Painting Cherry Furniture with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Starting out

I have been painting furniture for a very long time (like 26 years) and it’s definitely one of the things I love doing most. However, when someone approaches me about painting cherry or mahogany stained furniture, I always have to re-arrange my face so that you can’t see the deep cringe I feel inside.

Most of the time, these pieces end up looking phenomenal once they are painted (if done right!). But, and yes, there is a big but… getting a beautiful finished look can be difficult. For that reason, I thought I would share some of my secrets about how I achieve a beautiful finish using white paint on this type of furniture.

Priming

Just to show you what a difference priming makes in the above picture, I have painted to top half with primer and then Annie Sloan Old White and the bottom with just Old White directly over the existing surface.

You’ll notice that there is quite a bit of yellowing on the bottom half of the drawer. This is what makes painting cherry wood with a white finish so difficult. It doesn’t always happen but it happens to me often enough that I just don’t chance it anymore.

If you’ve done your research, you know lots of people use many different types of primer. After many tests of trial and error, I have found that Zinsser Shellac gives me the best outcome.

If you need proof, simply look at the pictures below. I have to tell you, from experience, that working for several hours painting cherry furniture only to return the next morning and see a blotchy mess NEVER makes for a great day. Always make sure to save yourself some time (and sanity) and use Zinsser Shellac! It’s really that simple.

The Shellac prevents bleed through and leaves a beautiful finish by sealing your piece.

Painting

It is worth mentioning that the paint used to achieve this beautiful white finish is the Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint. If you’re like me, you love pieces that brighten spaces but aren’t too bright that they look stark or sterile. This color achieves exactly that. You can purchase Annie Sloan products in my shop through this link.

I also highly recommend using a soft brush. The type of brush you use can make all the difference in your finished piece. You can purchase the brushes I use here. I promise you, they’re worth every penny!

And Voila! here is the finished result of Painting Cherry furniture:

All in all, I think this piece turned out beautifully. Thanks for reading this far! If you are a fellow painting hobbyist, be sure to read more of my posts! I’ve learned a lot throughout my years of painting and I’m happy to share and answer any questions I can.

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