What color should I paint this bench?

Cathy Kurpil
by Cathy Kurpil
found this cute little bench on trash day, yesterday...I think I will cover it with this piece of bark cloth, wondering about what color for the wood? Any ideas? I'm thinking distressed white, maybe Heirloom, maybe yellow, or maybe turquoise? Thoughts? It will be for going in my booth.. Thanks guys :)
  28 answers
  • Mary Insana Mary Insana on Nov 14, 2013
    I would do an antique white with a dramatic floral fabric with navy as the primary color.
  • Cathy Kurpil Cathy Kurpil on Nov 14, 2013
    I'm really hoping to use this piece of cloth, course maybe I will find something else!
    • Sue Weiker Sue Weiker on Nov 16, 2013
      @Cathy Kurpil I think a VERY pale yellow, like a buttercream than wax it would be smashing on this. It would make the colors pop, and make the pale yellow stand out since it's so light.
  • Nancy Spencer Carlson Nancy Spencer Carlson on Nov 14, 2013
    Red! It would be an excellent accent piece. Match the red in the fabric. Distress it some, of course...
  • Michelle Templin Michelle Templin on Nov 14, 2013
    nice fabric, I think any color you chose will look great, but the fabric is the statement not the color of the wood
  • Gail Salminen Gail Salminen on Nov 14, 2013
    @Cathy Kurpil wow nice piece. With that fabric you have so many choices! A distressed red/blac, might be nice. If you want pale I think ivory, rather than white might be nice also. If you are keeping, consider where it will be used and the colour that might best suit the area, if selling perhaps neutral is better. Love the fabric Thanks for posting.
  • Carole Carole on Nov 15, 2013
    If you are hoping to sell it, I would go with antique white. Otherwise, if you are keeping it, then you can go crazy with colour! White goes with anything and would be much more likely to sell I should think.
  • Nancy Spencer Carlson Nancy Spencer Carlson on Nov 15, 2013
    Phwew! I was thinking you'd think I was nuts! Would love to see it finished.
  • Sonya Randle Sonya Randle on Nov 15, 2013
    Personally I think since the yellow and it looks like maybe a light gray are two of the lesser colors I would pick up one of those. I'm kind of a "neutral" person so I would probably do a light gray and darken it sllightly by antiquing it.
  • Susan S Susan S on Nov 15, 2013
    a light blue distressed maybe, so many choices
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Nov 16, 2013
    RED for sure!
  • Karon Nelson Roberts Karon Nelson Roberts on Nov 16, 2013
    RED!! Match the flower in the fabric
  • Sue Kopp Sue Kopp on Nov 16, 2013
    Are you confused enough now Cathy? My vote is either shabby antique white. However I used some hammered metal spray paint on one I picked up dirt cheap. Of course, our fabric turned out to be 'fooled' leather
  • Hi Cathy, This is gorgeous fabric! I think any color would detract from making it the "standout" portion of the bench. Even though it is not very dramatic, I'd stick with an antique white (like white with a teensy bit of grey in it to cut the brightness) and just distress the edges a bit. I use a lot of La Craie's Maisson White on furniture I put in my shop - its a great chalk paint. But you could get the same color by just toning down any white white. I think that would appeal to the most potential buyers. No matter what you use, if it doesn't sell, you can always repaint it!!
  • Irish53 Irish53 on Nov 16, 2013
    I am voting for a pale cream type yellow
  • Cathy Kurpil Cathy Kurpil on Nov 16, 2013
    The yellow sounds beautiful, too! You all have some wonderful ideas! Thanks for all the responses...I will post a picture when I'm done!
  • Grace Smith Grace Smith on Nov 16, 2013
    Love the bench and all the above ideas. I am really in to new shades of green right now. With your bark cloth, don't you think one of the new greens might be cool?
  • Judy Judy on Nov 16, 2013
    Leave it alone or refinish the wood in a different wood tone. Make your statement with the fabric.
  • Frankie Laney Frankie Laney on Nov 16, 2013
    Ok, here's my 2 cents worth. I would go antique white with a bit of distressing and a touch of antiquing wax. If you were going to keep it I would say go bold with one of the colors in the fabric.
  • Aunt Hilda Aunt Hilda on Nov 16, 2013
    I'd do a distressed aqua, with copper highlighting the routed detailing.
  • Marie Purnell Marie Purnell on Nov 16, 2013
    I would do the distressed, but instead of an antique white, I'd do a creamy whitish-brownish-yellow
  • Beatrice Mitchell Beatrice Mitchell on Nov 16, 2013
    definitely a cream or antique white, or maybe even black gloss paint but stay away from any other colors let the fabric speak for its self and be your showcase
  • Terri Johnson Terri Johnson on Nov 17, 2013
    Hi, I would pick up the green in the fabric.
  • Cathy Kurpil Cathy Kurpil on Nov 17, 2013
    Thanks Terri, I have had so many great suggestions...I think I'm more confused than ever :)
  • Rosalie Rosalie on Nov 17, 2013
    you could always paint each leg a color in the fabric
  • Cathy Kurpil Cathy Kurpil on Nov 18, 2013
    Ha,ha,ha, Rosalie...Thats a good one! May have to take you up on that one...It would surely be a conversation piece!
  • Aunt Hilda Aunt Hilda on Nov 18, 2013
    You could try sponge painting it all the colors of the fabric, somewhat like a camo design. In all actuality, I think it looks TERRIFIC just the way it is right now!
  • LaVerne DeHart LaVerne DeHart on Nov 21, 2013
    I like it as is but If i were to paint I'd go with annie sloan imperial red chalk paint (may not be proper name for the red but it's the only red she carries. It is subtle and not too bright but it would really pull out the red in the fabric. Good luck with whatever you decide.
  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 03, 2022

    Looks like limed oak as ir is now, so would maybe dry brush it with soft white or soft grey colour and then Antique Wax it.