How To Paint Windsor Chairs
That chipped green spindle-back chair in your attic isnt just furnitureits a piece of American history whispering for revival. When you start painting Windsor chairs, youre continuing a centuries-old tradition where colonial craftsmen unified mismatched woods with vibrant milk paint. Learn how to paint Windsor dining chairs, spindles, newel posts, turned table legs and more without losing your mind or wasting your time.
There is an easier way. So heres a quick look at the very simple painting process. Historically, American Windsor chairs were colored using milk paint (a mixture of milk, lime and pigments).
This painting recipe is thousands of years old but you can still buy the stuff today from sites like MilkPaint.com. Initially, it was a stretch for me to paint my first chair, but after I witnessed the transformation and enhancement, I was committed to mastering the process. Paint has come a long way from the toxic lead paints of the original Windsors to the stringy enamels of the 20th century.
Learn painting a Windsor chair with milk paint for a lasting, beautiful finish. Explore RMP Finishes colors to match and complement any dcor. Several types of paint can be used on fabric furniture, including the following: Acrylic paint: This common paint offers good coverage and versatility, making it suitable for many fabric types.
Chalk paint: This highly pigmented paint is known for its matte finish. It adheres well to fabric and creates a soft, velvety texture. Visit our website: http://www.makeawindsor.com/Mike shows how to prepare the chair for finishing.
Then, he demonstrates mixing and applying this unique paint... Chairs are painted with milk paint, a nontoxic water-based paint generally made from milk and lime with pigments added for color. I recommend paint from The Real Milk Paint Company, although other brands are available.
I gave these traditional golden oak chairs with spindles a completely new farmhouse look using paint. To get the farmhouse style, I used Dixie Belle's Silk paint in Endless Shores (off white) and stained seat in with Dixe Belle's No Pain Gel Stain in Espresso. Get two thin coats on each chair, and do not touch them between coats and for 48 hours after you're done.
It's great stuff for finishing stuff painted with latex paint. You don't need a high gloss as polyurethane already has quite a bit of natural gloss. Matte or semi-gloss should work fine.
