How To Paint Wooden Furniture

The First Step In Repainting A Small Table

Its always easier to flip the table over and paint the underside first. Then move on to painting the table top.

The pineapple area of the pedestal table has crevices of some sort. The round Zibra paint brush works great for getting into the detail areas. You can get this round Zibra brush HERE.

Smash paint into those crevice areas to make sure that the old paint is a thing of the past.

Next, flip your table over to paint the top. The flat Zibra is a better choice since it covers more surface area than the round. Since the previous paint job has a visible direction that the paint goes in, try to stay with the same. Pretty much just like painting with the wood grain paint with the previous paint strokes.

Tips For Cleaning Sticky Wood Furniture

In addition to paint that has not dried, sticky paint can also occur due to stains on wood that are difficult to clean. Here are some ways to clean sticky wood furniture:

• Wipe the sticky surface with water and vinegar.

• Clean it with a cloth dampened with paint thinner.

• Use a bottle of dishwashing detergent and dissolve it in one liter of hot water.

• Try using paints and varnish-exfoliating gels that can remove various finishes, including paint, varnish, polyurethane, and shellac.

• Use a stripping pad, a small amount of paint thinner or essential, and a towel.

How To Paint Wood Furniture

Gone are the days of hastily assembled flatpack and cookie cutter interiors. Today, interior design is all about personality and character. Antique and vintage stores are a treasure trove of beautiful pieces of furniture that you won’t find anywhere else. However, these vintage gems often need a little TLC to bring them up to scratch or a sometimes need a change of color to suit your look.

Thats where the painted furniture revolution comes to the fore. Learning how to paint wood furniture can transform a boring brown dresser that’s otherwise destined for landfill into the hero of your sustainable kitchen ideas.

In addition to creating characterful pieces for your home, learning how to paint wooden furniture will also save you money as lots of these antiques sell for a song, and also know that youre doing your bit for the planet, repurposing rather than buying new.

Recommended Reading: Red Brick House Painted White

Do You Need To Prime A Wooden Furniture Before Applying Paint

Normally, you wouldnt require a separate primer for wooden furniture since most paints come with a primer added to the main formula. For instance, mineral and chalk paint already have primer integrated into the main formula. This enables them to give the wooden furniture a flawless finish.

However, some furniture paints require a primer before applying a fresh coat. Therefore, we recommend checking the tin of the paint before starting any new project.

What Is The Best Finish For Wood Furniture

Finishes determine how durable and aesthetically pleasing your furniture will look. On that note, milk paint is one of the best paints since it acts as a self-sealer. Once fully cured, it will make the wooden surface extremely durable in water and intense weather conditions.

Besides this, matt chalk paint will give the wood furniture a slightly cloudy finish, while gloss chalk paint provides a high-end sheen.

Also Check: Colors To Paint House Exterior

Choose The Right Primer For The Job

The type of primer you use has to match the paint. For furniture, it is recommended you use a satin or semi-gloss finish with either a latex or oil-based primer. You can use an oil-based primer with latex paint, but you can not use a latex primer with oil paint. Oil-based paint only works on oil-based primers, but they have a strong smell. If you choose to use oil-based paint, make sure the room you are painted in is well ventilated.

How To Paint Laminate Furniture

My cabinet was solid wood, but more often than not, thrifted furniture is laminate. So the question becomes, Can I paint laminate furniture without sanding too? Yes!

The priming step is the most important for painting laminate furniture since you dont want to sand an already delicate surface. Take care to follow these same steps and your laminate furniture will turn out just as beautiful.

Also Check: How To Professionally Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Do I Need To Varnish Painted Furniture

No, you dont. However, if you are painting in a high-contact area, like a doorknob or handles, then you may want to consider sealing the paint with wood varnish for extra durability.

And there you have it. The definitive guide on how to paint wood furniture. If youre feeling emboldened and want to tackle more decorating projects, then why not take a look at our guide to painting kitchen cupboards or how to paint your wardrobes.

How Do I Paint Cloth Furniture

What brand fabric paint has the best product to paint upholstered furniture?

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Choose The Right Primer Paint And Topcoat

When planning a DIY furniture painting project, selecting the color is the fun part. Here are some additional things to consider.

Primer

Primer is an undercoat that prepares a surface for paint. It seals, blocks stains and provides a uniform base for paint. It also increases the durability and appearance of the painted surface.

There are different primers specifically formulated for wood, plastic, metal or ceramic surfaces. Check the label or ask your home center professional for advice on which primer is right for your particular project.

