Have someone help you if the piece of furniture is too heavy for you to lift on your own.
Many modern paints are made to give off fewer fumes, but it’s still best practice to work in a ventilated area.
To make sure you don’t forget how everything went originally, take a picture of any hardware before you take it off. If you only want to paint a certain part of the furniture, like the legs of a table or the decorative front on a bookshelf, consider disassembling the furniture and painting the pieces individually. If you can’t remove something that you don’t want painted, use painter’s tape and, if necessary, plastic sheeting to cover it.
Furniture stripper has very strong fumes and can be damaging to your skin, so wear a face mask with a respirator and heavy rubber gloves while you’re doing this. You might also want to strip the furniture if the existing paint is flaking, thick, or super glossy. Look for a paint stripper suitable for use on the type of material the furniture is made from. For instance, a paint stripper intended for wood should not be used on a metal chair, unless the label indicates it’s safe for both surfaces.
Leaving excess putty will create a texture that you’ll be able to see beneath the paint. If you want to preserve the furniture’s weathered appearance, it’s fine to leave the scratches as-is. If your furniture is made from a material other than wood, try to find a putty designed for that surface. For instance, if you’re painting a plastic chair, you could use an epoxy putty.
If the furniture has been varnished, use 80-grit sandpaper instead of 150-grit. You will need a rougher grain to dull the glossy sheen. Still, be careful not to sand all the way through to the wood beneath the varnish. For smaller projects, like the legs of a chair, you can sand by hand, but if you’re working with a larger piece of furniture, like a table or a dresser, use an orbital sander. [7] X Research source Wear a face mask to avoid breathing in the dust particles from sanding. If you’re using an orbital sander, wear heavy-duty gloves and safety glasses as well, to protect yourself from debris. [8] X Research source
You can find tack cloth at any home improvement store or wherever paint supplies are sold.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for drying times–some will dry in as few as 10-20 minutes, while others might need a few hours. You can use a spray primer rather than one you have to brush on, if you like. [12] X Research source Opt for grey primer if you’re painting the furniture a darker color, or use white as a primer for lighter paints.
If you want to stain the wood, you’ll need to strip it first.
Acrylic paint has an eggshell finish, also called a satin finish, meaning it has a little shine once it dries, but not much. Acrylic can be used to paint wood, metal, and plastic furniture. It can even be used to decorate glass, so if you have a table with a glass top, you can use one color on the legs, then use another color to paint a design directly on the glass. [17] X Research source
Latex paint comes in a full range of finishes, from flat to glossy.
Chalk paint will adhere to almost any surface, even if it’s very glossy. You can paint wood, plastic, metal, stone, glass, and more, making it a versatile option for furniture. Chalkboard paint is great for creating a distressed look. After it dries, lightly rough it up with a piece of 220-grit sandpaper. Focus especially around the edges or handles, where wear would naturally occur.
Consider painting a large bookshelf the same color as the walls in your room to help it blend in. Primary colors are perfect for a kids’ room! Elegant colors like cream and gold are a beautiful option for painted furniture in a more formal setting.
You can find paint sticks wherever paint is sold. They are usually inexpensive or even free.
Choose a brush that’s narrower than the surface you’re painting. For instance, if you’re painting a 2 in (5. 1 cm) chair leg, your brush should be no larger than 1 1⁄2 in (3. 8 cm). This will minimize drips and give you better control over the brush. If you’re using an oil-based paint, choose a paintbrush with natural bristles, or opt for synthetic if you’re using a water-based latex paint. For other paints, you can choose your preference. [22] X Research source A brush with an angled tip will help you paint more precisely.
Use a small foam roller or an angled, soft-bristled brush, depending on the size of the furniture and what’s more comfortable for you. [24] X Research source Use light, smooth strokes with a brush, and try to use as few strokes as possible to avoid leaving brush marks in the paint. If the surface you’re painting doesn’t have a grain, just work side-to-side.
If the paint drip has started to dry, leave it alone. You’ll sand it down later.
If you put your brush down on the area you just painted, then drag the paint outward, you’ll leave brush marks in the paint.
Keep pets away from the furniture while the paint is drying. Paint fumes can be dangerous to many pets, so it’s best to keep them out of the area. Furthermore, a curious sniff from the family pet could be all it takes to get fur or dander in the wet paint, leaving fuzz that will show on the finished piece.
If there are any dried drips or other mistakes, sand them away as well. [27] X Research source
If you forget this step, the next coat of paint will have a rough, bumpy texture. Once that coat dries, you’ll have to sand back down to the primer layer and start over again.
More coats of a thinner paint will look better than fewer coats of a thicker paint. If you can see any streaks through the paint once it’s dry, it needs another coat. These streaks might not show up in certain light, so look at the furniture at different times of day, such as morning, noon, and evening, as well as under different light sources. For instance, you might notice streaks at mid-day when the furniture is lit naturally, but you might not have seen them under an incandescent bulb in the evening.
If you used oil-based paint, apply an oil-based sealer. If your paint was water-based, use a water-based sealer. Use a clean brush with natural bristles for oil-based polyurethane, or opt for synthetic bristles if the polyurethane is water-based.
If you try to move the furniture before the paint has fully cured, you could scratch, dent, or chip the finish.
