Nothing comes close to the frustration that sets in when a beloved oak furniture piece has had its day. A scratched-up dining table surface or a chipped bedside cabinet are visually unappealing, their growing imperfections niggling in the back of your mind every time you look at them. But what if I said that there’s a simple and budget-friendly way of restoring them to their former glory…? The secret lies in painting your oak furniture. And it’s something anyone can do.
Of course, there are many other methods to upcycling oak furniture, but by painting it you’ll give the piece a brand-new look. You can even give furniture new uses in other rooms around the house or coordinate it with existing sets. This way, you can elevate your home interior, making it look expensive, without the hefty price tag attached. But before we go into all that, let’s learn about oak furniture more broadly.
Why is oak furniture so popular?
Oak is a hardwood with almost double the density of pinewood, making it durable, reliable and more resistant to mould. Because of this, oak furniture has been popular around the world for many centuries.
It’s also used in almost every room around the house. Oak bed frames make for some of the sturdiest beds available, while an oak dining table makes a great centre point in dining rooms. When investing in furniture to last decades, oak should be at the top of your list. But sometimes, even oak furniture needs a refresh.
The case for painting oak furniture
As our homes, and often our furniture, constitute the biggest financial burden we have to bear, it only makes sense that we’d want it to count for every single penny. And this means making our favourite oak pieces go the extra mile, staying beautiful and functional for as long as possible.
Luckily, this doesn’t have to be expensive – far from it.
Something as simple as repainting your oak furniture can make a massive difference, whether that’s a quick topcoat in the same shade or a complete colour switch-up. Either way, there are so many other reasons why the paint route is the best way to go when upcycling these pieces. Starting with…
- Saving a bit of cash instead of splashing out on new furniture
- Modernising older or out-dated pieces
- Building character and narrative
- Concealing imperfections
- Creating a cohesive scheme where every detail matters
- Keeping fresher and easier to keep clean.
- Giving your furniture a new lease of life outside of rotting away in the garage.
- Fighting the urge to indulge in the fast furniture economy
- Having a load of creative fun!
Where to begin with painting oak furniture
By now, you’re probably convinced that a good lick of paint is the superior method to upcycle oak furniture. But where to begin? *Scratches chin*
For those lacking confidence in their DIY abilities, please don’t sweat it. We’re going to take you through the process step-by-step, and rest assured that as long as you have a good eye and a steady hand, you will be able to complete this project with no hassle at all.
There’s one thing to remember though: it’s all in the preparation.
Identifying your upcycling project
Before we get into the details, it’s a good idea to demystify what upcycling actually means.
If you’ve checked the latest top furniture trends and upgraded your furniture, or if you’ve fallen out of love with a piece, then you should consider upcycling your old stuff. Upcycling is the process of taking old or unused furniture, upgrading or repainting it, and then reusing it around the home.
With this in mind, are there any oak pieces in your home gathering dust? Do you have a colour scheme that’s crying out for complimentary furnishings? What’s your current skill level? If in doubt, start with something simple like a dining table. More complex projects such as drawers with carved detailing or glass panels to work around can wait for later.
Selecting the correct type of paint
With your oak furniture painting project chosen, you can move on to selecting the right paints for the job. Picking a colour isn’t so difficult – explore the interior design corners of the internet to find shades you like and make a note of their name and/or hex code. You can either buy the brand mentioned or use the code to colour match a different paint.
On top of colour, you need to consider the paint type. There are so many high-quality interior wood paints on the market, but make sure you pick out one that meets the requirements of your furniture, i.e., is durable enough to withstand use.
Finally, think about your desired finish. Matt finishes are suitable for modern, bold looks while eggshell or satinwood finishes are subtler, lending to mature or traditional aesthetics.
Ensuring you have the right supplies
To upcycle your oak furniture properly, you’re going to need the right supplies. If you’re missing some, either head to your local hardware store or search for a tool lending library nearby.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Protective dust sheets
- Sandpaper / mechanical sander
- Cleaning solution and cloth
- Masking tape
- Paint brush and/or roller
- Paint kettle or tray
How to (re)paint oak furniture in 7 steps
1) Clear a workspace
As with any oak furniture upcycling project, start by making space. You can do this in a cleared room (not forgetting to put down dustsheets!) or outdoors if it’s a dry day. If you have a work bench set it up near your chosen spot and get out all your equipment.