Paint

Paint should be chosen based on:

• Type of material to be painted.
• Condition of the surface is it pre-painted or varnished?
• Surface preparation. Bare wood? Primed?

Optional Topcoat

As the owner of a hand-painted childrens furniture company for more than 15 years, I learned from experience that there are a few situations in which forgoing a protective coating is acceptable: 1. When painting furniture with a hard, oil-based shiny enamel finish. 2. When a piece of furniture is strictly ornamental and not functional.

To maintain the beauty of your painted furniture over time especially with high-use furniture such as a kitchen table or a step stool adding a protective finish like Varathane Ultimate Polyurethane or Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane is an extra step worth taking.

How To Paint Wooden Furniture

This article was co-authored by Jeff Huynh. Jeff Huynh is the owner of Moseybolt, a full service solution in home services, renovations, and repair in the Greater Seattle area. He has over five years of handyman experience. He has a BS in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University and his Certificate in Industrial Electronics Technology from North Seattle College.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 15 testimonials and 95% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 1,151,801 times.

Painting wooden furniture is a way to give new life to an older chair or other piece of furniture. The process itself is relatively simple, requiring just a few basic tools and supplies. Carefully sand the furniture and repair any blemishes in it, then take your time applying several thin coats of primer and paint. Youll soon have a beautifully renewed piece of furniture.

Read Also: Green Modern Exterior House Paint

How To Avoid Streaks While Painting A Wooden Furniture

Two of the best ways to avoid streaks while painting are paint finish and direction. For instance, you should paint along the direction of the grain while using milk paint. In addition, milk paint dries really quickly, but a light sanding will help the coat to achieve a rich and smooth finish.

On the other hand, if you plan to work with mineral or chalk paint, we recommend painting in different directions since it helps to avoid brush marks.

Create A Statement Piece

With a fresh coat of bright, bold paint, a humble piece of wood furniture can become a standout. Yellows, reds and pinks will pop against gray, black and white interiors and also in outdoor environments against all that natural greenery.

Whether you have wood, metal or plastic outdoor furniture, here are 15 tips to consider when painting it.

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Add A Protective Topcoat

With wood furniture, a topcoat will help protect the surface from scratches and other forms of wear and tear. Satin polyurethane can make the finish more durable, but look for non-yellowing varieties. Consider furniture wax for white pieces.

• Apply one to two coats with a brush. Be prepared for it to take at least a day to fully dry.

How To Paint Furniture

This article was co-authored by Jeff Huynh and by wikiHow staff writer, Amy Bobinger. Jeff Huynh is the owner of Moseybolt, a full service solution in home services, renovations, and repair in the Greater Seattle area. He has over five years of handyman experience. He has a BS in Business Administration from the San Francisco State University and his Certificate in Industrial Electronics Technology from North Seattle College.There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 39,101 times.

Painting a piece of furniture can give it a second life, and it’s a great way to freshen up a room without spending a lot of money. Whether you bought an old dresser at a yard sale or you want to give your dining room chairs a chic makeover, you can paint almost anything. Look for old furniture around your house or at yard sales and antique shops, then try this yourself for a fun weekend project!

Recommended Reading: Southwestern Paint – Benjamin Moore Paints

How To Paint Metal And Laminate

When painting and reviving metal furniture, two things are key: priming with an oil-based primer and using acrylic paint. Other types of paint simply will not last very long on metal and chip off.

The same rules apply to painting laminate furniture, with one important difference: you will get better results if you sand laminate, both at the prepping stage and after priming. Laminate is very prone to peeling when painted, so two coats are a must, as is a drying period of at least a couple of days. Resist the temptation to re-attach knobs and handles too soon.

Test The Paint For Lead

If you are going to work with vintage furniture that was made before 1978, test your paint to make sure it is lead-free. Lead is very harmful to your health and should be avoided for prolonged amounts of time. If you start sanding lead-based paint, there is a risk of inhaling airborne particles of paint that can cause lead poisoning, even if you wear a dust mask. Paint lead testing kits are inexpensive and the extra time is worth your health.

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Paint For Antique Furniture Final Words

With that, we have come to the end of our extensive guide on how to paint wooden furniture and the different techniques used for painting antiques. Before signing off, we would like to share a few tips that will help you achieve a better look for your antique furniture.

Firstly, you should always prep the antique wood furniture before applying any paint to the surface. For example, smoothing the surface with sandpaper will help the paint to adhere properly to the wooden surface.

