Fantastic, Fun, Furniture Finishes

Imagination and a few specialty paints can turn drab, aged or even unfinished new furniture into fun and exciting décor. This includes both inside and outside furniture. A wide range of paints are available in both brush-on and spray for creating your own fantastic furniture finishes.    

To create this crackle finish, a base coat of tan latex trim paint matching the color of the walls is first applied.

Crackle

One of the most dramatic furniture finishes is a “crackle.” A crackle finish is great for revitalizing old, drab furniture pieces, but works equally well for accent pieces. A crackle finish can be applied with a spray-on or hand painted technique. Spray-on finishes are best for smaller accent pieces.

The crackle glaze is applied and allowed to set for 2 to 4 hours.

The crackle finishes manufactured by Valspar, both spray-on and paint-on, are available in two styles, Weathered Crackle and Porcelain Crackle. Weathered Crackle has large cracks or splits in the top finish; Porcelain Crackle has smaller checks, more resembling aged porcelain. Both are available in a wide range of both base and top-coat colors. Check your local Lowe’s store for what’s available.

In this case a plum-colored top coat was applied. Within minutes the top coat will separate into crackles.

Spray-on crackle finishes consist of two cans, base and top coat. Brush-on finishes consist of a base coat, Crackle Glaze and a top coat. Any latex paint can be used as both base and top coat. The effects can be dramatic. Experiment on a scrap of wood before tackling your furniture or accessory project to make sure you understand the crackle finish and the colors.  

The crackle finish can be alomost any combination of contrasting colors. Show here, plum was used as the base.

In both instances, make sure the surface is clean of all grit, oil and loose particles. For spray-on crackle, spray the base coat at room temperature, making sure the coating is applied evenly and that the surface is covered well. If the object to be covered has a previous paint coat, test spray in an inconspicuous area to make sure the paints are compatible. In most instances you should apply at least two coats of base to make sure the object is well covered. Allow the base coat to dry thoroughly, and then spray on the crackle top coat.  

The tan color was then used over the plum as the top coat.

The glaze technique using brush-on or roll-on latex paint requires applying a smooth base coat of the desired color with a roller or brush, making sure the coating is smooth and evenly applied. Again, you may wish to apply more than one coat to ensure thorough coverage. Allow the last coat to dry overnight. For a Porcelain Crackle, apply an even coat to the surface using a foam brush in an X pattern, overlapping the brush strokes to cover the surface. Reload the foam brush and even out the glaze by running the brush over the surface. Add more glaze as needed and make a final smoothing with the grain of the wood. Allow the crackle glaze to dry at least 24 hours, and then apply Valspar Antiquing Glaze or Translucent Color Glaze to the surface with a dry rag or brush. Remove excess glaze before it dries and then apply a coat of Valspar Clear Protector.