I flipped this sweet little French Provincial side table in just one afternoon using Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint and I couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out! This furniture makeover was so fast and easy. And the best part is, anyone can do it!
How to Flip Fast
If you’re anything like me, you might be impatient. Truthfully, I’m a LOT impatient. And sometimes when you’re flipping furniture, it can feel like every little step can take forever to get done. That’s why I love milk paint so very much! It’s fast. Not just a little fast. I’m talkin’ lightening fast! While some paints might take hours to fully dry, milk paint is dry and ready for you to move on with the next coat in as little as fifteen minutes. Folks… that’s fast!
So, let’s talk about this side table. This little cutie was a bargain table. We picked it up with another side table for $15 for the pair. The other table got a makeover almost immediately but this poor little French provincial got shoved to the back of our storage shed and forgotten about for the better part of a year.
This week we were in need of something smallish that I could flip fast and this was the perfect candidate! French provincial furniture and milk paint are a match made in heaven. Milk paint gives that old world feel that nothing else can truly duplicate. And I adore blues and grays for an even more French inspired feel.
Choosing a Color
For this particular makeover, I chose to use Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in the color Shutter Gray. I had it on hand and gray is such a perfect color for transitioning to fall. You really can’t go wrong with Shutter Gray. We’ve used it on many, many pieces over the years. But for this little cutie… I was dreaming of something just a tad darker and a bit more moody. Have I mentioned that milk paint colors are a cinch to blend?
So, off to my paint cupboard I went and pulled out the remnants of my Miss Mustard Seed’s Typewriter. We recently used this gorgeous black color on a vintage music cabinet and I had just a few tablespoons or so left. Perfect! The Typewriter powder would do the trick and darken my color up just enough to add some extra dimension and richness.
Mixing the Milk Paint
Milk paint comes in powder form. It might seem a little intimidating at first, but it’s totally not. If you know how to do it, nothing could be simpler. Just follow these steps…
- Start with warm water
- Use a one-to-one ratio
- Mix, mix, mix!
- Always let it sit to fully dissolve
Warm Water
It wasn’t until I had been using milk paint for a few years that I learned about the warm water trick. Let me tell you, it’s a game changer. I’m not sure what the science is behind it, but the warm water just plays so much nicer with the paint powder than cold water does. If you start with warm water, you’ll be ahead of the curve right from the beginning!
One-to-one Ratio
Milk Paint always gets mixed at a one-to-one ratio. One part warm water to one part paint powder. If you’re new to milk paint, that’s where you’ll start. Then once you’ve mixed it up you can see how the consistency is and add more water or paint depending on what your desired outcome is. If you want a super gritty, extra old world feel, you might want to add more powder and paint with a thicker mixture. Conversely, if you want to use your paint to do a “washed” or “stained” look, you’ll just add more water. This paint is extremely customizable and you can really achieve so many different looks just based on how you mix it.
Mix, mix, mix!
I can’t over state this enough. You must mix your paint really well! Use a plastic spoon, a fork, or the nifty little whisk you can buy directly from Miss Mustard Seed. It’s doesn’t really matter. Just give that paint a good old fashioned mixing and you’ll be golden!
Let it Set
Once you’ve mixed your paint to your liking, let it sit for a good five to ten minutes. I know what you’re thinking… “You told me this paint was fast.” Yes, yes I did! This is the one and only part of the project you’ll have to have patience for. You really need to let the mixture sit to give those pigments time to absorbed all the water and meld into that perfect vintage color that’s promised on the packet. So go ahead and use this time to wipe the dust off your furniture and get set up with a drop cloth so you’re ready to go.
Let’s Get Painting
Now that your paint has had a chance to fully combine, it’s time to get painting! Give your paint one more stir to check the consistency and if it reminds you of pancake batter or melted ice-cream… then you’re probably good to go. I find that milk paint isn’t too fussy, so you can paint it on the way that feels best to you. Just keep an eye out for drips and get that paint on there. And one last tip… stir as you go. You don’t have to get crazy with this. Just keep your spoon in the paint a give a good whirl every so often.
This table took me about 10 minutes to paint on the first coat. Then 15 minutes of dry time. After that, I went back and spent another 10 minutes or so on the second coat. And that was it. It’s crazy, I know. Call me dramatic… but milk paint is pretty much what dreams are made of.
To Chip or Not to Chip
One of the things milk paint is known for is that amazing chippy look. I LOVE chippy. However, I know it’s not a look for everyone. And honestly, the chippy look doesn’t always compliment every piece of furniture either. So, if chippy is what holds you back from using milk paint, don’t worry. Miss Mustard Seed makes a bonding agent that you can add to your paint to keep it from chipping.
This particular table was very glossy. So, I was a little worried that it might get extremely chippy. Although I was wanting some chippy goodness, I didn’t want the entire table to be over the top chipping. So, I used just a little (I’d say about a tablespoon or so) of the bonding gent to tone down the amount of chippy and hopefully get a balanced look.
Distressing
After the second coat of paint was fully dry, my husband Ethan grabbed his orbital sander and distressed the entire piece for me while I was making supper (he’s a keeper!). At this point our little table hadn’t chipped at all. I was slightly disappointed but I knew that for this particular little table, I wanted to ere on the side of not chipping rather than have a huge portion of paint chip back off. So, I was happy with the sanded distressed look.
Then, to my surprise, when I went back out awhile after Ethan had sanded it down, it had started chippy in just the perfect places and just the perfect amount. I loved it!
Waxing
I opted to seal this table with Miss Mustard Seed’s furniture wax. I’m not going to lie… this wax is my go-to for most projects whether they are milk painted or not. I really love this wax! It’s easy to work with and it doesn’t stink which is a huge factor for me!
Just work your wax into the milk paint really well. Milk paint is thirsty and it loves to drink up wax! And I love to see how rich and gorgeous the color becomes as that wax is soaking in! Once you work the wax in really well, go back with a clean towel/rag and buff it really well. You’re going to love the way that wax looks and feels. There’s nothing better!
Enjoy!
I absolutely love the way this little side table perked up with just a fresh coat of paint and a few hours of attention!
There’s nothing more satisfying to me than getting a whole project done in one afternoon. So, grab a paint brush and some milk paint and lets get something checked off that to-do list!
Products We Used:
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint (Custom blend of “Shutter Gray” & “Typewriter”) – https://www.mmsmilkpaint.com
- Miss Mustard Seed’s Furniture Wax – https://www.mmsmilkpaint.com/finishes
- Miss Mustard Seed’s “Bonding Agent” – https://www.mmsmilkpaint.com/milk-paint-additives
Beautiful job!! Great instructions. Refinishing projects intimidate me.