Rustic Painted Furniture
Looking to add some character and charm to your home decor? Rustic painted furniture is perfect to bring that cozy, vintage feel into any space. With a little bit of creativity, you can transform an old, worn out piece of furniture into a stylish and charming statement piece.
If you’re ready to tackle your own DIY project, we’ve got you covered with these best painted furniture ideas in rustic style. From distressed finishes to stenciled designs, these ideas will inspire you to create beautiful and unique pieces for your home.
Rustic painted furniture not only adds a touch of nostalgia to any room, it also allows you to repurpose old or thrifted pieces into something new and beautiful. With just a few techniques, you can easily create that rustic look!
Whether it’s a rustic painted dresser or side table, these pieces instantly bring warmth and character to any space. And with the variety of colors and finishes available, you can turn any piece into one that perfectly suits your personal style.
So this post starts with some frequently asked questions, and then we will get to our list of painted rustic furniture ideas. We hope you’ll find inspiration and confidence to start your own rustic furniture makeover. Let’s dive in!
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How to Make Furniture look rustic?
Making your furniture look rustic is a fun project and can bring a cozy, old timey feel to any room. Here’s a simple guide on how to do it:
- Pick Your Paint: Choose a color that makes you think of the great outdoors. Earthy tones like browns, greens, or even off whites work well. Check out our list of the 10 best painted furniture colors to learn more about some tips on how to choose the right shade for your project.
- Prep the Piece: Before you start painting, make sure the surface of your furniture is clean. Use Krud Kutter to clean your furniture. To help the paint stick, lightly sand with 220 grit sandpaper, then remove the dust. Then apply one of these best primers for furniture to help your paint stick even better and to make it look as good as possible. Check out our guides on how to clean furniture before painting and sanding before painting furniture here.
- First Layer: Apply a base coat of paint. This will be the color that peeks out from beneath the top layer, giving that worn out, vintage look. This layer can also just be the stained wood that you are painting over.
- Second Layer: Once the base coat is dry, apply a second coat in a different color. This will be the main color of your furniture.
- Distress Time: After the second coat is dry, it’s time to make the furniture look aged. Using 220 grit sandpaper, gently rub areas where natural wear and tear would occur, like corners and edges.
- Seal It Up: To protect your new rustic masterpiece, apply a clear waterbased polyurethane (also known as polycrylic) with this how to apply polycrylic to painted furniture guide. This will keep the paint from scratching or chipping overtime.
And there you go! With these steps, you can transform any piece of furniture into a rustic treasure. For more information about the specifics of how to paint furniture, visit our painting furniture ideas hub!
How to distress painted furniture?
Distressing painted furniture is easy and can help you create a rustic look on your furniture.
Once your paint is dry, simply use some 220 grit sandpaper to remove the paint from edges, details, and flat surfaces directly under handles and knobs, and anywhere where paint would naturally rub off over time because of wear and tear.
Remove the dust with a vacuum that has a brush attachment and then wipe away any remaining dust with a tack cloth. Then seal the paint to make the paint more durable.
For more in depth tricks for distressing painted furniture, or for other ways to distress painted furniture, here’s our distressing furniture techniques post. Fluted design furniture also works for that rustic look – check out our list of DIY fluted furniture ideas here!
What kind of paint is best for distressing furniture?
While you can distress any type of paint, there are certain types that work better for this technique. Chalk paint, mineral paint, and acrylic paints are the best choices for distressing furniture. These types of paint have a matte finish that are easier to sand down.
This means that when you distress these paints, they will gradually and evenly wear away, giving your furniture a natural and authentic look. Other types of paint, especially with glossy finishes, are harder to sand down and may not distress as well.
If you’re considering these paints, here are the top chalk paint brands, the best mineral paint for furniture, and the best acrylic paint for furniture you should check out! Choosing a high quality paint will also make the distressing process easier and give you better results. You can learn more about these paints and other types of paint for furniture in our hub.
More Painted Furniture Ideas
If for some reason you don’t find what you’re looking for in our list of rustic painted furniture ideas below, here are some more lists of painted furniture ideas that will definitely give you some inspiration for your next project.
- Antique Painted Furniture
- Dark Blue Painted Furniture
- Whimsical Painted Furniture Ideas
- Crackle Painted Furniture
- Painted Wicker Furniture Makeovers
Rustic Painted Furniture
Take a look at our list of ideas and techniques that will help inspire you to create your own unique rustic painted furniture. So grab your paintbrush and let's get started!
Painted Display Cabinet
Make an old piece of furniture look fresh and new, or give a brand new one some extra personality! Here's how to create rustic painted furniture that gives your home décor the perfect touch.
Rustic Red Paint | Dresser Makeover
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Dark Green Buffet Makeover
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Rustic Dresser Makeover Tutorial
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How to Create a Weathered Wood Gray Finish
Transform your furniture to a weathered look with this easy DIY gray finish! Get the step-by-step instructions now and start creating gorgeous pieces for your home!
DIY Rustic Farmhouse Desks
Learn how to get the look of this budget-friendly makeover with a step by step guide from this painted furniture tutorial.
