Painting Furniture: A Guide to How, When, and Why
Since opening my business in 2011, a large part of it has centered around painting furniture. I’d love to share with you a guide to how, when and why we are all still painting furniture. Check it out and see if this is right for you.
When to paint furniture
There are a few reasons why painting old furniture with a fresh coat of paint is always a good idea.
Grandma’s dresser
We often talk about “painting Grandma’s dresser” and if she would be “rolling in her grave” over it. Trust me, after having a shop for years and talking to literally thousands of customers, I have heard this scenario over and over again.
You have Grandma’s dresser, it’s not your style, so its hiding in the basement. The best way to honor someone in your family who has passed down an item to you, is to USE it and bring new life to the piece!
If a piece isn’t your style, but you feel painting it would allow it to fit more into your look, then by all means paint it! As long as it doesn’t fall into the “why you shouldn’t paint it” category, then bring it back to life and love it. Grandma would be happy.
A second-hand find
They just don’t make things like they used to, not many will dispute that. When you need a solid piece of furniture, go looking for vintage first. You can usually find something for a great bargain that was made quite well.
Here is your chance to get painting and make it your own. And if the furniture piece you purchased was a bargain, then all the more reason to check out paint colors, and get painting. It may already have old paint on it, so feel free to cover that up and paint away!
There is some damage
Often when furniture has lived a bit of life, there may be scratches and damage that needs to be repaired. This could be something as easy as rubbing out scratches with an orbital sander, to replacing moulding, or having to rebuild the entire piece of furniture.
Whatever your DIY projects have to be to restore the piece, chances are those repairs will need to be covered up. That’s where paint comes in. A paint job will cover up wood putty areas. Even if an entire surface still has scratches and dents, paint will make a big difference in unifying the look and giving it a new beginning.
When painting furniture is NOT a good idea
Rarely do we have pieces of furniture that are legit antiques with high value. Admittedly, most of the furniture that is being painted is less than one hundred years old, with most from the last 50-60 years. That being said, DO NOT paint furniture that you know or might suspect has any real antique value.
That does not mean that you shouldn’t paint something just because it is old. Because you can paint all kinds of old furniture. If you are unsure, it is always best to do a bit of research online to make sure you are not in possession of a museum quality piece. That’s why Google is there waiting for you. Most pieces aren’t, but it never hurts to check.
You also may not want to paint wood furniture that has an exceptionally special wood grain match or veneer detailing. Some people would cringe at the thought of painting pretty wood surfaces, but that never means YOU can’t. Common woods like oak or pine, with no antique value, can be painted but I would always be a bit more cautious with taking a paint brush to bare wood that is more rare and special.
Always keep in mind, refinishing and stripping furniture is hard work. So if you ever think you may want it back to its original look down the road, I would proceed with caution.
What type of paint should I use to paint furniture?
The types of paint that you should use to paint furniture completely depends upon what look you desire for the finished project. This isn’t just about jumping on the chalk paint craze.
Are you wanting a pristine smooth finish? Do you like something that is peely, chippy looking or possibly can be distressed? Are you looking for more of a hand done look or an artists touch? All these answers will guide you to the type of paint that is best.
Of course, I am partial to our furniture paint which is a chalk and clay based product that allows for multiple applications. You can even use it on kitchen cabinets. But let’s back up first.
If you want a solid, flat (look not feel) finish, you may want to use latex paint. If I was looking for that look, I would choose a water-based paint, and also use a paint sprayer. Oil-based paint could also be used but I would never bother with oil-based unless I was looking for a very specific look for cabinet doors or something unique.
A milk paint will provide authentic peeling and chipping through the process of painting, but this look is for those who understand that the outcome can’t be controlled. The best paint for furniture painting is to use a mineral based paint like ours, and do it yourself.
What are you painting?
Another thing to consider is WHAT you are painting. Remember that time I painted the slate tile in my foyer? Our paint was not meant specifically for a floor, but for my project, it worked. But I would never recommend it for an area where water is constantly present, use an epoxy for that.
To paint an old piece of furniture, yes, use furniture paint. And yes, Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint is my favorite product. We actually formulated it with our paint manufacturer to work exactly as we all need it to for small projects we do at home.
