Use paint thinner to clean off brushes used for oil-based paints. Apply a coat of primer to the entire piece of furniture, including any disassembled pieces. Go over even surfaces of the furniture with... 2. Refinishing old furniture is a great way to keep it out of the landfill and give it new life. A water-based primer over the old paint should be fine. She has prior experience in corporate communications and book editing. Allow the second coat to dry overnight. Log in, How to Paint Furniture – A Beginners Guide, Monthly Social Blog Hops with the Best DIY Blogs, Repainting a Painted Pineapple Pedestal Table, How to get a Smooth Finish with Wet Sanding, « The Most Amazing Mango Pineapple Smoothie Recipe, 15+ Fantastic and Fun Mod Podge Projects You Need to Try ». Apply mineral spirits to a clean rag, then wipe down the entire piece of furniture—as well as any disassembled pieces—to remove any oils, dirt or residues from the surface. My favorite paint for painting furniture is General Finishes Milk Paint. We have painted so many pieces of wood furniture with this paint, and not only does it provide a flawless finish, but it doesn’t chip. Painting and Finishing 1. But from what I've learned over the years, sanding is a must. A good coat of paint can update the style of an outdated piece, cover an imperfect finish and disguise blemishes so that your dresser, table or chair looks like you bought it new. For the marble effect, apply oil-based gray paint by pouncing the natural-bristle brush for a soft mottled look. "Distressing is the process of manipulating furniture to appear older or to have been more heavily used," says Jane Henry of Jane Henry Studios, a full-service antique conservation and restoration shop based in New York City. The solvents in oil paint will soften it, leaving a tacky finish, and wax prevents water-based varnishes from bonding to the wood surface, causing eventual peeling. Learn how to paint wood furniture with this detailed, step-by-step, video tutorial! It’s not the most fun step. 5. Trust me, I've been there! I love solid wood furniture but the finish can be worn and the look can be dated. How to Paint a Rocking Chair with Spindles the Easy Way, Nesting Tables Makeover with Unique Watercolor Look, How to Decoupage Painted Furniture with Gorgeous Floral Paper, How to Refinish Furniture to its Original Amazing Finish, How to Distress Furniture for that Worn White Painted Look, How to Paint a Dresser with a Beautiful Timeless Look, 25+ of the Best Chalk Paint Furniture Ideas. I mean there are so many different styles and techniques out there. Place the disassembled furniture pieces outside on a large drop cloth. Allow time for the first coat of paint to dry before applying a second coat. Allow enough time for the primer to become dry to the touch. Step 3: Apply the Glaze Work on small sections at a time (a cabinet door or the leg of a table, for instance). This light-sanding process is not designed to remove the old finish, rather to create a surface for the primer to adhere to. Whether you're moving into your first apartment, purchasing your first home or simply redecorating a room, there's a good chance that you'll need to purchase furniture for your space. While the paint will be dry to the touch in just a few hours, your finish will last longer if you let it cure for a full day. You can add furniture feet, if desired… Use sandpaper to sand the finish, following the grain of the wood and making sure you sand in the small cracks and crevices. Fill in any holes with wood filler, then lightly sand all surfaces that will be painted. If the furniture is unfinished or you want to glaze over an old finish, apply a base coat of paint and wait for it to dry completely before glazing. Remove all hardware from the main wood furniture piece. Allow time for the pieces to dry. Consider applying a second coat if the first appears to be too thin. Use gloves, safety goggles and the face mask whenever you sand or paint. If it’s not, any paint you paint over it will just flake off with the original paint. Prepare a suitable worksite. This article teaches you step by step what is necessary, and what you can skip when you prep your wood furniture for paint. You'll often find tutorials out there that claim you don't need to sand, and there are also lots of primers and paints promising that no sanding is necessary. Be careful not to gouge the surface though: You're just looking to rough it up a little so the p… But it can take a lot of work to make it look great again! Go back over the paint with a brush. If the wood has previously been properly primed and decorated then a general sand down to give the new paint a key is all that is required. Scrub this mixture on the trim with a scrub brush. Wipe down each piece again using mineral spirits to remove any last bit of residue from the surface. If the piece you are painting has any rough spots, like let’s say you’re painting new wood, then you need to sand those spots smooth before painting as well. Grab a soft cloth and put a dab of the wax on a corner and start rubbing it onto the furniture piece. If you're looking for an affordable way to give a piece of wood furniture a beautiful patina, you might want to consider distressing its finish. Before I start, though, I should probably warn old furniture lovers to leave until this post is over. It is so easy to slip down that rabbit hole of chalk paint furniture ideas.Hopefully, I can help and make your search for painted furniture ideas and inspiration just a little bit easier. You need to choose the best paint for furniture for the best long term results. Brush on a layer of paint using even strokes that follow the direction of the wood grain. Step 1: Mix ½ cup trisodium phosphate with one gallon of warm water. Avoid using the furniture or removing the protective painter's tape for a full 24 hours. Then you can go ahead and undercoat and use which ever top coat … Fill in any chips in the wood using wood filler. I love updating old furniture by painting it. Allow time for the primer to completely dry before moving on to the next step. Consider alkyd-based oil paint on everyday furnishings. Add a second layer of