How to Apply Milk Paint
In a few simple steps, I will show you how easy it is to apply milk paint! This little washstand is getting ready to have a makeover! Let’s go!
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supplies:
- sanding block
- Simple Green
- Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint
- Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Wax
- Miss Mustard Seed Hemp Oil
- Zibra Palm Pro paintbrush
- furniture wax brush
- blue shop towels
***Currently, Miss Mustard Seed Milk paint can only be purchased through online and local retailers. Here are several shops I have purchased this paint from.
Simply Chic FurnitureAnnie has great customer service and is so friendly! She is on the west coast.
Lost and Found Decor Melanie has all the knowledge you will need for selecting colors of milk paint. She is in the middle of the country.
Eight Hundred Furniture Jenn has all the supplies you will need to use milk paint! She is on the east coast.
If you purchase from any of these small businesses, please tell them that Cindy from Reinvented Delaware sent you!
milk paint furniture ideas
It’s no secret that I love washstands. They are by far my favorite piece of furniture!
Small in size, they can fit anywhere from a small apartment bedroom to a large foyer in a full-size home. Let’s see how this one is transformed by applying milk paint.
how to prep for milk paint
After a light sanding and then a thorough cleaning, I chose to paint this adorable washstand in Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint ‘French Enamel.’
It is a lovely shade of blue that has a vintage feel to the milk paint color.
how long between coats of milk paint?
I had to apply two coats of milk paint to cover this washstand perfectly. Depending on the weather temps and humidity in the air, the milk paint can dry in as quickly as just a few minutes and up to an hour. The appearance of the paint will be noticeably dry. On a hot day, you can actually watch it dry!
wooden top for furniture
You might have noticed the wood top. Often, these washstands come with a marble top. See the first image for a quick look.
The marble tops often have a marble backsplash, but this one was missing the backsplash. That left a gap on the back edge of the marble top.
Hubby built a farmhouse-style top using reclaimed, industrial oak pallet boards. You’ll see the hand-built top later in the post.
how many coats of milk paint
The washstand needed two coats of milk paint to cover the old finish. Depending on the milk paint color you choose, you may need up to 3-4 coats. Lighter colors like shades of white need more coats than darker colors.
pro tip: clean up the edges with sandpaper!
professional look
After the paint dried completely, I used a small piece of 220 grit sandpaper to remove the paint on the edges of the doors and drawers. The paintbrush almost always falls over the edge while applying milk paint (or any paint for that matter!) and I like to clean this up. This step is super easy with milk paint.
I also used a 3M sanding sponge over the whole piece. This step lightly distressed this transformed washstand beautifully while preparing it for the topcoat.
how to seal milk paint
Miss Mustard Seed Wax was my choice for the topcoat. I wanted to maintain an old-world feel to this piece. Applying the wax is so easy! Wax on, wax off! This video will help you to see how easy it is to use!
YouTube video
how to apply furniture wax
Applying furniture wax is so easy. Use a stiff wax brush and work small amounts of the wax into the paint surface. Then go back over the area with a lint-free shop towel to lightly buff the surface. Applying a thin coat of wax makes the buffing go easily.
Look how the wax deepens and enriches the French Enamel color! The wax soaks into the dry milk paint giving it a slight sheen. It will take a full 30 days for the wax to cure but the piece can be used with care right away.
how to seal milk paint, part two
Hemp Oil hydrated the back of this transformed washstand beautifully. Hemp oil can also be used to seal the milk paint and I often use that method. It soaks into the dry milk paint quickly, especially if the piece is old and the wood is dried out from years of use.
I love the backs of antique furniture. Usually, the backs are made of individual boards, not the particleboard that is used in today’s furniture!
Look at the difference the hemp oil makes in the natural wood finish!
how to mod podge furniture drawers
Pages from an old hymnal line the drawer. This is another easy way to transform vintage furniture. The pages are a nice surprise when the drawer is opened and they cover stains and markings that you might not want to see! And it is so easy to do! Here, I’ll show you. Just click the link below!
milk paint on a washstand
Isn’t she the cutest little washstand?? Funny how we can think of furniture as cute …..
