UPCYCLING FURNITURE WITH PAINT

Upcycling furniture creates a homey touch that’s classic for farmhouse style. Choosing the furniture and paint can be overwhelming, but Susan Hudson, creator of the Black Dog Salvage furniture paint line, has expert advice on how to choose your paint.

CONSIDER YOUR SPACE. “You have to take into consideration what you already have in the room where you want to use the painted piece,” Susan says. For starters, look at the colors you’ve already used, and make sure your choice will work within the palette. Black Dog Salvage offers both subtle and bold hues, which is specifically designed to mix colors so you can get the perfect shade you’re looking for.

CONSIDER YOUR FURNITURE. Also look at the size and purpose of the furniture you want to paint. Is it a coffee table, or a dining table? “If it’s an accent piece and small, you may want to go brighter or richer, so it stands out,” Susan says. “If it’s a large piece, it is usually wise to keep it a bit more subdued, less loud so it doesn’t take over, squelching the other pieces in the room.”

CONSIDER YOUR TECHNIQUE. What kind of finish do you want on the piece? Black Dog Salvage teaches different techniques, such as crackle, distress and glazing. These finishes can help inform which color you end up choosing. For example, if you want a distressed look, you might want a darker color as the base coat, then a lighter top coat you can sand off to see the base underneath.

How do you design around your TV? Homeowner Desiree Guy chose to make it a focal point in her Florida living room. The blue side table draws the eye, as does the symmetry of the seating and wall décor. Guests can easily see the TV from the sofas, but also face each other for conversation around the coffee table.