Getting crafty - painting furniture

Adding a coat of paint to old or second hand furniture can give it personality and a new lease on life. It can also be hugely rewarding seeing something that has been transformed.

Almost anything can be painted - dressing tables, mirror frames, tables and chairs, shelving - the possibilities are endless. And with just a few supplies, you can have a unique piece of furniture in just a few hours.

What you will need to get started:

• Sandpaper
• Colourplus Sugar Soap
• Colourplus paint in selected colour and primer
• Paintable filler
• Drop cloths
• Paint brushes, small foam rollers

Once you have all your supplies ready, lay everything out over a drop cloth to prevent mess, and you are ready to begin!

1. Give the surface of the piece of furniture a thorough sand to remove any loose or flaking paint, and also to de-gloss the surface if it has been previously painted or varnised with a gloss finish.
2. Fill any imperfections with a suitable paintable filler. Once dry, sand to a smooth finish.
3. Wipe all surfaces down with a suitable cleaner such as Colourplus Sugar Soap. This will remove any grease and sanding dust. Allow to dry.
4. Apply 1 - 2 coats of suitable primer, allowing adequate drying time between coats. Your Colourplus paint specialist can recommend a primer dependant on the material your piece of furniture is made from.
5. Apply 2 coats of your selected colour, allowing adequate drying time between coats.

Colourplus have a range off craft paints perfect for painting furniture, Odd Jobs. These a premium water based enamel paints, providing a long-lasting finish to your project.