CUSTOMISE SOME FURNITURE

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT?

Easy

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

foam roller, large and small paintbrushes, sandpaper primer eggshell paint

Upcycling a chest of drawers with a single colour has been done to death; instead, try being more creative. “It’s lovely to add a piece of ‘art’ to your home that isn’t on the wall but can be used – it makes the functional decorative,” says artist and set designer Tess Newall (tessnewall.com).

She has painted furniture for the interior designer Beata Heuman’s projects, a mural for the television presenter Laura Jackson’s home, as well as a line of painted chairs for the interiors site Ceraudo and says that it’s a fun project to try. “Living among things that have been made special makes you more attached to them and more inclined to look after them.”

HOW TO DO IT:

“Preparation is key, especially if you’re painting the entirety of an old piece of furniture,” says Newall. Use a fine grit sandpaper and wipe down before priming using a foam roller. After the primer coat has dried, sand that, too, before painting the top coats.

“For woodwork, it is best to use an eggshell paint,” she adds, suggesting Farrow & Ball water-based eggshells, which dry quickly and have a chalky finish. “Play around with colour combinations. I mix my own colours up and store them in jam jars.”

When it comes to the design, have references to hand, such as fabric patterns, or flowers from the garden or for more inspiration, follow Newall on Instagram, @tessnewallstudio.

Water the paint down and use a small brush. “It is handy to have a damp cloth to hand, because you can cleanly remove unwanted paint when it is still wet,” says Newall.

“Fine grit sandpaper can be used again at the very end if you want to give it an ‘antique’ feel – gently rub the areas that would be worn, such as the corners and around the drawer handles.”

Then, use them. “Age and wear just adds to painted pieces’ charm,” she says.