Most decorative painting books on the market are oriented toward the crafter rather than the home decorating enthusiast. This book is designed to appeal to the home improvement audience as well. The approach for each project is not to create art on furniture, but to create decorative furniture for the home and does not require the artistic skill and daunting materials that more craft-oriented furniture painting techniques require. Complete, step-by-step photography for 50 unique and easy decorative paint techniques, faux finishes, and surface embellishments make this the most comprehensive reference available for the DIY-inclined decorator. Techniques are illustrated on a range of types of common furniture including chests, chairs, shelves and tables as well as unfinished furniture, flea-market finds and the inexpensive furniture now sold in mass-market retailers, craft stores, and home improvement centers. With 50 distinct techniques, this book offers something for everybody. Painted furniture can look rustic or elegant, whimsical or sophisticated. Provides techniques to make new furniture look like a fabulous antique, and techniques to make well-used furniture look better than new. All projects use tools and paints commonly available and sold in home-improvement stores as well as embellishments and materials sold in craft stores. There will be an extensive basics section about painting furniture including types of paint, painting tools, preparing the furniture, and basic painting and staining.