If your new year’s resolutions involve getting crafty or sprucing up your living space, you’ll be glad to know that giving new life to a piece of furniture is a weekend project with a low cost investment and high style returns. With a little patience and a few pro tips, you can turn a tired boot sale find or a hand-me-down you’re sick of looking at into a show piece.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Remove any hardware and apply elbow grease
Before you paint, you must prep! Cleaning the piece thoroughly will ensure that any grease or dirt that could ruin your finished paint job is removed. If your piece is heavily soiled, most hardware stores will have products on hand designed especially for preparing wood furniture for painting.
- Sand and sand again
Choose a medium grit sandpaper to remove the finish or any old paint or stain. A power sander works well for this job, but make sure to buy sanding sheets or blocks for any detail work. If your piece is older, be sure to wear a dust mask designed for painting and sanding; many old paints were lead-based and can cause lung damage if inhaled. That’s why we prefer Benjamin Moore paint.
- Prime time
After removing any sanding dust with a tack cloth, it’s time to paint your piece with primer. There are plenty of great brush-application primers on the market, but if you have the space and equipment, a spray primer also works well and ensures an even application.
- We said sand again!
After your first coat of primer is dry, a light sanding with a fine grit paper will reveal any imperfections or areas which might need another coat of primer. This ensures an even application of paint and will give your finished furniture a professional result.
- Paint time
When your piece is fully dry, apply 2-3 coats of paint, allowing drying time in between. You may also choose to sand lightly in between coats. Select a paint that gives a gloss or semi-gloss finish, as it will be more durable and easier to clean. Depending on the primer you chose, you can opt for either a latex or oil finish paint. Many older guides may insist on oil paint for furniture, but with the right primer and the right prep, latex paint will be very hard-wearing.
- Finisher
Give your piece 24 hours to dry, then protect your finished work with a sealant or furniture wax. As with primer, you can choose a manual application or spray-on product. Allow another 24 hours to dry, and then proudly display your rejuvenated furniture in your home.
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