Taking the time to prep the piece of furniture is just as important as using a good quality brush.
The first step in preparing the furniture is to clean it. Most thrifted furniture pieces are a little grimy. Depending on the piece you may want to use a degreaser like TSP.
Next fill in holes and imperfections in the furniture with wood filler or spackle, then sand until smooth.
I usually like to give my pieces a light sanding before painting. Sanding is like a swear word to some people, but often it needs to be done to ensure that you will get professional results when painting furniture.
There are paints that say that no sanding is required, but often I will still sand.
If the furniture piece you would like to paint is raw wood you will need to apply a primer. A good quality bonding primer can also be used on glossy surfaces.
We like to use Zinnser Cover Stain Primer. It bonds to surfaces without the need to sand. It is an oil based primer, so it does have an odor, but will feel it’s superior to other primers.
Primers not only bond to old surfaces, but they also block stains. If there are knot holes in the wood, tannins can be released and it will discolor your paint surface. Primer also creates a great surface for your paint to bind to as well. In our option, it’s always best to prime.
Take the time to remove the hardware. It just looks sloppy if you get paint on handles, knobs or hinges. If you find that the hardware already has paint on it, see our tip on how to easily remove dried paint from hardware.
I didn’t know we needed to sand between coats, gotta try that next time
You will definitely get a smoother finish if you sand between coats. Let me know what you think.
I discovered your sight by accident and it is the best at descriptions and what to do…..I am so impressed and I have a night stand I have to redo. I am game on now that I have done this research. when finished I may post it so you can see it. Of course it may take me all summer as its too hot right now to attempt and I do all my work outdoors as I have no basement or garage. lol….
Thanks for your sweet comment Gwen! We’re SO happy you found us! We’d love to see your finished project when you’re done. We get it! It’s torturous working in the summer heat! Make sure to sign up for our weekly newsletter so you can always see the latest projects we’re working on. Out of curiosity, how did you find us? A web search? Facebook? Youtube? Pinterest? IG?
https://www.2thesunnyside.com/blog/