5 Tips To Paint Furniture At Home

If you are a fan of DIY projects, you may have tried to paint furniture at home or you are giving it a thought. You could be wondering how you can paint your furniture and make it as good as that in a showroom.

Check this out on how you can do just that.

1. Fill any holes or chipped surfaces

If your furniture has holes, pitted or chipped surfaces, fill it up using wood filler. Any overlap will be sanded down. Scrape the excess filler using a putty knife.

2. Start by sanding

Many people skip sanding and they go straight to painting which in turn ends up with chipping paint. Sanding is important because it gives the primer somewhere to hold on to which prevents chipping in future. It also removes any lacquer or varnish on the furniture.

Use medium-duty sandpaper, but if the surface has thick varnish, use heavy-duty sandpaper. Be keen on areas where you had applied wood filler to ensure they are flush with the other surface.

If the surface is large, consider using an orbital sander and then finish off the nooks and crannies with a sanding block.

Wipe the residue using a tack cloth.

3. Apply primer

Apply primer to your furniture and allow it to dry. You can apply up to 3 coats. Allow the previous coat to dry before applying another one.

Use the instructions provided on the can. Once one coat is dry, remove the drips using a sanding block or fine-grit sandpaper, and wipe the residue using a tack cloth.

You can use a paint roller for the even surfaces and a brush for the edges and corners. Better still if you have a spray primer since it is faster and gives an even job.

The primer prevents stains from getting through the paint. Ensure the primer matches the paint. If you intend to use latex paint, then use latex primer and if you want to use oil-based paint, use an oil-based primer.

While it provides better stain blocking and adhesion, an oil-based primer tends to have a strong smell. Therefore, ensure there is good ventilation where you are working.

4. Paint

You can use either oil-based paint or latex paint. If you use latex paint, you can choose from various sheens including satin, oil-based enamel, flat or semi-gloss acrylic latex.

To achieve the best results, you should apply three light coats of paint on the furniture instead of a single heavy one. Give each coat 6 hours to dry before applying the next coat. Ensure to sand any residue or drips between the coats and wipe using a tack cloth.

Paint starting from the top towards the bottom and smooth any paint drips as you go downward.

You can use a spray gun to apply paint to your furniture. Various types exist including cordless spray guns that you can use in areas where there are no power outlets. You can check this out online and find the best spray gun for your needs.

Make sure that the surface does not have any speck of dust or lint before you apply the protective finish.

5. Apply a protective layer

Apply a protective finish on your furniture. Just apply a thin coat of clear finish and allow it to dry for 72 hours before using the furniture, to prevent it from getting sticky.

You can use matte, semi-gloss, or satin finish depending on your preference.

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