We Are in the Age of Consumption: Chalk Paint and Old Furniture!

We Are in the Age of Consumption: Chalk Paint and Old Furniture

Here, I am not talking about the glass of wine that we take on Friday! No ! I’m talking about consumption of all kinds. The richer the country, the higher the consumption rate of its population. We produce 2.01 billion tonnes of municipal waste each year. That is alot of grabage! These figures give me chills, especially when I think about the impact on our future and that of future generations.

Recovering the old

I can’t change anything in the course of planetary history, but I like to soothe some of my guilt by changing a few bad habits. For example, recovering old furniture, not throwing away anything that may still be useful for someone, creating decorations with materials that I have on hand, etc.

I often see household items on the side of the road that are very clean and could still be used. Are people too shy to pass it along to someone else or too lazy to take it to a donation center? Know that there are some solutions to avoid throwing things away unnecessarily.

Play your Part in the Age of Consumption

Firstly, you can use Colorantic chalk paint or, if you don’t have the skills to do so, you can call on furniture refinishers. Some companies offer to collect bulky items. Another tip is to write “to give away” on the items, so people will be less shy about taking old things found on the side of the road. Also using social media is a great option. Everyone knows someone who has lost all of their possessions following a disaster or a couple who unfortunately separate and one of them, having a small budget, has to furnish a new home. In short, a host of possibilities are available to you.

Most of the furniture I collected was found on the roadside. Yes, it can be awkward sometimes! I’ve had people look at me more than once and yet I continue to give furniture a second life. I give the pieces so much love, they are unrecognizable. When I find a chest of drawers, it is as if I have just found a treasure, because very often I see its potential even if it is not apparent at the time.

That’s a bit of what happened with this little chest of drawers. I really liked its shape and size, I found it very practical for a catch-all. With the help of the employees at Colorantic, we made a selection of colours and I then imagined a drawer filled with flowers. Of course it can go out of style quickly, but I can also refinish it again… it has endless possibilities (laughing)

So here is what you will need to create this type of transformation.

List of Products Used

Store

Steps to Follow:

Above all, it is important to have fun!
Clean your furniture with the Cleaner and Varnish Remover. Rinse well twice to remove all residue.
Lightly sand the surface to scratch.
Apply oil primer.
Apply the paint (you can sand lightly between the two coats)

Let Your Imagination Run and make you’re funiture great again!

I used paint stamps that can be found everywhere in big box stores, but otherwise you can use whatever inspires you at home to create a pattern to your liking.

In the case of stamps, you have to take it carefully step by step. Stamps can slip, so patience is required. It is still very easy to do, you just need to practice first on paper or any other material. The flowers are made in two stages, the first of which is for the background colour and the second for the final design.

You can watch the video to give you a better insight into the work.

Finishing Touches

For the finish, I lightly sanded the corners for an old-fashioned look and finished with Colorantic Matte Top Coat for better protection.

Nous sommes à l’ère de la consommation (5)

Nous sommes à l’ère de la consommation (6)

Nous sommes à l’ère de la consommation (7)

It may seem difficult to carry out a painting project, perhaps you wonder what is the point of spending a lot of energy and products to recover an old piece of furniture when stores and the internet are full of cheap new furniture? It’s simple, solid furniture, it is no longer made and the trees, which are the lungs of our planet, beg you to stop consuming again and again.

Upcycling is the new style! Embark on this adventure of renewal and creativity.

For any questions regarding products or procedures, the Colorantic team is here for you. The employees and the owner are always friendly and cheerful. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

I’ll leave you to brainstorm on the next project you are going to undertake. A picture frame, a flower pot, your sofa, your kitchen chairs, a dresser, who knows!

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