Starting your furniture upcycle business with Chalk Mountain
Starting your furniture upcycle business with Chalk Mountain

You're interested in finding furniture to paint and sell, which is a great, fun, and rewarding way to make some extra money. This is also a fantastic way to find unique and interesting pieces to add to your own home décor.
Here are a few tips on how to find furniture to paint and sell:
- Thrift stores and flea markets. These are great places to find used furniture at a fraction of the cost of new furniture. You can often find solid wood pieces that are in good condition and just need a little TLC.
- Garage sales and estate sales. Garage sales and estate sales can be a goldmine for finding furniture to paint and sell. You can find all sorts of interesting and unique pieces at these sales, and you can often negotiate with the sellers to get a good price.
- Online marketplaces. There are several online marketplaces where you can find used furniture to paint and sell, such as Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay. These marketplaces can be a great way to find furniture that is located outside of your area.
- Social media. You can also use social media to find furniture to paint and sell. Join local garage sale groups on Facebook and follow thrift stores and estate sale companies on Instagram. You can also post your own "looking for" ad on social media.
- Side of the road! Pieces may vary, but this is a great way to try out some new technics!
Once you've found some furniture to restore, and sell, it's important to clean and prepare the pieces before painting. This will help the paint to adhere better and give you a more professional-looking finish.
To clean and prepare furniture for painting, follow these steps:
- Remove all hardware from the piece of furniture.
- Clean the furniture with a damp cloth and a mild soap.
- Sand the furniture lightly with fine-grit sandpaper. This will help to remove any old paint or varnish and create a smooth surface for the new paint to adhere to.
- Wipe the furniture down with a damp cloth to remove any dust.
Once the furniture is painted or restored, you're ready to start selling!
Here are a few tips for selling painted furniture:
- Take high-quality photos of the furniture. This will help to showcase the piece and attract potential buyers.
- Write a detailed description of the furniture. This should include the dimensions of the piece, the type of wood it is made from, and any other relevant information.
- Set a fair price for the furniture. You can research the prices of similar pieces of furniture online or at local thrift stores and flea markets.
- Advertise the furniture online and in local publications. You can also sell it at a consignment shop or flea market.
Here are a few additional tips that may be helpful:
- Focus on finding pieces that are in good condition. You don't want to spend a lot of time and money on a piece of furniture that is falling apart. Look for pieces with solid wood construction and that are free of major damage.
- Choose pieces that are popular styles. Some styles of furniture are more popular than others, so it's important to do your research and choose pieces that are likely to sell quickly. Mid-century modern furniture, for example, is very popular right now.
- Be creative with your paint colors and finishes. There are no rules when it comes to painting furniture. You can choose bold colors, distressed finishes, or even add stenciling or decoupage. Don't be afraid to experiment and have fun with it!
- Stage your furniture before taking photos. This will help to show potential buyers how the furniture would look in their own home. Add some accessories, such as pillows, throws, and plants, to make the furniture look more inviting.
We hope these tips help you to find and sell beautiful painted furniture!
Chalk Mountain Paint Choices: https://www.chalkmountainpaint.com/paint
Chalk Mountain Paint Sealer Picks: https://www.chalkmountainpaint.com/waxes
Chalk Mountain Paint Brushes: https://www.chalkmountainpaint.com/brushes
