Learning how to paint wooden furniture is a useful skill that will give new life to old furniture. Whether you're looking to update a family heirloom, redecorate your home for less, or spruce up a used item, painting wood furniture is easy.
The ideas for painting furniture are endless, but the process is very different from painting the wood deck around your house. Preparation is essential to ensure a durable and flawless finish, so a furniture project requires patience and a steady hand. If the process is rushed, you run the risk of ruining the part you hope to avoid.
Here, we spoke to the experts to find out their best tips for painting wooden furniture, from the right dusting to finishing the project, so you can get the best possible finish every time.
How to paint wooden furnitureGone are the quick-fit flat boxes and standard interiors. Today, interior design is all about personality and character. Antique and vintage stores are a treasure trove of beautiful furniture that you won't find anywhere else. However, these vintage jewelry often require a gentle vacuuming or sometimes require a color change to match your look.
"Colorful furniture has seen a huge renaissance in recent years, but interesting colorful clothing is hard to find outside the bespoke sector," says Claire Hornby, creative director at Barker and Stonehouse. By learning how to paint wooden furniture, you can create an item full of color and character that will perfectly complement your interior.
This is where the painted furniture revolution comes into play. By learning how to stain wooden furniture, you can turn a boring brown dresser that would otherwise end up in a landfill into the hero of your eco-friendly kitchen ideas.
In addition to creating unique pieces for your home, learning how to paint wooden furniture will save you money as many antiques sell for pennies, and you'll also know you're contributing to the planet instead of buying to repurpose. . . new.
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1. Prepare your spaceAs with any painting project, such as painting a wall or a door, be sure to ventilate the area. Easier for painted furniture projects because many items can be moved outside to a shed or garage. If the furniture cannot be moved outside, open windows and interior doors to clean the air in the house.
When painting wooden furniture, don't forget to put a cloth to pick up paint spots. This is especially important if you are drawing deck ideas from the inside or outside.
2. Prepare the furnitureRemove appliances, doors, and drawers, and remove furniture pieces that move easily to ensure full coverage of the entire item.
Sanding is very important before any repainting project. "It's important to always prepare the surface as directed on the can, even if it's already painted," adds Hannah Ellis. If any areas have been previously painted, sand with coarse sandpaper to remove the previous color and leave a smooth finish, then vacuum or dust. Clean painted furniture with sugar soap (available on Amazon) and then lightly sand. Clean with denatured alcohol to remove dust or grease.
If you want to paint a lacquered or glossy piece of furniture, it's important to remove the top coat first. To do this, smooth the surfaces with coarse sandpaper (from 60 to 80). If your piece has intricate cuts and details, treat it with a wax to remove paint and shine. If you don't know where to start, be sure to learn how to remove paint from wood.
For an unpainted item, "start with a good sugar soap scrub to remove old dirt, grease, polish/wax or nicotine, rinse thoroughly and allow to dry," says Hannah Ellis of Frenchic Paints. Then continue sanding with light sandpaper (180 to 220 grit) to create a key to help the paint adhere. After sanding the part, clean the surface with denatured alcohol to remove any grease or dust. Then let it dry for a few minutes before painting.
3. First class wooden furnitureIt is important to know how to open a paint can, there is a correct way to do it. Although you often only need to cover certain surfaces, adding the right primer to any project will result in a more even coat of paint. Soap the furniture and let it dry for the recommended time indicated on the can. The drying time is extremely important so that the final product does not delaminate and wear out.
4. Start paintingAfter the primer has dried, or if there is a primer in the paint, you can start painting. Choose a round brush and apply the first layer of paint, making sure all the details are well covered. You may need to switch to a smaller, finer brush if your furniture has particularly intricate details that a larger brush cannot reach. Then let it dry for the recommended time.
5. Apply a second coatOnce dry, apply a second coat. If you use milk paint, apply it along the fibers of the brush, chalk and mineral paints look best when painted in different directions.
6. Complete the workThe bottom line is important if you don't want all your hard work to go to waste. Some paints, especially milk paints, are self-curing, meaning they will be too hard after a few days of curing. However, other paints, such as chalk paint, will require wax or varnish to prevent marks or scratches.
“Water can damage the foam paint if not protected. Choose a special chalk paint wax to protect your furniture and give it a nice soft sheen," says Annie Sloan. "Alternatively, you can use a matte or glossy chalk lacquer. The shine will give a light mist, and the chalk paint will shine. , it will give a great shine."
Find wooden furniture to paintThe secret to finding good woodworking furniture is to look for good legs. Look for irons, color and any scratches and look at the outline of the item. Make sure everything is done well, look for hardwood joints and dovetails. Make sure all mechanisms work properly and the part is tight and does not wobble.
“I hate the idea of well-designed and carefully crafted furniture going to landfill. And while aesthetically they may have seen better days, there's still a lot of life in these old pieces," says Claire Manton, founder of Claire's CraftHouse. "As the home market looks to become more sustainable, recycling is a great way to reuse things you love and unleash your creativity."
Choose the right brush to paint wooden furnitureThe right brush, an often overlooked element, can make or break your project. When you start thinking about how to paint wooden furniture, it's important to consider brushes.
