Painted Furniture

Painted furniture does something plain wood sometimes can’t. It softens a room. Gives weight to shape. Brings out detail without demanding attention. When it’s done right, a painted finish can make a space feel more settled, more considered. And you don’t need to get rid of the piece to get that effect.

I work with antique and vintage furniture. Everything’s done by hand, slowly. Paint that’s brushed on, not sprayed flat. Colour that’s built up in layers so it holds depth. Texture you can feel, but just enough.

Why Painted Furniture?

Not every room suits bare timber. Some is too red. Too yellow. Too busy. Restored, painted wood furniture calms that down. It can help a piece sit quietly in a room without losing its usefulness.

It can also draw attention to the parts that matter - the lines, the handles, the shape. Grain doesn’t always need to be the star of the show. Colour gives you control.

Sometimes the wood underneath is too far gone for oil or wax to help. That’s when painting doesn’t cover history, it carries it forward.

 

My Approach to Hand-Painted Furniture

Starting with What’s There

I start with what’s already there. What kind of timber it is. How the old finish has worn. Where it needs more restoration. I clean it back properly, remove polish or silicone that might mess with the new paint.

Sealing and Priming

Then I seal it if needed, especially for tannin-rich woods like oak or mahogany. I usually use a mineral or shellac base. After that, colour goes on in stages. Thin coats. Soft brushes. No spraying. No plasticky shell.

Building Colour in Layers

Underlayers matter too. I often put a deeper tone beneath, so when edges wear back with time, there’s something warm underneath, not raw wood.

Choosing the Right Top Coat

Top coats depend on where it’s going. Kitchens get stronger stuff. Bedrooms need something gentler. Sometimes just wax. Sometimes a satin lacquer.

 

Painted Wood Furniture That Fits the Room

Painted furniture suits nearly every kind of room:

• Tables that need to feel softer or cleaner
• Cabinets with great shape but not great colour
• Kitchens that just need refreshing, not replacing
• Wardrobes that look too bulky in solid pine
• Sideboards you want to anchor a space without dominating
• It’s not about covering the old. It’s about letting it support the new.

 

Custom Painted Furniture for Real Homes

Every job’s a bit different. I’ll usually ask for photos, measurements and a feel for the room. The light, the flooring, the tone of the walls. That all plays in.

I don’t copy factory finishes. A lot of what I paint is influenced by old artisanal European styles. Gustavian whites, soft green-greys, warm umber tones, or cooler French blues. Sometimes it’s something quieter. Sometimes it’s colour that makes the whole thing click.

I’ve got sample panels if you want to see how the paint changes in different light. That’s usually when the right colour becomes obvious.

 

Why Painted Furniture Is More Sustainable

Painting what you’ve already got is one of the simplest ways to avoid waste by updating furniture to your current taste and needs, rather than replacing it with new. I use low-VOC paints, traditional waxes and finishes that wear well. Most of what I do is brushwork. Little to no waste. The structure stays in use. The surface gets a second life.

 

A Few Recent Projects

Coastal sideboard

The pine was solid but orangey and heavy. I cleaned and sealed it, painted a sage base with a lime glaze. Just enough wear to let the shape come forward.

Kitchen units refresh

Old cabinets, good bones. I sealed knots, used a warm mineral primer and finished with an off-white topcoat. Everything brushed by hand. About a third of the cost of new.

Bedroom drawers

Painted in soft grey-blue, glazed lightly over details. Waxed inside. Runners repaired. Simple handles. Now it just feels... quieter.

 

How to Look After Painted Furniture

Most finishes just want a soft cloth. Nothing too wet. Definitely no silicone. If you scuff it, a little wax or glaze usually sorts it. Try not to put it right against a radiator if you can help it, paint and heat don’t get along.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you always paint the whole piece?

Not always. Sometimes just the base, sometimes the whole thing. It depends on the timber, the room it’s going into, and what suits the shape.

What kind of paint do you use?

Usually mineral-based or hand-mixed acrylics. I choose paints that wear well and sit softly on the surface, not too flat, not too shiny.

Will the wood still show through?

It can, if that’s the look. On some pieces I ease back edges or let grain texture come through lightly. The aim is balance, not uniform coverage.

How durable is painted furniture?

Pretty durable. I seal everything based on use. Wax for bedrooms, satin lacquer or varnish for kitchen pieces or anything that needs more protection.

 

Commission or Browse a Piece

If you’ve got something in mind (or already have the piece) send a photo and rough dimensions. I’ll come back with a few thoughts on colour, prep and finish. Samples help too. You can browse pieces in progress or check what’s available now. You can give me a call on 07824 771140, email simon@jumbletique.co.uk or fill out the online enquiry form and I’ll be in touch. Nationwide delivery is also available.

 

About the Workshop

The workshop sits on the old RAF West Raynham site, inside a converted water tower. It’s quiet, tall and full of light - a good space for working on painted furniture slowly and by hand. There’s room to step back, check colour in different light, and build finishes without rushing. It’s not a showroom, but it’s honest and calm which suits the work.

About Simon

I’m Simon. I restore and paint furniture, mostly by hand, using techniques I learnt from craftspeople in Tuscany and a few I’ve figured out myself along the way. I used to work in tech and media. Now I spend more time with timber and brushes, which suits me better.

Painted furniture isn’t about hiding flaws. It’s about helping a piece settle into the life you’re building around it.