Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Im looking for a bit of advise if anyone can help, i have decided to paint my tired old pine bedroom furniture instead of throwing it out, i want a shabby chic look if possible but not entirely sure how to go about it, would you use a roller or brush? what paint would you recommend? if my project fails then its no big deal, but before shelling out an arm and a leg for a new bedroom suite i thought i would give it a try.

PS my other half hates painting so its down to me.

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Amanda is it varnished or bare wood?

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Meg

Its varnished, but really dull in parts, I've had it about 12 years it was given to me by my parents, I'm not sure how long they had it to be sure, i think it would look great painted cream but I'm trying to be a bit more adventurous if possible.

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Amanda - it would need to be sandpapered or to use ESP first, to give a grip for the fresh paint......

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Sounds like you're on the right track Amanda

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Pats

Hope you don't mind me asking whats ESP please, is it something i can use to avoid sandpapering ?

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

I hope so Robert i think it will be a big job but worth the effort.

We have just re decorated the bedroom and its made the furniture look even worse.

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Amanda this is how I would do it..

http://www.wikihow.com/Paint-over-Varnish

I would avoid gloss and go for matt, it doesn't show up imperfections so much....

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

Hi Meg

Thank you so much for the link, good point re gloss paint, thats one mistake i would have made but makes sense using matt.

Re: Painting a tired pine bedroom suite

ESP - is a milky substance, you paint on (micro-cloth the furniture first) ESP will prevent sandpapering, its termed as liquid sandpaper....
ESP - stands for Easy surface preparation...
Any DIY should stock it ....