3 Tips On How To Get Avoid Brushstrokes When Painting Furniture

Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral paint and Silk All In One Mineral are beautiful paints to use on your DIY projects. You can achieve any style from rustic, to a coastal feel, to a sleek contemporary vibe. It is easy to use and creates a beautiful smooth finish. However, if you find it difficult to get a sleek finish without the brush strokes, I have 3 great tips for you to help.

1. Use The Right Brush For The Job ​
   

The type of brush you use will have a big impact on your paint finish. Synthetic and natural bristle brushes are two commonly used brushes in furniture refinishing. A natural bristle brush will give lots of texture. It’s a great option for rustic finishes but not when trying to avoid brushstrokes. ​

​Use a synthetic brush, the soft bristles will leave a smooth finish without any brushstrokes.

It’s also important to ensure that you are using good quality synthetic brushes. Inexpensive brushes can be coarse, causing lots of brushstrokes. Good quality synthetic brushes will last longer, are more absorbent, hold more paint, and are a dream to use to give an even finish. Here are some of my favourite Dixie Belle brushes to use.

Dixie Belle Paint Synthetic Brushes

Scarlet Brush

2. Paint Application
​How you apply your paint onto a surface can really affect your paint finish. If you are applying your paint in several directions on a surface you will create texture and brushstrokes. Additionally, painting in small sections on a large surface like the top of a long dresser will show very clearly where you (started and finished your paint strokes) stopped and where you started painting.

​To minimize brush strokes, apply your paint in long even back and forth strokes over the length of your piece, and not the width. When using Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral paint use a Continuous Spray Mister to help smooth out your paint. The Mister will help the paint move more freely while giving you a seamless finish. When applying Silk All In One Mineral paint make sure that you have enough paint on your brush to get to the opposite end of your surface from where you started. Do a final finishing stroke to smooth it out before moving on to the next section.

3.Relax & Don’t Overwork it!
One of the biggest culprits of getting brushstrokes in your finish is overworking the paint. Going back over a spot that is almost dry will cause texture. This can be really frustrating, as the more you try to "fix it" the worse it gets. Here are a few ways to deal with this. 

• If you are using Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral paint you can reactivate the paint by spritzing with water to smooth out the finish.
  
• Let the paint dry, sand with a sanding sponge to smooth out the texture, and then repaint.
  

​Remember the great thing about painting furniture with quality products like Dixie Belle paint is that mishaps can be easily fixed. Have fun and happy painting!

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