I have painted a lot of furniture over the years and found a few tips that lead to greater success in achieving a professional paint finish.
FURNITURE PREP
As with any painting project, preparation is the key to a good finish! Do NOT skip preparing the surface for paint! This is the most time consuming part, but, in the long run, it will save you time. (Painting is the speedier step!)
Clean the Surface – This seems obvious, but applying paint on a clean surface lends to better paint adhesion. If you are painting a furniture piece, there is a good chance it is not new and has been exposed to dirt or grease. I use TSP or Krud Kutter for an initial cleaning. (Use gloves, trust me!) Both products will remove grime from the surface. And, I also found Krud Kutter removes the sheen, also supporting greater paint adhesion. (See the second photo below. The surface is no longer shiny.) You will need to clean the surface a few times – an initial cleaning, then after sanding, etc.
Ensure the Surface is Smooth – If there is any variation in the surface of the piece you are painting, I have found it will show when painted. So, AVOID painting over chips, dirt, etc. – these will show! Self-leveling paints are great and can help with filling in some variation in the paint surface but nothing major. Chips in veneer, as an example, should be filled with Bondo or wood filler and sanded smooth before painting. I like to use Bondo. It dries quickly (so, work fast) and there is an odor (so, wear a mask) – but it sands out nicely! This photo below is an extreme example of chipping veneer. In this case, I ultimately covered the side panels with pole wrap to cover.
Ensure the Surface is Non-Slick – As I mentioned above (clean surface), TSP and Krud Kutter can take the sheen from a piece of furniture. But, look closely to be sure there is nothing shiny remaining. You can use a light grit sandpaper (220 or 110) to knock off any remaining sheen. After sanding, a tack cloth works well to remove any sawdust.
paint product
There are so many good paint products available in the market. The key tip here is to select the appropriate product for the paint application you are using and keep in mind the intended use of the piece.
Product Based on Application – I almost always apply paint using a simple paint sprayer. (It’s a modest investment and reaps the benefits of a beautiful spray finish. ) Using a sprayer, I tend to shy away from oil based or chalk paints as they are a chore to clean from a sprayer.
Product Based on Intended Furniture Use – A high use furniture piece would require a paint product that offers a strong, durable finish. My favorite paint is Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane. Its finish is strong. I also use Sherwin Williams All Surface Enamel as well. Also, no top coat is required with these paints. Sample paint, as an example, should not be used on the top of a table with high use. Sample paint would be best used on a craft project, as an example. I always use a primer before painting (better adhesion) and in some cases (or spots) shellac to avoid color bleed.
application
As I mentioned above, I almost always apply paint using a sprayer. But, there are some universal tips whether you are using a sprayer or brush.
Apply Light Coats – A good rule of thumb is to apply a few light coats of paint as opposed fewer heavy coats. This helps avoid drips and supports a faster dry time. (A good paint product (i.e. SW Emerald Urethane) can be self leveling and so helpful in avoiding drips. It is a higher end product, but in the end, worth the investment for the finish and avoids potential sanding down drips.)
Allow Paint to Dry Between Coats – Follow the manufacturer’s instruction for the paint’s dry time. Avoid applying a second or third coat over damp paint. (It’s trouble!)
Ensure Surface is Smooth Between Coats – If you find the surface has raised during painting, use a high grit sand paper (200+) to smooth the surface before applying another coat of paint. Adding more paint onto a rough surface will not make it smooth.
Apply from Different Angles – It is easy to miss applying paint to hidden areas of a piece. Rotate the piece to get all angles!
Check for Drips while Paint is Wet – It is easier to remedy paint drips while the paint is wet. Continue to look for any paint dripping while you are painting. A self leveling paint helps a lot with this as well as applying light coats of paint – but, it seems there is always a paint drip. Clean these up before they dry — it’s easier!
sharing a few finished pieces
I love making things pretty again. In so many cases a furniture piece is super solid (especially many of the older ones) and just need a refresh. I shy away from pieces that need a lot of repair (frequently out of my skill set or becomes too timely to refinish) or a piece that has been badly painted initially.
