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How to Dry Brush Furniture
Hey guys!
Today I bring you a piece that was so fun to transform. I slowly worked on this little washstand during my Tuesday nights LIVE on the Dixie Belle Paint Facebook page.
I envisioned adding a lot of character and texture to this little piece, so I thought it was the perfect opportunity for dry brushing.
Dry brushing is a painting technique in which the paint brush has very little paint, in fact, it is relatively dry. This technique gives pieces an older and worn look, it adds texture and a scratchy looking finish.
*This post contains affiliate links. You don’t pay any more from ordering from these links but I earn a small commission so I can continue to bring you more fun projects! They also allow me to show you exactly what I use so you know what I’m referring to! *
Material List:
- White Lightning Cleaner
- B.O.S.S.
- Dixie Belle Mermaid Tail Mineral Paint
- Dixie Belle Caviar Chalk Mineral Paint
- Dixie Belle Fluff Mineral Paint
- Dixie Belle Florida Orange Mineral Paint
- Sea Spray
- Copper Patina Paint
- Blue and Green Activator Patina Spray
- Colonial Black No Pain Gel Stain
- Gator Hide
- Clear Top Coat
The painting details 
As usual, my first step was to clean my piece with White Lightning cleaner and then gave it a coat of primer in BOSS white. My recommendation is to always clean your pieces before painting. Primming, on the other hand, isn’t always necessary. However, primming yields better results: it facilitates for the paint to adhere and reduces the chance of bleedings. I prime 99% of my pieces!!
Here is a video on how I prep my furniture before painting. I have used this method for years and it has never let me down.
Before I started painting I added mouldings to the piece. You can find all the mouldings I used at the Dixie Belle Page.
After the mouldings were firmly glued, I gave it a coat of Caviar followed by a mix of Caviar with Sea Spray for texture.
The next steps were way more fun! I applied one coat of Copper Patina Paint and let it dry. Then I applied one more coat of Copper Paint and while it was still wet I sprayed it with both the blue and green activator spray. You don’t have to use both but I like to for a more crusty look. I let it dry.
On to the next step!! I used these 3 colors: Fluff, Mermaid Tail, and Florida Orange.
I dry brushed these over the whole piece focusing on the edges to give it that multi-dimensional look. I focused on getting those details to stand out!!
PRO TIP: Dry brushing will not only enhance all the details in your piece, it will also highlight paint drips!! But do freak out, paint drips are a natural part of the painting process, just be ready to sand these areas to achieve a more professional finish.
Lastly, I finished the top with Colonial Black Gel Stain and sealed it with Gator Hide. Then I sealed the whole body with Matte Clear Coat!!
I kept the top classy…
But I added some fun details to the drawers, because, who has time for simple?!
I love how this piece turned out.
This piece is available for $550 – The dimensions are: 19” Deep-33”Wide-28” Tall. Shipping is available within the continental US. I totally see this as a side table next to a big sofa. Where do you see a piece like this fitting in?
This is not the first time I have used dry brushing on a project. Check out this other video where I used the same technique.
And do not forget about, taking my quiz and determining the home decor that perfectly matches your personality, and share with me your results on Instagram or Facebook
Leah