A black bar set— two stools and a tall table—get transformed from typical to terrific using paint pens.
For your next DIY project, consider using a paint pen or two to make it pop. While the black tone is attractive and fits in easily with most décor, give it some pizzazz and make it truly one of a kind. This bar set has a Union Jack flag-inspired design that looks ideal in any home—here or abroad!
1. Protect parts with painter’s tape
If you get lucky like me and find a bar set that is already in a cool color and just needs some perking up, then protect parts with painter’s tape. The Union Jack look is so cool and is always a welcome addition to your space.
- Use a ruler to map out where the tape should go, and enlist pens and scissors to mark it up and cut away the access. Also, a Union Jack flag is all straight lines, so using painter’s tape makes it easy.
- After you tape off your design on the top of the table and the stools, place a strip of the tape along the outer edge. This will help to keep your paint pen markings on the surface you want.
2. Drawing makes for dynamic design
Part of the appeal of using a paint pen for this project was being able to see the various lines and layers. While brushing on a solid coat of paint would have worked just fine, there is something super creative about the blending of the color.
This project was given two layers with the paint pen in two different directions. I love that you are able to see parts of the original black surface showing through the pen strokes, giving the final look more visual interest and dimension.
Design Advice:
While my original plan was to use red, white, and blue paint pens for this project as they are the Union Jack’s colors, the hardware store only had pens in blue and gold. The gold added an elegant, reflective shimmer to the project, which was not expected and very welcomed.
Sometimes you just have to go with the flow and modify your design along the way. And very often, it makes for an ever more mesmerizing final look.
3. Take off the tape
Give your paint pen’s application plenty of time to dry completely. Carefully remove the painter’s tape from the surface to reveal your eye-catching design. Keep your fingers clean and paint-free, too, so you don’t smudge or add fingerprints to the previously protected parts.
4. Arrange & Add Accessories
This bar set has such versatility that deciding on a place to put it might be the hardest part of the project! This set will give a space to eat and socialize in any room. Add accessories like glassware, plates, dishes, pitchers, and more—all of which are always available at Goodwill for a penny or two.
Invite a friend or family member to join you to break bread or open a book, enjoy some coffee, and have a quiet moment. If you are a DIYer like me, then you are probably already planning your next paint pen project!
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Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