Secondly, if you are planning to use oil-based paint on a wooden surface, we highly recommend getting the surface primed with a primer since oil can spoil the wooden surface. Moreover, it can cause the wooden surface to rot and leave a foul smell.

That said, we shall sign off. Until next time!

Is It Hard To Repaint Furniture

If youre looking to repaint your furniture, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, youll want to make sure that you sand down the piece of furniture before painting it. This will help create a smooth surface for the new paint job. Youll also want to use a primer before painting, which will help the new paint adhere better and prevent peeling or chipping down the road. Once you have all of your supplies ready, painting itself isnt too difficult just be sure to take your time and work in thin layers so that the final product looks its best.

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How To Paint Laminate Surfaces

The process for painting laminate surfaces is no different from painting any piece of furniture it’s all in the prep. Our video and guide to surface preparation provides detailed step-by-step instructions, but these are the two main stages

Clean and dry

Whether youre painting gloss kitchen cupboards or a laminate bedside cabinet, the first step is to ensure the surface is very clean using a good degreaser like Sugar Soap. Mix one part with ten parts warm water, apply liberally using a cloth or sponge, then wipe or scrub vigorously from the bottom to the top to avoid run lines. Rinse with fresh water once youre done and allow furniture to dry completely.

Sand

Next is sanding. This step is vital as it knocks back the glossy surface to provide a key, which maximises adherence for your paint. Its worth noting that the glossier the surface, the more thorough a sanding is required.

You dont need to use an electric sander a comprehensive hand-sand is usually fine, making sanding blocks a good option. Sand the whole surface thoroughly with a medium- to fine-grade sandpaper then whisk off any dust.

Painting and curing

In terms of actual painting, you can use a brush, roller or paint sprayer depending on your preference and the kind of furniture youre painting. Rollers are ideal for larger surfaces, and sprayers even more so. That said, youll need to dilute your paint with water by around 10% for a sprayer, which could mean an additional coat is needed.

Most Common Problems & Issues

At the time, I had no idea these are VERY common problems when painting wood white.

Its years later and Ive painted I dont know how many white pieces and tried I dont know how many products. Now I have a fail-proof technique down pat which I hope will help you too.

If youre looking to update your furniture in a perfect white finish, I promise these tips will save you time, money and a ton of frustration!

I started with this vintage china cabinet I found at the ReStore which are notorious for bleedthrough. Even so, I absolutely love working on these. Painting the inside can be a little extra work but the style of these cabinets is always a pleasure to work on.

Check out the updated version! Perfect white with shapely bare wood legs. Im loving it.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE. YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

Recommended Reading: Best Way To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Remove The Drawers And Other Detachable Parts

Most wood furniture comes with drawers, handles, and other detachable parts. You will need to paint these components as well. But you cannot do that if they are attached to the furniture.

That is why the first step is to remove the detachable hardware from the furniture. Some of these components, such as drawers, come with a sliding mechanism which makes them easy to remove. But for other parts, such as detachable doors, knobs, handles, and latches, you will need to put in some extra effort.

Using a screwdriver, carefully remove the screws that hold these components in place. Once you have done that, pull out the parts and place them in a plastic bag separately for the time being. Also, make sure not to misplace the screws, or else putting them back together can be problematic.

Apply Additional Layers Of Primer And Sand Between Coats

If you are brushing on primer, let the primer dry completely before using the sandpaper to smooth out the surface again. Remove the residue with the tack cloth and paint on another layer. Repeat these steps until you have 2-3 layers of primer, making sure they are all completely dry and sanded until smooth. If you are using a spray-on primer, you do not need to sand the layers. Just allow the primer to completely dry before adding more.

Before you paint, check the surface a final time for any bumps, scratches, dents, or flaws. Wipe the entire surface clean before moving on to the painting stage.

Also Check: What Paint Colors Make Rooms Look Bigger

Before Repainting Painted Furniture

You may be asking how do I repaint painted furniture? Are the rules the same as they are when painting furniture the first time around? What type of paint should I use when painting furniture? Like I mentioned, this table has been previously painted and yes you can paint over painted wood furniture. You may be surprised at how easy it is to paint over painted wood. But you still have to do the prep work. Like any other piece of furniture proper prep is key. Click here for a full tutorial on How to Prep Painted Furniture. This painted pedestal table is thoroughly sanded and cleaned prior to repainting.