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If you have a passion for painting and enjoy giving old furniture new life, then you might consider painting furniture for profit. With some creativity, hard work, and a little bit of business sense, you can turn a hobby into a profitable venture. In this blog, we will explore our top five ways to start painting furniture for profit, how to price your furniture, the importance of learning techniques and shipping your pieces.
1. Find furniture to paint.
The first step to painting furniture for profit is to find furniture that you can paint. You can find furniture at garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and even online marketplaces such as Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. Look for pieces that are in good condition, but could benefit from a fresh coat of paint. Chairs, dressers, and tables are popular items to paint, but don't be afraid to get creative and try painting different types of furniture.
2. Prepare the furniture for painting.
Before you start painting, you need to prepare the furniture. Remove any hardware, such as knobs or drawer pulls, and clean the piece thoroughly. If the furniture has any dents or scratches, fill them in with wood filler and sand the piece smooth. Once the furniture is clean and smooth, you can start painting.
3. Choose the right paint.
Choosing the right paint is important for achieving a professional-looking finish. You can use chalk style paint, which has become popular in recent years. Chalk style paint is known for its ability to adhere to almost any surface without the need for priming or sanding. It also dries quickly and can be distressed easily for a vintage look. Choose the paint that best fits your style and the type of furniture you're painting. We carry Debi's Design Diary, DIY Paint, Wise Owl Paint, and Miss Lillian's No Wax Chock Paint. (We also carry Melange Paint in our shop). If you have questions or want to learn more about the paints we carry, please reach out to us!
4. Learn techniques.
Learning different painting techniques can help you create unique pieces and stand out from the competition. Techniques such as distressing, color washing, and layering can add depth and texture to your furniture. Take the time to experiment and practice different techniques to find your signature style. You can find tutorials on our Youtube Channel or come take a classes in our shop! Our class schedule and sign up to preregister is (here). Or stop by and see us! We love to use decoupage papers, like Mint by Michelle, Roycycled Treasures and Jami Ray Vintage brands. We also carry Iron Orchid Design's (IOD) which has the most beautiful decor transfers, stamps, moulds and paint inlays.
We are a proud retailer of JRV Stencils, Saltwash, and Woodubend Moulds. (We are basically your one stop shop for all things DIY)! We also teach classes on how to paint furniture and use all of these products, and you can find all of these on our website and locally in our shop.
5. Price your furniture.
Pricing your furniture can be tricky, but it's important to ensure that you make a profit. Consider the cost of the furniture, paint, and any other supplies you used, as well as the time you spent painting and preparing the piece. Take a look at what similar pieces are selling for in your area or online to get an idea of what to charge. Remember to factor in any shipping costs if you plan to sell your furniture online. Etsy is a good place to start if you would like to try shipping furniture. Currently, they charge a small fee to list your pieces and a percentage of the total cost. Setting up an Etsy shop is pretty easy and you have a great opportunity to widen your customer base by shipping your furniture!
Shipping your furniture may seem daunting, but it's an essential part of selling your pieces online. Make sure to pack your furniture securely to avoid any damage during shipping. You can also offer local pickup for customers in your area. We work with a private shipping company and UShip to ship our furniture. Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you'd like help with shipping contacts! We are always glad to help out and we have shipped a lot of furniture!
In conclusion, painting furniture for profit can be a fun and rewarding way to make some extra income. By finding furniture to paint, preparing it properly, choosing the right paint, learning techniques, and pricing your pieces appropriately, you can turn your passion for painting into a profitable business. Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things, and remember to have fun with it! We carry IOD, Stencils, Decoupage papers and lots of other products to help your pieces stand out and make your pieces amazing!
But wait, there's more! If you're interested in taking your furniture flipping skills to the next level, why not come to my shop and take a furniture painting class? You'll learn everything you need to know about prepping, chalk-based paint, distressing, specialty products, paint blending and finishing. You will leave with the skills and knowledge to continue flipping furniture for a profit. Sign up today and unleash your inner DIY diva!
Till next time!
xoxo
Debi