Vintage Painted Furniture

Vintage painted furniture isn’t simply adding colour. It’s taking a period piece that has its own history and giving it a new lease of life. A fresh chapter. When done right, it keeps the past intact and gives it a new breath, a new heart and a new reason to be in your home.

I specialise in painting antique furniture that respects age and original craftsmanship. Hand‑worked surfaces, thoughtful colour choices, and finishes that are made to last. Every piece is carefully painted while considering its history as well as its future.

An empty wooden cabinet painted blue inside, with a weathered look. It features two shelves and a dark, curved top, conveying a vintage feel - Vintage Painted Furniture.

Why Choose Painted Vintage Furniture?

Vintage means something from the past so basically that means "not new". It also means something of quality but most of all vintage screams personality. Restoring vintage furniture with paint lets you highlight those qualities rather than hide them. Maybe the finish was worn, the colour not quite right, or the piece just didn’t match the space it lives. Painted vintage furniture offers that second life, without erasing its past.

Every piece becomes unique. No two painted vintage furniture projects turn out exactly the same. Picking up an old piece, re‑imagining it in colour and texture, is also one of the more sustainable ways to furnish; reuse what’s already good instead of replacing it.

 

My Approach to Restoration & Painting of Vintage Pieces

I always start a furniture restoration by asking: what does it need? Shape, timber condition, previous finishes, hardware, all of it. Repairs come first, loose joints, veneer lifts, wonky runners. Then surface work: old varnish or finish removed, cleaning, sealing tannin‑rich woods where needed.

Colour comes next. I always use a water base and build up subtle hand‑brushed layers. Under‑tones fill the back story so that over time, edges may wear and reveal depth. Not by accident, but intention. The top‑coat finish is chosen based on use: a kitchen piece needs durability, whereas a bedside table might get wax and gentle texture.


Style, Colour and Character

Vintage painted furniture allows rich colour stories. I draw on European artisanal influences: French soft greys and blues, Italian umber and sage, Gustavian shades of whites, touches of soft black for contrast. The result should be that the piece looks like it belongs in your space, not that you forced it in.

Wear is meaningful. It’s where hands touched, where corners bumped. Glazes, gentle layering and consistent finishes help respect the age while giving the piece new life.

 

Caring for Painted Vintage Furniture

Painted finishes on vintage furniture are robust but still require simple care. Soft cloths, minimal sprays, keep it out of the intense sun or close to a radiator. If it marks, a small wax or gentle polish can bring it back. 

Vintage pink wooden desk with curved legs and an open drawer, showcasing ornate bronze handles. Decorated with a vase and flowers, set against a white paneled background - Vintage Painted Furniture.

Examples of Painted Vintage Furniture Projects

Farmhouse dresser refreshed

Original pine, layered finishes stripped, mineral primer applied, top coat in muted blue‑grey. Corners carefully worn back. Now at home in a bright kitchen with soft natural light.

Vintage sideboard repainted

Mahogany base, old varnish lifted, paint in sage green, hardware cleaned and rehabbed. It now anchors a living room filled with collected pieces. Not showroom perfect, but real.


Commission or Browse Vintage Painted Furniture Today!

If you’ve got a vintage piece that needs attention, or you’re just curious what might be possible, send over a quick photo and some rough sizes. I’ll have a look and get back to you with a few ideas on prep, finish and tone. You’re welcome to view current work or chat through options. Drop me a line via the online enquiry form, email simon@jumbletique.co.uk or call 07824 771140. Nationwide delivery can be arranged if needed.

 

About the Workshop

The workshop is inside an old water tower at West Raynham Business Park, part of an RAF base built in the late 1930s that serviced the RAF during the second world war and until the end of the cold war. Thick brick walls, tall windows and generous height give me the space to work on large vintage pieces, let finishes settle, and keep the craft calm and focused.

About Simon

I’m Simon, a decorative painter and furniture restorer. After a career in tech and media licensing, I retrained in Tuscany to learn traditional furniture restoration techniques. I now focus on painted vintage furniture with subtle finishes, thoughtful texture and respect for original craftsmanship.

A craftsman wearing glasses and an apron rests on a bench with a tool in hand, posed in front of a sideboard and other pieces in his workshop – Painted Vintage Furniture.