“There are different opinions about brushes and it really depends on the type of paint you're using. For milk-based paints that are water-based and relatively runny, brushes or synthetic mixes are more suitable because they absorb less water, allowing more paint to be applied to the surface to be painted, and this prevents the paint from drying out. a lot. in the brush. A angled synthetic brush will make milk paint or any liquid water-based paint look great,” says Carolyn Moore, owner of Old Fashioned Milk Paint.
"However, some thicker mineral/chalk inks will work better with a thicker natural brush, even the round brush often used for waxing, because it holds more ink, with less ink and therefore less brush marks. If you plan to paint a lot, look for a quality brush, the best you can afford, to avoid annoying shedding and maintain its shape after repeated use.
The best paint for wooden furnitureThere are many different paint colors for painting wooden furniture. Your choice will largely depend on the look you want to achieve, whether you are happy with the base and seals, or whether you are looking for a single product. Also consider choosing eco-friendly paint to make your project more sustainable.
Lime stain is the most popular choice of wood furniture paint and is named for the luxurious glossy finish it creates. "It's a versatile paint that can be applied to almost any surface without the need for rubbing or sanding," says Annie Sloan, founder of Annie Sloan Paints.
Mineral paints consist of mineral pigments combined with a binder, usually acrylic resin. "Unlike milk and chalk paint, which must be washed or varnished to prevent oil or moisture build-up, mineral paint is water-resistant and washable, like eggshell or satin paint," says Carolyn.
Milk paint is quickly becoming popular for furniture restoration. "Traditional powdered milk paint provides a smooth, brushstroke-free finish," explain Joe and Reese Dudden-Tupp of Cornish Milk Mineral Paint.
"Eggshell, matte or plain paint can also be used to paint furniture if you want a modern, elegant and finished paint if done well." adds Caroline.
To avoid streaks when painting wooden furniture, you need to choose the finish and the direction of the paint application. “Milk paint is always best applied in the direction of the grain, but don't worry too much about brush marks (especially on untreated wood, because it absorbs like a stain), milk paint is very soft; dries very quickly. but you have to buff it after each coat with a fine sponge, light sanding leaves a smooth, oily finish with no brush marks. However, with chalk and mineral paints it is recommended to paint in different directions to avoid brush marks and thick round brushes work best,” explains Carolyn.
“When applying paint, try not to overload the brush as this can cause the paint to overflow, which can lead to streaks and unwanted textures. Another tip: make sure you leave enough time between coats," adds Hannah Ellis.
Should wooden furniture be stained before painting?You do not need to stain wooden furniture before painting. This is slightly different to painting a wall, where printing is important to achieve a high quality finish.
Many chalk and mineral paints have a built-in primer, which means that after light sanding and cleaning, you can apply the paint and achieve a flawless finish. Some furniture paints will require a primer before you can use them, so be sure to check the box before you start.
Even if you don't need to use a primer, you still need to prep the wood before painting.
Should I paint the interior of wooden furniture?Whether you choose to paint the interior of your wooden furniture is up to you. "Sometimes all it takes is a deep wash and hemp oil or wax to clean them up," says Claire Manton. "It's good to remember that if an old piece has a musty smell, interior painting can sometimes help seal in the smell of the wood and thus reduce the smell. Scented candles and furniture balms are also a good way to enliven the environment."
Why does paint peel off wood?Paint can peel off wood for a number of reasons, but improper preparation, such as lack of cleaning, primer, or over-the-counter paint, is often one of the main causes of paint peeling on painted wood furniture.
To prevent paint from peeling off wooden furniture, make sure you do the proper prep work and take your time. While it can be tempting to rush into a project, patience is required to ensure the best possible outcome. Also consider adding a protective layer or wax to set the paint and prevent it from fading with daily use. This can be especially important for items you touch or move every day, such as drawers, cabinets or chairs.
How to create a vintage look on a tree?The easiest way to create a vintage wood finish is to use antique style glaze. There are many crackling glazes you can use. Simply apply between layers of paint to create a faded effect. "If you're applying gloss, always choose an antique-style paint, such as milk paint, which will have a rich, matte finish similar to old pieces," advises Carolyn.
However, for the traditional distressed look, a handshake is best. This is achieved by painting a piece of furniture a solid color and then sanding the edges and corners with fine sandpaper to expose the underlying wood. "Start by painting a piece of furniture one color and when it dries, paint over it with a second, completely different color. Sanding to original color and returning to original wood in places. With the right combination of colors it looks beautiful," says Annie Sloan.
"With any type of paint, you can simplify the process by washing the corners/edges before painting so that the paint is layered in those areas," advises Carolyn. “Any mount works best when the wood underneath is darker; shiny new pine does not look aged, so in this case it is recommended to paint the wood before staining or aging. You can also use layered paint colors, use the darkest color and the lightest color on top and then tone it down to show the darker color; which creates a wonderful effect".
What happens if you don't sand before painting?If you don't sand the wooden furniture before painting, you won't have a smooth painted surface because the paint will scratch and crack. It will also highlight other natural imperfections in the wood. Additionally, if the paint is not sanded before painting, the paint may not adhere to the surface and may chip when it dries. This is due to the fact that even light sand ensures the adhesion of paint.
