If you want to learn how to painted furniture but don’t know where to start, this post is for you. Here are my tips on how to paint furniture for beginners.
Have you ever seen some of those beautiful spaces on Instagram or Pinterest that seem to have just the right pieces of furniture in the most perfect color? Then you notice they said they painted it themselves and you think, I wish I could do that? I’m here to tell you, you CAN if you follow these steps! Today I’m sharing my tips on how to paint furniture for beginners. It’s way easier than you think. 🙂
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I shared on my Instagram page that I was going to do a series on painting furniture. One person commented “I would love to refurbish furniture but I’m so scared I won’t do it right, and most of all what products to use”.
We started last time with a post with 5 tips for buying used furniture to paint. Once you have your piece picked out, and the even more difficult decision, what color to use, it’s all about the prep work.
Let me say that again, PREP, PREP, PREP…..
So let’s get started. Here are my step by step instructions on how to paint furniture.
Remove all of the hardware and store in a container. If there are different sizes, label where they went on the piece and store them separately so you know where they go when you need to put them back. If you are replacing them with new pieces, just keep them together because you never know when you might want to use them again. Tip – if you like the style of the hardware but not the color, you can always spray paint them.
2. If your piece is really dirty and dusty start by vacuuming it inside and out so you can actually see what you’re working with. I know this sounds excessive but if the piece has been sitting in a barn or basement you never know what’s on it so it’s always a good idea to wear a mask. This one had critters in it if you know what I mean…
3. If the piece is particularly grimy, you may want to use something like Krud Kudder that will remove things like grease, oil, tar, smoke, permanent marker etc. If not, mix a little mild dish soap in a bucket with warm water. Using a cotton rag, wipe the piece down. Then wipe it down using a damp cotton rag with just water to remove the soap residue. Once it’s clean and dry, you can really see any nicks or scratches.
4. The repair process really depends on what you’re doing to the piece and what type of wood/veneer you’re working with. I try to stay away from veneer and stick to real wood pieces. If you’re painting the piece, you’ll fill in any holes with wood putty or spackle. For really big breaks or holes, you can use Bondo car body filler. If you’re staining it, you’ll need to use stainable wood filler. I like to use a putty knife to spread it out on the surface and then wipe it off smooth with a slightly damp cloth.
5. Let the putty/spackle dry for the recommended amount of time on the package then sand the areas smooth with a very fine grit like 220. You may have to repeat that process to make sure the holes are full and the surface is smooth.
If you have pieces that have broken off, you may need to use wood glue to put them back on. After the glue dries completely, you can fill in any small cracks with spackle. Wipe smooth and let dry completely before priming.
Can you paint a piece of furniture without sanding?
Many of the companies that make chalk paint today and a number of people say you don’t need to sand before painting. However, in my experience, it’s best to sand a bit if you want a smooth finish. If the piece is already painted, you just need to sand enough to remove any loose paint and smooth the areas you filled in if you had to repair anything.
You don’t need to sand down to the bare wood on the entire piece. If has been painted with a glossy paint, just sand enough to remove the shine and give the primer and paint something to stick to. This should really only take a few minutes using a fine grit sandpaper like 220.
6. Wipe the piece down with a tack cloth to remove all of the dust.
Do I need to use primer when painting furniture?
7. I’ve been there, you decide not to use primer because you’re so super excited to get that beautiful color on that you’ve picked out that you can’t waste one more minute. Trust me, that beautiful color might not look so great without it!
Many paints these days are made to stick. However, using primer will give the piece a much more smooth, lasting finish. You definitely want to use primer if you are painting raw wood, especially dark wood. Darker wood has tannins in it that can “bleed” through and leave red streaks. You could also end up with peeling paint, or paint you can scratch right off.
8. Apply the primer with a paint brush or roller. Once the primer has dried, sand the piece very lightly with a 220 or even 320 grit sandpaper to remove any bumps or drips and then wipe with a tack cloth.
What kind of paint should you use when painting furniture?
In my experience, this is a personal preference when painting furniture. I really like using chalk paint for a casual antique look and would recommend that, latex or acrylic paint for beginners. Here are the benefits of each types of paint:
Chalk paint: My personal favorite.
Pros – adheres well, dries fast and has a nice smooth finish. Easiest to distress and matte finish for a farmhouse/country look.
Cons – doesn’t hold up as well and shows marks easily. Dries fast so you need to be more careful so as not to leave brush stroke marks. Definitely needs wax/sealer in high traffic use. This can also be expensive so I make my own with plaster of Paris.
Latex paint:
Pros – there are so many colors and finishes to choose from and super easy clean up with soap and water.
Cons – Doesn’t hold up as well so you need to use a wax/sealer for sure.
Acrylic paint:
Pros – So many really pretty colors colors to choose from with a lasting finish, its easy to use, is easy to clean up and is affordable.
Cons – Takes a long time to set and it comes in smaller amounts so you may have to but more.
Milk paint:
I have only used this once and wasn’t a big fan. Some people on the other hand love it. It’s much thinner than chalk paint and has a very matte finish. It’s great for distressing.
Pros – Non toxic and dries quickly
Cons – Comes in a powder so you have to mix it yourself and there are not as many color choices and it’s not as durable.
Oil based paint: I have never used this on furniture and would not recommend it for beginners.
Pros – Very durable/long lasting.
Cons – Definitely harder to clean up, has strong odor and takes a long time to dry.
9. Apply your first coat of paint. If you have a piece that has mostly smooth surfaces, you can use a small foam roller on those flat areas and then a good angled brush on the other areas. With doors like the ones above, start with the brush on the indents and curves and then smooth out the middle section and outer areas with long even brush strokes. You can also use a paint sprayer when painting furniture.
TIP: It is better to apply lighter smoother coats when painting furniture than thicker ones.
10. Sand again once the paint is dry to remove any little bumps left in the paint and then apply a second coat of paint.
11. Let the piece dry completely (24 hours or more) and apply a wax or sealer. This is important if the piece is in a high traffic area or will be used a lot like a coffee table. You can use clear wax or I like to use a dark wax with darker colors for a unique aged look.
Once you have painted a few pieces and feel like you’re ready to try something new, you can try paint techniques on furniture like color-washing.
Painting furniture is a great way to add your own personality to your space, not to mention a great way to save money. Invest the time in painting an old piece of furniture and do it right the first time. You’ll have a piece you’ll love and you’ll be able to say “I did that”. Most importantly, have fun with it!
I hope you feel ready to take on your painting project now. What better way to update a space or give a new life to an otherwise unused old piece of furniture in your basement than with a pretty new coat of paint. I would love to see your paint projects so please share in the comments or message me on Facebook! If you still have questions, don’t hesitate to message me those as well!
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Great post Colleen, filled with so many useful tips and tricks. I know I’ll be referring to it again and again. Pinned!