Rust-Oleum were kind enough to send me some of their Chalky Finish Furniture Paint. It’s a classic range, leaving your surfaces with a smooth touch and a beautiful flat matt finish. So, to test it out, I’ve been upcycling a solid wood chest of draws.
I have had these draws since I was a child, put together by my Dad. They’ve been re-decorated several times and need a little bit of love. As you can see below, a few attempts at decorating had been made before.
As they are of a good quality material, I wanted to use a paint that would preserve the grain of the wood. I also wanted to transform the dark red paint into something light, that would compliment the other decoration going on in the room.
I started by sanding down the chest of draws, making sure I have a nice clean surface to work with. This way you avoid any bumps in your paint, ruining the finish.
Once sanded, I gave it a wipe down with a dry brush to get rid of any dust left behind. I had a quick vacuum up to avoid any further dust getting stuck in my paint. Once over – it was time to get started on the fun bit.
My Dad gave me a pro-tip – paint in one direction using long brush strokes, then go back the other way with quick long brush strokes. This was you’ll get a nice even finish – it resulted in a powdery finish that gave the draws an antique – but new – feel.
I’d recommend at least 2 – 3 coats for the lighter colours, with ample drying time in-between. The more paint you layer, the thicker it will be and the more likely it’ll be to flake and come off.
I painted the draws and the body separately – to avoid them getting stuck together! I also removed the drawer handles at this stage.
After leaving the base coats to dry, pink on the main surfaces and green on the smaller elements, I got out some Rust-Oleum stencils and their Black Gloss Spray Paint – now be warned… this stuff is messy! 
Make sure to cover your face and other surfaces, and spray in a well-ventilated area. By using short bursts from a fairly close distance I was able to create a soft, distressed effect on the surface.
I love the chalky finish paint, it was easy to apply and I didn’t need a primer. To be honest, I won’t even need a wax coat really but I’m adding one to the top surface of this as it’s a now a well-used piece. In my next post, I’ll talk about wax and finishing touches!
