How To Make Your Own Inexpensive Metallic Paste For Furniture Upcycling

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Furniture upcycling has become an exciting hobby — and even a side hustle — for many, especially in recent years. There are countless techniques and products used to add color, texture, and design to transform ordinary, old pieces of furniture into stylish works of art. While you may not be looking for anything as opulent as the White House gold decor, adding a touch of metallic can bring new life to your home furnishings. When it comes to ideas for upcycling furniture and creating your own arts and craft materials at home, the metallic paste recipe shared by Our Upcycled Life is affordable to make and can be used in a variety of ways.

For the recipe, mix one tablespoon of joint compound (the kind used to tape seams or patch holes in your drywall), one teaspoon of metallic acrylic paint, ½ teaspoon of white glue, and some glitter. This creates a fantastic paste that can be used for everything from stenciling upcycled furniture to adding shimmer to decorative trim. The joint compound makes it hard, the glue provides adhesion, the paint adds color, and the glitter adds sparkle. Homemade solutions like this are much more affordable than similar store-bought metallic pastes, such as Ezgi Sertcetin Metallic Gold Paste, which costs about $20 for a small 6 oz. jar.

Our Upcycled Life's metallic paste recipe can be used on more than just furniture, although that's one of the top recommended applications. This recipe has many possibilities and can be used on everything from wood and cardboard to jars and ornaments. Although it's an ideal medium for stenciling, it can be applied in a variety of ways to achieve the desired effect. When you're stenciling with this metallic paste, apply it with a palette knife (or something like an old credit card will also do). Be sure to lift the stencil up right away before it dries so you have nice, crisp edges.

After you try this DIY metallic paste recipe, feel free to experiment to see what works best for you. You can make it your own by changing the ingredients slightly, adding more metallic acrylic paint to give it a better sheen, or substituting mica powder for the glitter. You can even replace the glitter with eyeshadow as a clever way to repurpose old beauty supplies around the house. Artists and creators mix all sorts of materials together, looking for just the right blend for their projects. They use substances like cornstarch, baking soda, fine sand, and different types of glue or Mod Podge to create pastes with various colors and textures. You can also use different types of paint, but this solution is water-based, so it's best to stick with latex or acrylic paints.

Unlike some DIY formulations for upcycling furniture, this metallic paste recipe is made in small batches because it dries quickly and doesn't keep well. The glue and joint compound combination dries hard, so it's important to clean your tools and stencils immediately after stenciling. (It's also a good idea to avoid using your kitchen sink since you don't want to send these chemicals down the drain). You should give your project plenty of time to cure before moving on to the next step, but you can apply a touch of Rub and Buff from GRAS Art Bundles at this stage for extra pizazz.

Although it dries quickly, you may be interested in speeding up the drying time. You can carefully use a hair dryer, but avoid getting it too close, or you'll risk damaging the paste. When using this metallic paste, don't forget an essential step of painting furniture, which is to seal it so it doesn't chip. This is especially important if your piece will see a lot of use. Again, here is a chance to experiment with different products, as there are many types of sealants that will work, including both water-based and solvent-based products. To make it extra durable on furniture, try using the Rust-Oleum Matte Clear Spray to completely coat your stenciled project.