latex or oil-base paint to the furniture if there are any bare patches. Reassemble the piece of furniture using the original hardware, or replacements you have purchased, then place it in your room. Ahem. It dries into a rigid layer over wood and continues to harden on the wood surface over time, … Enamel paint is an excellent choice for finishing wood furniture. How to Paint Furniture with Chalk Paint 1 Pick your paintable piece and gather supplies.. Sand the old wood until the finish seems dull. To get a professional painted look, these are the steps you need to do before you get the paint out. Painting over waxed wood generally isn't recommended.Unlike paint or clear finish, wax -- even super-hard carnauba wax -- never completely cures. Once the preliminary sanding is complete, apply wood stain or dark paint as a coloring agent to low spots and areas where wood has been exposed. But it is a step that pays off when you do it correctly. Don't be afraid to paint over furniture that's already painted! Furniture wax (if using chalk paint or Fusion Mineral Paint) – once your furniture piece has completely dried (I usually wait 24-48 hours), I wax it. When it comes to searching for painted furniture ideas you can easily get overwhelmed. The first step to a great paint job, is learning how to prep your wood furniture. Sanding helps paint adhere to the furniture surface, removes traces of the old paint and provides a smooth, even finish. Sanding. This includes removing doors from cabinets if your piece of furniture includes them. Wood having a … This means removing any dirt and grime, sanding down parts that have turned gummy, and correcting any places that are “alligator peeling.” Michelle Mathews has spent the last two years as a freelance writer for eHow.com and "The Catholic Herald," a Sacramento, CA-based Catholic newspaper. Rinse with a sponge and water. Enamel Paint Can Be Applied Right over an Old Finish on Wood Furniture. Your reward will be a durable, beautiful piece of wood furniture. Your email address will not be published. Sanding produces dust, which may make it difficult for new paint to stick. When painting over top older paint on wood for painting to last, wood substrate must be solid, sound, and sturdy. This may depend on the product, and the outside temperature and humidity levels. Allow time for the first coat of paint to dry before applying a second coat. Mathews holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Santa Clara University and has earned her Competent Communicator award from Toastmasters International. Begin with a 220-grit sanding sponge or sandpaper and gradually increase the grit for a smoother finish. Previous coating must be bonding, adhering properly. After comparing several pieces over time, we found that the best furniture paint is Sherwin Williams Pro Classic. Remove the hardware from the furniture piece using your screwdriver. Sand the surface of the primed piece using a fine grit sandpaper to remove any rough areas before painting. Rub the entire surface of the furniture (inside and out) with tack cloth to remove any dust and residue. It’s not why you got into the furniture redo game. Be sure to set the hardware aside in a small container so that you don't lose any important parts later. If you try to paint over that, then your new paint job will start chipping off almost as soon as you paint it on there. Allow at least 1 hour for the pieces to dry before moving on to the next step. Allow the second coat to dry overnight. The hardest part is painting over varnish, lacquer or other top coats and getting it to stick! Be sure to check out this guide on how to prep furniture for painting! Latex Paint over Shellac One of the most popular forms of painting a wooden piece is using standard latex paint. Coat the wooden furniture in a thin layer of latex or other indoor paint. Be sure to start any painting project by sanding your surfaces with 150-grit sandpaper. If your budget is tight, there's a good chance that you won't be able to afford new furniture. I don’t really have any qualms about painting old, beat-up furniture, and so the pictures here may be slightly horrifying to you. Our project used walnut oil, but you can use any type of wood stain or dark paint for similar results. (I use this orbital sanderwith variable speeds.) Painting over stained wood trim is similar to painting over stained wood. You can easily update a piece of wood furniture with paint! If you are painting a large piece of furniture, you might find it … Always paint furniture from the top down because if any paint gets on the bottom of the piece, it will be covered with the final coat. Latex paint can be used to cover up the wood, but the shellac must be in good condition. While the paint is still wet, take a brush and run it over the surface of the... 3. If you are using spray paint, hold the can about 12 inches from the surface of the wood and make slow passes to apply the paint. The process listed below for prepping, priming and painting wood furniture is simple, straightforward and will be problem free, given that each step is done thoroughly and completely. If you are using dark paint, thin it down a bit with some water. Painting over Painted Wood Furniture. Brush on a layer of paint using even strokes that follow the direction of the wood grain. The first order of business is, of course, sanding. Wipe off any excess paint around the paint cans using a clean rag before storing. Once your painted furniture is properly sanded, cleaned and prepped you may paint. You need to use a fine-grit sandpaper, such as the suggested 400 grit paper, to avoid scratching the wood. Fortunately, most used furniture pieces can be given new life simply by painting over an old finish. If you are using spray paint, hold the can about 12 inches from the surface of the wood and make slow passes to apply the paint. Prep for Painting. Applying enamel to furniture is usually referred to as “Enameling.” Applying enamel paints to furniture produces a durable and attractive finish. If there is some paint chipping off, I hit those areas with sandpaper to remove any lose paint before priming. How to Prep and Spray Paint Wood.