Tips for Painting Wood Furniture

One of the easiest ways to breathe new life into a piece of old wooden furniture is to give it a new coat of paint. Painting wooden furniture is much simpler than you might think, and only requires a few simple tools. If you’ve got a piece of wooden furniture that needs to be updated or that just doesn’t match your color scheme, you can make it look new again in as little as a weekend.

Before you get started, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got an area prepared for the project. Choose a well ventilated area, with open doors or windows. Depending on your work area, you may choose to lay down a drop cloth or newspapers to prevent paint from dripping and staining the floor. It’s recommended that you use a face mask while working with paint and other chemicals. You may want to use gloves as well.

The next step will be to start preparing the furniture for painting. If the piece you’re painting has any hardware like latches, drawer pulls or hinges, you’ll want to remove them. This will keep the hardware clean if you plan on using it again, and also ensures that the furniture is painted completely in case you decide to change the hardware.

Next, you’ll want to repair any damaged areas. Fill chips, holes and pits with wood filler, using a putty knife to scrape off any filler from the surrounding area. If you plan on changing the hardware, go ahead and fill in the holes made by the current hardware, too. Scrape the filler flush with the surface, and then let it dry for the recommended time.

Once the wood filler has dried, you’ll want to smooth the surface by lightly sandpapering. You can use a sandpaper block or a hand sander if you’re working on a larger piece of furniture.

Make sure that you sand off any old lacquer or varnish which can prevent paint from sticking to the wooden surface. You’ll want sand any detail work by hand, making sure you get into all the little nooks and crannies. Also, pay close attention to any areas you repaired with wood putty, making sure that they are sanded smooth and flush with the surrounding area.

After sanding, you’ll need to make sure that sawdust residue is removed by wiping with a clean cloth. If it’s needed you can wash the surface with a gentle detergent, making sure to dry it well with a cloth.

Now we’re ready to start the actual painting! Well almost – depending on the furniture you’re painting, you may want to apply primer first. If you want even paint coverage on your piece, you should prime first.

Primer will help paint stick to wood better, so it will last longer. Apply a coat of primer, using a paintbrush on the edges, detailed areas and any hard to reach places; you can use a roller on larger surfaces like table or desk tops. You don’t need to worry to much about it being even, as long as the wood is all coated.

A couple other things about primer to keep in mind:

• If you’re going for a distressed or shabby chic look, primer might not be necessary. But be aware that the paint might chip more easily if the furniture is not primed first.
• Heavy usage areas – like table or desk tops – should have a thicker coat of primer. You may even want to put two coats.

After the primer has dried, you’ll need to sand again with a fine-grit sandpaper. By doing this you create a slightly rough surface that will help the paint adhere better, making it even longer lasting. Always, after sanding, wipe your furniture clean with a tack cloth to remove all traces of sawdust.

Now it’s time to start painting! If your item has large surfaces, do them first with a foam roller. Then, go over the whole thing again with a brush. You’ll want to pay close attention to the corners and edges, as well as any detailed areas the roller couldn’t reach.

You may want to add a wood conditioner to the paint before you start, especially if your paint dries quickly. Wood conditioners will prevent the patchiness that can sometimes come with paint that dries too fast.

You also want to make sure that you invest in a good quality paintbrush. It can be tempting to go cheap and grab one of the 99 cent specials; you’ll regret that decision when bristles are falling out and getting stuck in the paint. On the bright side, a good paintbrush can last for years and be used on a multitude of projects.

After you’ve painted the entire piece, let it dry overnight, or for at least 6 hours. Look for any areas where the paint may be patchy or thin, and apply a second coat if it’s needed, using the same method as for the first coat.

When the second coat of paint is completely dry, you may decide to apply a sealant or lacquer. This will provide a little gloss to your paint job, as well as protect the paint from getting nicked or scratched. Once the sealant is thoroughly dry, you’re finished – and you’ll be able to proudly display your DIY furniture as part of your home design for years to come.