The first time I saw a painting with the acrylic pouring method I was shocked and I completely fell in love with it. It’s captivating to see how the colors come together in a same piece.
I immediately fell in love with it and wanted to try it for myself right away!
Falling in love with acrylic pouring wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to discover all the secrets and wanted to experiment with new painting surfaces. I then realized I could apply this liquid art to almost any type of surface including wood, canvas, dishes, cups, and many things more.
The highlight of my life was when I discovered acrylic paint pouring on furniture.
Who wouldn't like to have a coffee table with a marbled look like this one?
So keep reading if you have and old piece of furniture which you love but does not go along with your house decoration.
or if you want to decorate your child’s room....
or if you find a wonderful but faded piece of furniture…
or even if you just want a new fun hobby and decide to get some new unpainted or unfinished furniture and want to transform them into a unique work of art.
How to use acrylic pouring on my furniture?
This technique consists basically on pouring liquid acrylic paint mixed with a pouring medium on a surface and let it flow till you create new incredible designs with the color combinations you want.
These are the steps:
1. Find a working space… Keep in mind that it will get dirty
In order to obtain a beautiful piece of furniture with liquid art you must be prepared to get your working space dirty. Therefore, I recommend that you protect your working space and floor with some plastic.
It may seem like an unnecessary step, but many times after I worked on a piece of art, I regretted not protecting my working space. I had such a hard time trying to wipe away the paint stains of the floor... kind of like when Cinderella was cleaning nonstop all day.
Consider that your working space will get dirty because you’ll need to clean all your wood surfaces and sand them down, therefore creating dust and wood chip particles. Then you’ll be in charge of throwing paint all over piece of furniture.
So find a working place where you can relax to make your piece of art. It will also need to be a place where your furniture will be kept while each of the paint coats dry.
2. Choose and prepare your piece of furniture
If you already have an piece of furniture that you want to give a new look, then I recommend that you prepare your painting surface by making sure it is smooth. Specially if your furniture is old. You can sand the surfaces to get rid of the bumps and imperfections on it.
Also if its a furniture that has received multiple layers of paint, it is a good idea to sand it as much as you can. Remember you need a perfectly clean surface so the paint can flow on the surface without any problem and stick properly.
My advice is: if you think that you’ve already sanded it enough… then sand it down a little more.
You can use an electric sander to make the process much faster and easier or just some regular sandpaper if you plan on working out your muscles while sanding it down.
When you sand your furniture you will also remove the stains that make it look “old and dirty”. This will also create porosity in the wood that will let the paint enter into the smallest places and adhere properly.
Once you sand your furniture, you will need to clean it with a wet rag and remove all the dust and the splinters that are left.
Make sure to let the furniture dry after cleaning it or else the paint will not adhere properly.
You need to be patient. You need to give it enough time to dry!
If you just want to forgo all the sanding and prepping, then consider getting an unfinished piece of furniture.
3. Next... Primer
Your first coat of paint should go over a layer of primer. Consider that you'll probably keep this piece of furniture for many years, so using a coat of primer will ensure that your paint lasts for a long time.
Plus a coat of primer will also ensure that your coat of paint applies evenly on the surface.
Primers are found in several colors such as white, gray or black. You can choose a colored primer that goes well with the acrylic colors you will be using on top.
Look at this beautiful design of an acrylic pouring coffee table with a brown, white, and black color base.
4. Now mix in some liquid magic
If you think that now all you need to do is throw some paint over your painting surface… Then you are ALMOST right.
Before you start throwing acrylic paint on your furniture painting surface, you first need to remember 2 things...
1. You need to get some quality paints so that the colors on your furniture lasts for years without fading or cracking. I recommend these paints.
2. You will need to mix your paints with some type of acrylic pouring medium, your liquid magic!!!
Your paint must be liquid enough to flow freely through the surface… But not so liquid that it would blend with the other colors.
Paint consistency is key. And using a good acrylic pouring medium is the secret.
A pouring medium will act as a thinner and will help your paint achieve the perfect consistency to flow and move without losing its texture.
If your paint is still too thick, you can always add a tiny bit of water.
So first choose the combination of colors that you will use for your project. Then add these acrylic paints into several cups. Then add a little bit of pouring medium into each cup and stir till is becomes a uniform mixture. It should have the consistency of heavy whipping cream.
Add more pouring medium if the mixture still seems too thick.
If you don't want to deal with trying to figure out the right paint consistency and would prefer to get some paints that are already premixed with pouring medium, check these out.
If the paint doesn’t have the right consistency, you could get cracks, bare spots, etc.
