How To Decoupage Painted Furniture

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Are you looking for a fun way to transform your furniture? Decoupage can be a great way to give your painted furniture an entirely new look! With the right supplies and some creativity, you can create stunning designs. In this post, we will cover all about how to decoupage painted furniture and I’ll share some examples of beautifully decoupage furniture pieces

To learn more about all of the ways to embellish painted furniture, check out Furniture Transfers and Stencils & more.

Decoupage & Other Ways To Embellish Painted Furniture

There are several ways to embellish painted furniture including stencils, gold accents, furniture transfers, metallic and colored waxes, gold leaf and so much more. But let’s not forget decoupage papers because they offer so much versatility for creative enhancement of your painted furniture.

Before moving on to discuss how to decoupage painted furniture, I’ll share some other posts you might find helpful on transfers, stencils and gold accents:

• How To Stencil Painted Furniture
• Redesign With Prima Transfers for Painted Furniture
• Painted Furniture With Gold Accents
• Glass Bead Gel Painted Furniture
• Patina Paint Aged Finish

Decoupage Papers For Furniture

Decoupage papers come in an astounding array of styles, offering infinite possibilities for your next furniture makeover. From floral to abstract prints, vintage to contemporary designs, and from muted tones to vibrant colors, there’s an option to suit any aesthetic.

If you’re aiming for a classic, delicate look, you might opt for floral or toile prints. For a modern, edgy piece, abstract or geometric patterns could be your go-to. If vintage charm is your style, there are numerous decoupage papers featuring old maps, book pages, or antique illustrations. Similarly, if you prefer a rustic or country style, there are options with wood grain, burlap, or distressed finishes.

Ballerina Decoupage Paper

Next up, I’m sharing makeovers featuring the Ballerina Decoupage Paper by Dixie Belle. I fell in love with this paper and was inspired by another furniture artist to use it on a makeover of my own.

Styles of Decoupage Papers For Painted Furniture

Combining different styles of decoupage papers and various colors of chalk mineral paint can really bring your furniture makeover to life. Remember, the beauty of decoupage is that it allows you to customize and create a piece that truly reflects your individual style.

Moreover, no two decoupage creations are ever the same- each piece is a one-of-a-kind creation, reflecting the artistic vision and effort put into it. This uniqueness adds a personal touch to your space, making it feel more like home. So, as you embark on your decoupage furniture makeover, remember – you’re not just enhancing a piece of furniture, you’re creating a piece of art.

Popular Brands of Decoupage Papers

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Next, we’ll talk about a few of my favorite brands of decoupage papers.

• Mint by Michelle: These decoupage papers are ideal for those looking to make a bold statement with their furniture makeover. Whether you’re aiming for a sophisticated look or something more playful, their wide range of options will ensure you find the perfect fit for your project.
• Roycycled Treasures: A brand that specializes in vintage-inspired decoupage paper designs, perfect for your rustic furniture makeover. The owner and designer also has a huge following on social media sharing techniques and ideas! She is truly a blast to watch!
• Redesign With Prima: Redesign With Prima offers decoupage papers with a plethora of designs, from floral motifs to vintage scripts that can bring a unique charm to your furniture. This company also makes gorgeous transfers and stencils.
• Dixie Belle Paint Company: While Dixie Belle is most known for their chalk mineral paint, they also offer a selection of lovely decoupage papers, providing everything you need for your furniture transformation in one place.

How To Apply Decoupage Paper To Painted Furniture

Next, let’s quickly discuss how to decoupage painted furniture. And let me also say, don’t be intimidated or scared. It really is super easy and so much fun.

1. First, make sure your painted furniture is totally dry. Decoupage papers are most often applied before topcoats or waxes.
2. If your decoupage paper comes folded you may want to iron out or steam out any wrinkles or creases. Both methods are effective in smoothing out wrinkles or creases from your decoupage paper. For ironing, place a clean towel over the paper to protect it, set the iron on a low heat setting, and gently iron over the towel. The heat will help eliminate wrinkles without damaging the paper. If you’re using a steamer, hold the paper at a safe distance from the steam nozzle and steam both sides of the paper. Be careful to avoid overly dampening the paper. Allow the paper to dry completely before applying it to your furniture.
3. Some choose to cut the paper to fit the area where it will be placed. Others prefer to apply the paper and then use a craft knife to carefully cut away the excess paper at the edges once it is adhered. It is not easy to cut paper that is wet, so it is best to allow the paper to dry before attempting to cut away excess.
4. Afterwards, apply a thin layer of the decoupage medium to the area of the furniture where you want to attach the paper. Position your paper on the freshly coated area, ensuring to smooth out any wrinkles or bubbles for a seamless finish. We’ll talk more about decoupage mediums in a few minutes.
5. Lay down the paper and smooth out any wrinkles. For this I use a couple of fingers wrapped in a silky Saran Wrap or use a decoupage roller or even the Dixie Belle Scarlet Brush works fabulously to smooth out wrinkles.
6. Once the paper is in place and smoothed out, apply another thin layer of the decoupage medium over the top of the paper to seal it. Once the decoupage medium topcoat is applied again smooth out any wrinkles carefully and gently to avoid tearing the paper. These papers are strong, but they can tear when wet.
7. Repeat this process until all desired areas of the furniture are covered.
8. Finally, after the decoupage medium has completely dried, apply a protective topcoat or wax to seal your masterpiece.

Decoupage Mediums & Supplies For Painted Furniture

As promised I said I would discuss decoupage mediums. There are several options for applying decoupage papers. Most often I use a clear coat or varnish, but Mod Podge is another option.

Redesign With Prima makes a Decoupage Matte Gel that is a bit thicker than a clear varnish but thinner than Mod Podge. It works fabulously also. I prefer to use it with the thicker decoupage fabric-feel papers by Redesign.

Personally I typically use Dixie Belle Clear Coats because they are easy to apply, dry so fast and work great! And I most often have them on hand for painted furniture projects.

To smooth our wrinkles you can simply use a glove finger or wrap your fingers in Saran Wrap. But some prefer to use a decoupage brayer (roller) tool. I find that using the Dixie Belle Scarlet Brush works very well too. I use it both to apply the topcoat layer and smooth out wrinkles in one step.

Inspiration & Ideas for How To Decoupage Painted Furniture

Now that you’re familiar with the process of how to decoupage painted furniture, let’s take a look at some decoupage makeovers. These should provide you with plenty of creative ideas and design motivation. Click on any post for more details and demonstrations of how to decoupage painted furniture.

Summary: How To Decoupage Painted Furniture

So now that you’ve seen some examples of how to decoupage painted furniture, you can plan your next furniture makeover! With the right amount of creativity, a little patience, and a touch of chalk mineral paint, you can transform any piece of furniture into a work of art.

Decoupage is not only a furniture makeover technique, but it’s also a way to infuse personality into your home décor. The examples mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg. There are endless possibilities when it comes to decoupage, and I hope these ideas spark your imagination!