Chippy Blue Painted Hutch Makeover
Get creative today and give your outdated furniture a new and stylish look with this amazing makeover!
Rustic Blue Dresser
Discover the beauty of rustic painted furniture by upcycling a piece of old furniture with a chippy blue finish just like this one.
Get a Chippy Paint Finish with Milk Paint – Every time!
Whether you're looking to transform an old piece or create a farmhouse vibe, this guide will help you get the perfect chippy finish every time!
Misfit Dresser Makeover
Put your DIY skills to the test and follow along as this guide show you how to give your furniture a painted makeover.
DIY Emerald Green Mismatched Nightstands
Get tips on transforming ordinary furniture into rustic-chic painted pieces with this easy DIY tutorial. Make your own statement piece with mismatched nightstands like this one!
Vintage Sideboard Gets a Rustic Farmhouse Makeover
Follow the steps of this helpful tutorial and turn a vintage sideboard into a farmhouse masterpiece!
DIY Painted Chippy Farmhouse Dresser
Revitalize your living space and learn how to give furniture new life with this charming DIY painted chippy farmhouse project.
How To Paint Wood Furniture With Chippy Milk Paint
Showcase your unique personality in any room and get the look you've been searching for. Check this out!
DIY Painted Mid-Century Modern Dresser: Farmhouse Style
Combine rustic painted furniture with mid-century modern design and enhance your bedroom with this DIY project.
DIY Distressed Furniture Makeover
Turn your old furniture into a gorgeous piece with this guide and learn the steps in highlighting the edges and details.
Farmhouse Industrial Coffee Table
Even if you're not an experienced builder, you can recreate this DIY farmhouse industrial coffee table with our step by step guide!
Rustic Radio Cabinet
Refresh your home decor in style - and get inspired by this beautiful radio cabinet makeover!
Black Vintage Farmhouse Dresser
In this post, we're giving you all the tips and tricks for painting a dresser black and getting that rustic look in your furniture.
Faux Chippy Pine Farmhouse Table
Learn how to turn your furniture into an authentic-looking antique with this easy and quick farmhouse distressed furniture tutorial.
Black Painted Antique Buffet
Look at how we brought this antique buffet back from the brink! Get helpful tips, tricks, and ideas that'll give any piece of furniture new life.
Distressed Media Console
Get helpful steps from this DIY tutorial and upgrade your furniture with this unique balayage-painted technique!
The Chippy Gray Milk Paint Dresser
Create a beautiful farmhouse, old world style with this chippy dresser makeover. Click for more details about this fun, creative project!
Apothecary Style Vintage Nightstands Makeover
Check out how we turned this thrift store find into stylish apothecary style vintage nightstands. Follow our step-by-step tutorial today!
Farmhouse China Cabinet Makeover
Is your farmhouse china cabinet in need of a refresh? This step-by-step guide will show you how to transform it into a rustic masterpiece!
Refinishing an Old Dresser
Tired of the way your bedroom looks? With this DIY dresser makeover guide, you can easily remodel any outdated piece into something beautiful!
Country Farmhouse Hutch
Give your furniture a farmhouse-style update with this easy DIY tutorial! Learn how to create a chic, chippy, distressed look for your buffet or hutch.
Navy Blue DIY Dresser Makeover
If you're a fan of chippy farmhouse furniture, then you're going to love this tutorial. Learn how to turn an old dresser into an eye-catching piece!
Distressed Coffee Table
Follow along for everything you need to know to recreate this coffee table.
How to Repurpose Desks into Tall Skinny Nightstands
Here's how to transform an old desk into two stylish painted nightstands. Try it today and create your own unique piece!
Layering Paint on a Dresser
Try this simple layered paint technique and you'll be amazed by the transformation of any piece. Click to find out how!
Mid Century Modern Farmhouse Dresser
Create a unique piece of furniture and learn how you can easily mix Mid Century Modern and Farmhouse styles with this step-by-step guide.
A Cottage Washstand
Love the chippy patches that were revealed when Jenn distressed the piece - an easy way to add some vintage flair to your space. Click through to learn how!
Rustic Oak Dresser
This antique oak dresser got a complete transformation to create a fresh, new look. Check out this makeover!
How to Make Furniture Look Rustic
This easy-to-follow guide is perfect for you if you've been wanting a cozy, weather-beaten piece for your home.
What are rustic colors for furniture?
There are many paint colors that can be used to create that cozy, natural look of rustic furniture. Some popular choices include warm, earthy tones like browns, beiges, and greens. These colors give off a nature inspired feel, helping your furniture blend seamlessly with its surroundings.
Another option is using natural wood tones, such as rich browns and warm reds, to highlight the natural beauty of the wood grain. For a more bold choice, you can opt for bright, saturated colors like reds, blues, or yellows.
You can actually go for any color that you feel represents the rustic style to you. You can always add a distressed finish to give your chosen shade that weathered and worn look. So don’t limit yourself to just these usual rustic colors for furniture and feel free to experiment!
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