
Transforming an entrance bench
Do you have an old hall entrance bench that no longer matches your decor? Why spend money on a new one when you can easily transform it at low cost?
In this blog, I will take you step by step through how I revamped an entrance bench of one of my clients using the color Sunflower by Colorantic adding a nice warmth of colour to this enteryway.

The products used
- Polish cleanser and makeup remover
- White cotton linen cloth
- Sanding block
- Sunflower chalk based paint
- Matt varnish
- Purple oval brush
- 400 grit sandpaper

Step 1 – Preparation
My client’s bench had an old oiled finish, so I sprayed the cleaner all over it and let it sit for a good 15 min. I then used a damp cloth and rubbed it all over. After that, I rinsed several times until there was no residue on my cloth. I then let the surface dry for 1 hour.
Step 2 – The colour
Since the bench was quite dark, I applied 2 coats of Colorantic Sunflower paint and let it dry between coats. The paint dries very quickly and also covers very well.
Step 3 – ” Antiquing ”
Once the paint was dry, I proceeded to antique my piece. Using a damp white cloth (hot water) I rubbed in strategic places to remove paint to mimic the wear and tear of time. In a few places, I have used the sanding block.
Step 4 – Finishing
Again I let it dry, but this time it took 2 hours. I then applied 2 coats of matte varnish, sanding lightly with 400 grit sandpaper between the 2 coats.

Here is some important information.
I could have antiqued it more with a colorful glaze which would have created a more rustic look. My client’s decor is rustic and warm, but too rustic was not what they wanted. I used varnish rather than wax since the bench is used often by the family so it needed a good resistance. The entrance of the house is made of wood, the colour sunflower added beautiful light into this room.
