The Timeless Trend of Painted Furniture: A Durable Design Solution

Painted furniture may seem trendy and everyone is doing it, but the trend really isn’t new. When my husband and I moved in together in the early 2000s, everything we owned was second hand. My husband and I could not afford new furniture or to splurge on the latest design trends. So, if we wanted the latest design trend- dark espresso coloured furniture, we painted it. Luckily, we didn’t just wing it, we had the help of tv show personalities like Debbie Travis and Sara Richardson that pioneered this new, avant garde, painting techniques. Do you remember Debbie Travis’ rag rolling? In our condo at the time, we used several of her painting techniques, including two dark espresso dressers that we painted to mimic wood grain. We had this painted dresser for almost 18 years, and not a scratch or chip to the paint that I can recall. It was primed, painted, and top coated with 3 layers of polyurethane top coat. It was durable. A functional, everyday dresser needs to be durable and withstand the bumps of everyday living, and after 3 years of living with this dresser, the finish still holds up. 

Does painted furniture last? It can last provided it’s been properly sanded, primed, and top coated and given a chance to rest and cure before putting things on top of it. Paint cures in 30 days. It is dry to the touch within a few hours, but needs time to bond and harden to the piece itself. 

Is it hard to care for? No, not really. I wouldn’t clean the surface with harsh abrasive chemicals, but just dust normally with a damp cloth or a dry microfibre one if that’s your preference. 

Pictured, is a Vic Art Mid Century Modern dresser that we picked up for free. It just fit in the space we needed it to, and we painted it a colour we both liked. We are still piecing together a bedroom we both enjoy.