with a roller, since it would be too big.
- Cheap masking tape
- Cheap chalk paint
- Blue tape
- Day tapes
- Damp cloth
- Lint-free cloth
- Electric sander
- Aggressive sander
- Flat brush
- Base coat for arty touch
- Primer for decorative touch
- Paint with any colour combination of your choice
- Brushes make sure to choose decent paint brush
- Sandpaper – Good sandpaper
- Brushes for chalk paint
- 2-pack filler or wood stopper
Types of primers to choose to maintain perfect condition
- Adhesion primers
- Popular shellac based primer
- Popular oil based primers
- Popular water based primers
How to upcycle pine furniture using chalk paint?
Chalk paint is a great way to create a timeless look on furniture and household items. I know this is something thousands of people have experienced first hand, as this is now a common trend in decorating.
But for those of you who have never used chalk paint, it’s important to understand what it is and how it works.
To paint pine furniture using chalk paint, start by sanding the furniture back to bare wood. Then, apply a coat of primer to the furniture, letting it dry.
After the primer, apply several coats of chalk paint, sanding between coats to achieve a smooth finish.
- Preparation. Make sure the furniture piece is sanded and in a good condition.
- Apply a base coat. Paint the piece in any color you want.
- Apply the top coat. Use chalk paint. Start from the top and work your way down.
How to upcycle your pine table?
There are a lot of things you can do with a pine table – you could move it to a room in the house with more light, you could upcycle it into a coffee table, you can make it look like a dining table.
However, it is often the case that, because they are made from pine tables, often end up in the garage, or sitting in the corner of the living room.
It is often the case that a pine table would look so much better upcycled and sitting in the living room of a house.
- To upcycle a pine table, first, paint it with a primer.
- Then, use a paintbrush to paint over the primer with a yellow shade.
- Finally, use a wet sponge to soak up paint from the table to achieve a distressed look.
- Upcycle your pine table by painting it with bright colors and changing the legs.
How to upcycle pine chairs?
Upcycling is the art of repurposing discarded items for a new purpose and is a great way to cut down on waste.
A pine chair, for example, makes an excellent stool for a kitchen, or a step stool for taking out the rubbish.
As you’ll see from the examples below, not only is it more interesting than plain pine but it can also be made with very little effort.
If your pine chair is still in good condition and you wish to alter its design, you can upcycle it by painting it, staining it, or covering it with a new fabric.
To upcycle a pine chair, you will need to sand the wood surface, remove any nails, and remove the fabric.
Afterward, you will need to apply a primer to ensure the paint sticks to the wood. Once the primer is dried, you will then need to apply your paint.
Cleaning pine furniture – What to use?
Pine furniture looks great, is relatively cheap to buy, and is easy to keep clean. But no matter how often you clean it, there will always be a surface that needs to be wiped down.
The common advice is to use household bleach or an enzyme cleaner in the kitchen, but what about the rest of the house?
Pine furniture can be very difficult to maintain in the long run, and cleaning it is a really important first step if you want it to last.
You should wash items made of pine before and after you start upcycling them. Washing helps prevent dirt and grime from permanently sticking to the wood.
Also, it ensures that the wood doesn’t have any unwanted toxic or chemical residues on it. Use a mixture of water and mild soap to clean the furniture.
Then, dry it using a towel and let it air dry for an additional 12 hours.
What should I do to protect wooden garden furniture?
Protecting wooden garden furniture is obviously important. However, this is often a forgotten task. That’s why we have put together a few tips on how to protect your garden furniture easily and effectively.
To protect wooden garden furniture, you need to seal it with wood preserver. Add a layer of clear varnish or paint to any wooden furniture you recycle to protect against weathering.
You can also use sugar soap and white spirit for cleaning and maintaining your wooden furniture.