To paint kitchen cabinets that get high usage, you will want a durable finish. Use a latex paint meant for cabinets, or a furniture paint like ours. Latex for walls. If you are going to paint a counter, epoxy again.
Your painting project and the desired outcome should lead you to the correct paint for the job. For many creative endeavors that we usually all want the best results for, while having control and a bit of fun, our chalk and clay product works great! You can use it to paint furniture, fabric, glass, metal, concrete, stone, and much more.
Why should I paint old furniture
We talk about personal style a lot on this blog. I truly believe that it is better to use something, love it, and make it work for you rather than leaving it to wither and die. So if painting Grandma’s dresser will revive it and give it new life, I say go for it!
Reasons to Paint That Furniture Yourself
How to paint furniture
Let’s do a quick sweep of the ‘painting furniture checklist’.
Painting furniture – prep
Don’t let paint companies fool you into thinking there is no prep in furniture painting. There is always prep. And yes, I have indeed, painted many pieces with little to no prep. But you will always need to wipe off some dust, dirt, or a spider or two.
The better the prep, the better the outcome. So take the time to do some prep before diving in. Remove hardware, use wood filler if needed, remove an old loose finish, or sand away any scratches you don’t want to see. Give yourself a smooth surface that is clean, and ready for paint. Prep work is always a good thing and it doesn’t have to take a long time.
Painting furniture – sanding
Yes, there are many times that no sanding and no priming can work. There are some that cannot. If a piece is in good condition, I always like to take a quick swipe over furniture with a sanding block with medium grit, then wipe it down with a damp cloth or tack cloth.
Painting furniture – priming
Will you need to prime? This always depends on what you are covering and how you want it to look in the end. If you are painting bare wood, you may find some bleeding has surfaced after painting with a water-based paint. Tannins in wood are attracted to water, so they will surface after a while. This may be quickly, or over time. Lighter colors are more at risk.
My lazy way of handling this is to allow the piece to dry overnight. I wait and see if any spots have bled, then if they have, I use our Clear Primer to cover those spots and allow to dry. Then I paint a thinner coat of paint over the area to cover the primer.
Oil spots surfacing can only be handled by an oil-based product and there is a whole lesson on oil versus water-based paints and using them together. That’s a chat for another time.
Painting furniture – painting
The look of painting will be affected by your tool. Do you not want any brush strokes or do you like the hand done look? You want ease and don’t mind the finish from a foam roller? Choose your tool based on the finished look you desire.
Always make sure you have enough paint. With a chalk and clay based paint, you can place that first coat of paint on thick with long strokes, then put a second coat on with thin coats of paint. If you like, sand between coats. The fun part is making it your own and being creative through the process.
Painting furniture – distressing
Personally, I love the look of distressing. That is why most people gravitate to a chalk type paint, because latex just won’t do that.
Distressing can be done using sandpaper, or with a barely damp cloth. Our paint would need to be wet distressed with that method within 24 hours, as it cures and will be more difficult to remove later.
I also like to buff our paint after it has dried, with a clean cloth that has some texture, like an old towel. This will give a little bit of sheen to the paint and allow the beautiful depths of color (in darker shades) to really surface in the pigment.
Painting furniture – protecting
It is always best to protect your furniture, especially if it will be in a high usage area. You can protect your painted furniture with either a top coat finish or a furniture wax finish.
I prefer our Matte Finish. It is easy to use and is water and chemical resistant. Plus if you ever want to repaint your piece a different color, you can paint right over it. This cannot be done with wax. I save using this natural wax for all the vintage wood items I buy.
SHOP THE POST
Adding personal style when painting furniture
Your home should be a reflection of you. The things you love, and what is meaningful to you. Painted furniture can add that detail of reflecting your style, along with showcasing a project that you have created (if you choose to do it yourself).
Make it new, and make it you. With each little choice, and every small project, your home will become a place that shows your personal style and becomes a beautiful backdrop to your life.
If you’d like to get inspired about more stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms. Check back next week for more design tips and lifestyle hacks.
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Don’t sweat it my friend. Prep can be quick, and painting a piece of your own is always worth it!
Love all the ideas here Jill! I really should try to prep before painting. I tend to be too impatient for that and then clean up takes a REALLY long time. Thanks for the tips my friend.