Update Old Furniture With Milk Paint
Giving furniture a makeover with paint is easy but when you want to use eco-friendly paint, milk paint should be a consideration.
13/06/2021
What is Milk Paint?
Milk paint, unlike chalk paint, is an environmentally friendly paint alternative that is absorbed by wood to coat the surface of any wood furniture. It needs to be stirred well before use to ensure that the pigments in the paint are well mixed. Milk paint does have one similarity to chalk paint and that is that it provides an absolute matt finish to give a dramatic effect to wood furniture.
How is Milk Paint Environmentally Friendly?
Unlike a lot of other paint products, milk paint is non-toxic, non-flammable, solvent-free and anti-bacterial. It is also a fast-drying finish for paint projects and is odourless when dry, making it the ideal paint to use in a nursery or children's bedroom. While environmentally friendly, milk paint is just as durable as other paint finishes and can be used on just about any porous materials including wood, stone, masonry (brick), plaster. The finish is durable and long-lasting with the addition of a topcoat.
Where Can I Buy Milk Paint?
There are several brands of milk paint on the market but two, in particular, are available at your local Builders store. Rust-Oleum Milk Paint and Harlequins Milk Paint range in price from around R235 upwards and are available in trendy colours. If your local store doesn't have stock on the shelves, ask them to order for you.
How to Apply Milk Paint on Wood Furniture
If you want to paint furniture to have a matt, brushed effect with a light texture you can use milk paint to achieve this. The product is available in 6 trendy hues and is popular for home décor and furniture projects because this paint highlights the original details of the piece, giving an antique look and feel without compromising the actual beauty of a piece.
YOU WILL NEED:
Rust-Oleum or Harlequins Milk Paint
Quality paintbrushes in assorted sizes
Screwdriver or cordless drill
Sandpaper, 120-grit
Paint tray and stirring stick
Drop cloth
HERE'S HOW:
Step 1.
Before you can paint you need to remove all the hardware. This will include handles or knobs, hinges, etc.
Step 2
Use 120-grit sandpaper to lightly sand over the old finish of the furniture piece you have selected.
Step 3
Use a stirring stick to mix the paint well. It is important to ensure the paint is thoroughly mixed to avoid a spotty finish.
Step 4
Apply the milk paint using a quality paintbrush and working the brush strokes in a 'V' pattern. It is better to apply light coats of paint for the perfect milk paint finish that reveals the wood texture beneath.
Step 5
The paint should be allowed to dry for an hour before applying a second coat or more of paint. Leave to dry for another hour before applying 3 coats of topcoat and allowing sufficient drying time between each coat.
Step 6:
Once the finish is absolutely dry you can re-attach the hardware.