Getting the right paint consistency will allow your paint to travel a long distance when tilting.
Imagine getting an amazing dresser like this one!!!
5. Now... Here comes the FUN part... PAINTING!
Now is time to let your imagination flow and do the rest. Now that you have your combination of colors chosen, you might be wondering...
Which technique should I follow?
Here are some techniques that you could do, but you are free to let your imagination run wild:
Free Pour
The Free Pour technique is about pouring colors one by one whichever way you want and let the paint flow in any direction. You can help the paint move by tilting the furniture.
Dirty Pour
The Dirty Pour method consist of pouring all the colors you want into one single cup (don’t worry they won’t mix) and finally pouring the content of the cup onto your furniture. This technique is captivating because you don’t know the shape and figures that the paint will create, but you can know for sure that you’ll love the result.
Flip Cup
The Flip Cup is a variation of the Dirty Pour. With this technique, you will put your colors into a cup and then flip the cup over your painting surface. Here's an example of the flip cup technique.
Swirl Cup or Tree Ring
The Swirl Cup or Tree Ring is a technique where you put any furniture over a rotating surface or you can ask for help to move the furniture while someone is pouring the paint over it. Or you can just move your hand in small circles to get a ring like design. This technique will give it a hypnotizing effect.
Remember, THERE ARE NO RULES, you can use as many colors, combinations and techniques as you want.
6. Respect the drying times
Now that you've painted your furniture, let it dry. You need to give it a few days until it is completely dry.
Patience is the key to success…
7. Finally... Protect your paint
This last step it's just as important as the first ones. Your furniture and paint will need a layer of protection. It will protect it from fading, humidity, scratching, dirt, etc.
Depending on what type of furniture you are painting, you could use resin as your protective layer. It will give your furniture a beautiful glassy appearance (which is ideal for an acrylic pour dining table or table top to add some “elegance” to your home) and also keep it protected for years.
And guess what? You can even mix in some sparkly glitter or powdered mica into your resin to give your furniture a sparkly touch like this beautiful piece of art you see below.
Some resin might be needed if you intend to keep your furniture outside or in a place where the weather can damage it.
This epoxy resin from Stone Coat Countertops serves as a great protection layer for furniture that will be used to place hot surfaces on it like cooking pans, coffee cups, hair dryers, irons, etc.
If you don't intend to place hot stuff on the surface, then you are safe to just use an acrylic spray coat.
If you are using resin, it is super important to use a torch to pop any bubbles that are left on the surface. And make sure you let it dry for a good 30 days before you place anything on top of it.
Here are some of my favorite designs and color combinations:
#1. Dreamy pink
This acrylic pouring dresser has the ideal colors to make your room look incredible.
Pink, silver, and pastel colors. A perfect combination!
Here is another example of a small table top that proves how pink in an acrylic pour can’t fail.
#2. Galaxy Table
How about creating an awesome galaxy table? Check out the tutorial with video here.
#3. Metallic Colors
Metallic colors are also a great idea to combine, specially gold, like in this perfect coffee table with the acrylic pouring method.
#4. For the boys…
So that your boys are not left behind, take a look at this design of acrylic pouring drawers with colors that complements any bedroom.
#5. For elegant spaces...
If you'd like to have an acrylic pouring table with more formal colors, take a look at this black and white table.
#6. Colorful
Also take a look at this dining table with daring colors but still beautiful.
#7. If blue is a must…
If blue is a “must” to have in your house because of the harmony and positive energy it brings, then do not miss these examples. Look at these ideas of some acrylic pouring coffee tables.
Or learn how to make this light blue dresser by watching the video below.
#8. Black is always a good choice…
If you are like me and you think that black is always the new black, then you are probably thinking that there is no way to combine dark shades in a colorful way…
Look at this gorgeous black and aqua green dresser.
Or what about this gorgeous table top with black and a little bit of pink.
#9. Bold Colors
Here is a great idea for some stools and a colorful center table.
#10. Geode Table
I love nature so I think a geode table is a great addition for any nature lover.
#10. Ocean Pour
Check out this ocean pour dining table. It is also an amazing choice for nature lovers.
Need to keep track of your recipes and techniques?
Check out the "Painting Diary" Printables!
Conclusion
I really hope that after reading this article you have the courage to transform any piece of furniture you have around the house to give your home a magic touch.
Remember to take plenty of time to work on your project and be patient enough to let it dry completely. The results will be worth the wait.
Key points:
- Make sure your furniture's surface is clean and smooth..
- Use enough quality paint to cover the entire surface.
- End your masterpiece with resin so it can last many years.
- Have fun and be proud of your creation!
