Expert: maura macaluso - 7/28/2008

Question
I am trying to paint over a Pine wood with a natural finish so that it will match my cherry wood furniture in my bedroom.  I also need to fill in a couple of spots with wood putty.  Do you know what is the best way to match paint color to Cherry wood?

Answer
Hi Denise,

Cherry wood when raw is a whiteish wood which will age to a light reddish, close to the color of a red cedar.  Different finishes will produce different shades varying from a slight reddish hue to a beautiful deep reddish brown. The best way to find a match for your furniture will be to go and pick up lots of paint samples which you think are a close match.  Bring them home.  Take a piece of your furniture, perhaps a drawer, take it and all the paint samples outside into sunlight, not bright glaring light but not into shadows and lay the paint samples atop the furniture till you find the color that matches closest.  Never, ever decide on a paint color under the bright florescent lights of a paint stores' lights, always take it into natural light as the color will look different.

For wood furniture painting you will want to use an enamel paint with a satin finish.

To paint over your pine and get the true color of the sample you pick, you will need to apply a coat of white primer which will also serve to better adhere the new paint to the old finish. Then put a few coats of your paint over that.  When you apply your paint it may look darker than it should until it completely dries.  Good luck with your project and thanks for the question.