Painting Wicker Furniture the Right Way
I find a lot of trunks on my furniture hunts. Unfortunately many are in poor condition with strong odors inside. It's a gamble on whether the odor can be remediated or not, so I usually pass them by. But as luck would have it this trunk was in fairly good condition with only the faintest hint of a furniture polish aroma on the inside.
Simply painting over the stain won't work because the marker will bleed through the paint. One option is to seal the stain first, but it might take multiple applications. So for this project I used nail polish remover (affiliate links but any brand will do) and cotton balls to remove the stain.
As you can see the nail polish remover lightened the wicker slightly. So I applied a small amount of wood stain to the area to even out the overall color.
I let the wood stain dry 24 hours before painting. When painting wicker it's important to work with light coats to avoid globs of paint settling in the recessed areas. I started lightly brushing on my first coat and let it dry. Then I carefully inspected the painted finish to make sure no signs of the previous stain were bleeding through. It was good-to-go, so I proceeded with a few more quick coats to finish the project.
AFTER:
The finished project is painted in French Linen. I sealed the paint with a quick coat of clear wax using a wax brush. It might seem tedious to wax the paint, but using a wax brush with just a small amount of wax went really quick. The key again is to use a light hand with the wax to avoid getting clumps in the crevices. I wiped away any excess wax with a lint free cloth.
The color works well as a neutral backdrop that plays well with other colors.
The trunk is sturdy enough to use as a window seat bench.
It would also work well as a coffee table with storage.
And no more red stain on the top!
I am always drawn to pieces that have extra storage.
What I especially like about this trunk is the soft-close hinges. No worries about the lid slamming down on my fingers!
Thank you for stopping by The Black Sheep Shoppe today. I hope you enjoyed the project.
I am so shocked you found a trunk like that in such good condition! Lucky girl...
ReplyDeleteI would still put glass/plexiglass on top, I trust no one to not spill. Though not cheap there's good tinted of both at big box stores. Well done, I like it.
Thank you Mary. A glass top is an excellent idea to keep it in good shape!
DeleteI actually have the same exact chest and want to update mine as well. What kind of paint did you use? Do you recommend using the wax to seal it especially if you’re using it for a coffee table?
ReplyDeleteI used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen. I did seal the paint with clear wax, but I used light coats to avoid it clumping into the crevices. Alternatively, you could use a sealant in a spray can.
DeleteIt looks like a grey more than the actual color french linen is that because of the orginal wicker color
ReplyDeleteI think it is definitely a grey color. However, French Linen is the name of the paint color given by the paint manufacturer.
DeleteHi! Love your finished product! Thanks for sharing. The type of paint you used isn't listed.... Is it Annie Sloan French Linen or a different brand? Thanks
ReplyDeleteThanks Emily! Yes it is Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in French Linen.
DeleteHi Patricia,
ReplyDeleteI love the finished product, what a beautiful transformation! I am planning on painting my outdoor furniture, which happens to be a similar color to the original chest. Are there any additional steps I need to take before I start painting, since it is outdoor furniture? Can you recommend a specific wax or protectant to use since it will be in a screened in porch? Appreciate all your help!
Thanks,
Sue
Hi Sue. If it’s going to be outdoors and exposed to the elements then I recommend a paint suitable for outdoor use. If it’s protected from the elements then chalk paint would be suitable but I would seal it with a polyurethane instead of wax. Good luck with your project!
DeleteBeautiful!😍
ReplyDeleteThank you!
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