subject: Painting Furniture [print this page] Furniture painting is a fun and rewarding activity, provided that you go about it the right way and use appropriate painting techniques, paints and primers. The first step is ensuring that your work takes place in a well-lit, well-ventilated space large enough so that paint odors will not be a problem. An insider's tip: breathe easy paints are a very good choice from this point of view, as the paint odor will be less problematic than ordinary paint smells.
Start by examining the furniture item you are planning to paint and remove any drawer pulls or other hardware that might be in your way. Place the furniture item on a layer of newspapers or else on a large piece of cloth and start off with step one - sanding. Sanding ensures that no wax or traces of finish are left on the furniture that could impede paint adhesion and lead to a sloppy-looking finish.
Sanding is done using either sandpaper or else liquid sanders. If you are planning to use the former, you may have to start with a rough grit and progressively move on to using a finer grit, to ensure a smooth, uniform finish. Liquid sander is applied with a brush. It is essential to ensure that the liquid reaches even the tiniest spaces and crevices in the wood.
Wipe down the furniture piece again, and then apply a primer. Primers are ideal for older wood items that continue to show some stain even after sanding. Go for a primer that has a sealing effect. The combination of primer and sealer will remove the last traces of stain and ensure that the final paint coating will be flawless. Sometimes, two coats of primer may be necessary.
Finally, apply the paint - one or two coats, depending on the type of finish you are after. Leave the paint to dry and cure (this may take as long as a week, depending on the paint), and then sand off any irregular surfaces and apply a final coat of wax.