…..but this one definitely is, don’t you think??
no backsplash? no problem
Remember I mentioned the marble top? We chose not to use it because it was missing the backsplash. Without that section, there was a 1/2″ gap along the back edge.
Hubby built a top for the washstand using reclaimed oak boards. He has a special technique for doing this but it could also be done with store-bought lumber cut to the size of the washstand marble top.
The wood was filled with wormholes like this. Just more character if you ask me!
milk paint colors
What do you think of this milk paint color? Blue is one of my favorite colors. It is so calming!
Milk paint comes in many different colors from blues to whites, to greens to reds….you name it and you will find a milk paint color you will love!
storage solutions
The inside of the washstand has a shelf which is nice for storage. I used Miss Mustard Seed Hemp Oil on the inside as well as the back of the piece.
antique hardware
Check out the original hardware! A bit of cleaning and one coat of Rub-n-Buff was all it needed!
furniture repairs
The closure was missing from this cute little washstand. That’s no problem here! Hubby also made a little doorstop with a scrap of oak. It holds the doors shut and adds a bit more cuteness to the washstand.
how to decorate with antiques
I mentioned earlier that washstands are my favorite piece of furniture. They are small but are so versatile in any home.
Here are some ideas for using a piece like this in your home:
- nightstand
- entryway catch-all
- bathroom storage cabinet
- at the end of a hallway
Where would you use such an adorable piece of furniture? Let me know in the comments!
how to apply milk paint
Let me review the steps I took to apply milk paint to this adorable antique washstand:
- prep the piece before painting by lightly sanding and cleaning
- apply two coats (minimum) of milk paint allowing to dry between coats
- use 220 grit sandpaper to clean edges
- use sanding block in fine to go over whole piece: wipe away dust with clean lint free cloth
- seal furniture with furniture wax
furniture before and after
Just for fun, here is a before and after. Isn’t it fun to see how far this transformed washstand came??
Tell me: how and where would you use this washstand in your home? Let’s share some ideas in the comments!
thanks for stopping by!
I hope you enjoyed this easy transformation! And if you are wondering about the gorgeous rocking chair, that post is coming soon!
We love taking the old and making it new around here at Reinvented Delaware!
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***Did you notice the different shades of blue in this post? That’s the power of sunlight changing as I photographed this piece for this post!!
Your washstand came out beautifully! As a fellow Delawarean, I love subscribing to your blog and am so glad I found it!
Im curious about the Miss Mustard Seed milk paint. Yours didn’t chip at all. Isn’t that the purpose of milk paint? What do you do if you want it to chip?
Thanks for subscribing Joan! MMS milk paint does chip randomly – which is why it looks so authentic. I used MMS Bonding Agent to control the chipping on this piece. Itβs really a personally preference with each piece!?
Cindy, lovely as usual! I was visiting your stall in Wilderlove recently (in Greenwood, DE) and encourage all your readers to stop in and see you (on the second floor)!
So, how about that marble top? Can you repurpose it?
π
Dianne
So glad you found us in Wilderlove! We love that store and it is so fun to meet people who visit our spot! Thanks for spreading the word! As for the marble top, I think hubby is using it as a large knife sharpening stone?
Hi, Cindy! I have been following you for several months, first on Instagram and now here. I love your IG stories! (Isn’t it weird that I feel like I know you?)
I also love seeing how you bring new life to old treasures! I live in Maryland and have actually been to Wilderlove once, but it was before I knew to look for Reinvented Delaware. I’m sure I wondered through your space because my friend and I went through every nook and cranny. The next time I come, I’ll know where to find you! π
Cheryl, thanks so much for the kind words! Your encouragement makes my day? Hopefully, you will be able to visit wilderlove again! ?
Cindy, I really love the way you transformed this washstand! That color is absolutely stunning. I always learn something new with your tutorials. This would’ve been one of my picks if Julie hadn’t gotten to you first last week! π Ha!
Awe thanks my friend! Washstands ate def my favorite pieces to transform! So glad you are learning new things here!