2) Clean your oak furniture
Now give your furniture a good clean using a soapy solution or clean spirit, not neglecting any surface. If it’s especially dirty / dusty you might want to bring out the hoover and a duster beforehand.
When it’s all clean, remove any fiddly bits like doorknobs and disassemble the piece if it will make your life easier. Leave it to dry before moving on to the next step.
3) Sand down the surfaces
Start lightly sanding down the surface, following the oak grain. A medium grit sandpaper is an appropriate choice, but you can move on to finer grit sandpaper once you’ve gotten rid of most of the unevenness.
Hoover away any dust particles from the oak furniture, using a wet cloth to remove any stubborn bits. It needs to be completely clean of it before you can apply your paint.
4) Apply a primer / bottom coat of self-priming paint
For a crisp finish, you should apply a primer, which will help seal up the porous surface of the wood and reduce peeling. This should be a thin layer applied with a small roller or paint brush in the direction of the wood grain.
Here, you can use a specific wood primer or simply use a self-priming paint. Either way, it’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions about performance and application.
5) Proceed with the first coat of paint
With your priming layer dry, it’s time to move on to the actual painting. Dip your brush into the paint to get a decent amount on there – but don’t overload it so it’s sopping wet. Then you can apply it in smooth, medium strokes along the grain of the wood, ensuring that the coverage remains even throughout. If there are any fiddly bits, tackle these first with a little less paint and then work around them, so they blend in nicely.
6) Repeat with additional coats
Follow the previous steps with additional coats, always waiting for the previous layer to dry completely before adding more paint. Depending on the brand, the time it takes to complete the project will vary, but we suggest going for at least 2 coats in total and 3 if the furniture is going to be used frequently.
7) Allow to dry and clean up
With your final coat applied, leave it to dry fully before tidying up. Any leftover paint can be recycled or used for another upcycling project later down the line.
Reassemble the furniture if doors etc. were removed and attach any handles or knobs before moving it into its home, whether the same room or a new one.
How do I distress oak furniture?
Not everyone is a fan of the clean painted look. If you’re a fan of the shabby chic aesthetic distressing your oak furniture is an option that might be on the table. The following techniques are great ways of creating an antique character in modern pieces.
Method 1: Layering
To get a lovely chalky finish, opt for a chalk-based paint and get layering. Follow the painting instructions from our earlier tutorial except switch out your final coat with a paint in a slightly different shade. Then, once dried, you can buff up the surface with furniture wax, and target areas to rub away to reveal the paint underneath. This way, you’ll have a distressed, two-toned paint finish.
Method 2: Rubbing
This is fairly similar to the previous method; however, you can stick to one paint. Use some furniture wax and a cloth to rub away bits of paint, so the wood pokes out through your chosen shade. With this technique, make sure that you allow the wax to properly soak into the wood to protect it from wear and tear.
Method 3: Dry brushing
This method is completely different to our main tutorial, Add the tiniest bit of paint to your brush, so it’s almost dry. If you have any excess, you can wipe it on a paper towel or similar to remove that unwanted paint.
Then you apply the paint using the very tip of your brush, using quick, short brushstrokes that both follow and go against the grain. Keep going with this light pressure until you build up your desired coverage.
Finishing touches
Although painting oak furniture is the most common method of upcycling, it isn’t the only way. For example, once you’ve done the main paint job, you could add further detailing at the edges or change more minor elements, such as handles and knobs.
Don’t forget the insides either! If you’re working on cabinets, for instance, you could elevate the interior by lining each drawer with leftover wallpaper.
Finally, if you think you need to set the paint, don’t leave this for too long. Furniture in high-traffic areas is bound to acquire bumps and scratches over time, so make sure to protect it while you can. You should do whatever is needed to make it safe and suitable for any future intended use.
Let your furniture live up to the mighty oak
Now having read our guide to painting and upcycling oak furniture, you have no excuses for allowing it to gather dust, damage and grime. Keeping it looking fresh and stylish, is easy and envisioning the many aesthetic possibilities is all part of the fun.
Whether you’ve bought new furniture or have been neglecting some older stuff, upcycling is a great way to create accessories around the house. If you’re looking for more ideas and inspiration for your home, visit Evelyn Lily's blog today.
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