Furniture Paint FAQ

To care for your painted furniture, dust with a soft dry or damp cloth. Avoid scrubby sponges because they could scratch your finish. The Matte Finish is resistant to water and chemicals.

The paint and Matte Finish have a shelf life of 2-3 years, but they will last longer if stored in a cool, dry place.

In most cases, you will not need to sand or prime your vintage find. If you are painting a piece with a previously glossy finish, however, light sanding would be recommended for best adhesion. If you have a piece that is particularly damaged and you desire a clean finish, then priming is recommended.  Bungalow 47 Clear Primer dries clear to retain a wood appearance often desired when distressing and revealing the wood underneath. It will block stains and bleeding from seeping through your paint, which can often happen with vintage furniture. Review all warnings on the label before sanding any piece that might contain lead paint.

It is always important to clean your piece properly. When junking, we are finding furniture that has a past life, and it may have been abused or left alone for many years.  Remove all the dust, debris, and any loose paint.  Wash your piece thoroughly with warm soapy water, a degreasing solution, or an equal-part solution of water and vinegar.  Allow to dry before painting.

Latex paint is made of synthetic materials, and Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint is made up of chalk and clay.  Bungalow 47 chalk and clay paint also distresses easily, for a vintage look.

You should always protect your paint with Matte Finish, especially for a high traffic piece. Apply two coats in thin layers to a completely dry, painted piece.  For an ultra-smooth finish, buff between coats with a super-fine grit sandpaper.

It depends on the weather, but mostly the paint will dry within a few hours, and sometimes much quicker. When it is dry to the touch and no longer feels ‘cold’, it is safe to apply a second coat.

Brushes are a personal preference: if you are looking for a smoother finish, a synthetic brush is best. If you would like more texture, use a brush with natural bristles.  If brush strokes occur and are not desired, lightly sand with fine-grit sandpaper or use a bit of water on your brush while painting. A misting bottle works well for wetting your surface quickly and evenly.

Yes!  Layer different colors together and sand lightly to reveal each desired layer.  Since most of us are finding vintage items to transform, it is difficult to know what you will be covering and how the paint will respond, so using a medium-to-fine grit sandpaper is best to avoid removing too much paint.