Project Guide: Painting Wooden Furniture

Painting Wooden Furniture:

1. Buy the right medium for your project

2. Prepare Your Work Space

• Clear space to work indoors or outside




• Lay down drop cloth or cardboard




• Open windows and doors (if inside) to increase ventilation

3. Prepare Yourself for Working

• Dress in clothing you won't mind marking up with paint




• Tie back hair




• Put on a painters mask to protect yourself from fumes and sanding dust

4. Prepare Your Surface

• Remove hardware




• Remove shelves or drawers




• Sand the surfaces you plan to paint




• Clean the sanding dust and any other debris from the piece




• Fill any unwanted holes or cracks with wood filler




• Sand again




• Tape off any areas you don't want the paint to spread to accidentally

Basic Tools Include:

• Drop Clothes or Large Pieces of Cardboard




• Painter's Tape




• 3 Grades of Sandpaper (Coarse to Fine)




• Sanding Block or Orbital/Palm Sander




• Plastic Paint Trays




• Brushes or Rollers




• Small Brushes (for corners)




• Protective Mask (if sanding)




• Cloth or Vacuum (for clean-up if sanding)

• Primer




• Polyurethane or Polycrylic Protective Finish




• Wax (if using Chalk Paint)




• Wax Brush




• Paint Conditioner (if using Latex or Oil-Based paint)




• Wood Filler (if the piece is damaged or you're moving hardware)




• Putty Knife (if using wood filler or removing veneer)

1. Painting

• (If applying primer) apply a coat or two if the piece needs it, then let dry and sand lightly after to create a smooth surface for the paint




• Don't pour of pool the paint on the surface of your piece and then spread it with your brush




• Apply paint to your piece in thin coats with a foam roller or brush




• Edge in the corners and sides of any detailing with a smaller brush




• Apply paint in long, even strokes in a single direction




• Avoid going over the same spot after you've painted, because the brush may pick up the drying paint and ruin your smooth finish




• Sand each layer very lightly with fine grade paper before adding a new one

2. Finishing Your Piece

• Clean as much excess wax off your brush as possible before you start




• Apply in thin coats, making sure to spread it evenly throughout your piece




• For high-traffic areas, apply 2-3 coats of wax, waiting the proper drying time between each

• Apply in thin coats




• Don't retrace your brush strokes, or the surface will get tacky and lose its smooth finish




• Sand between coats after waiting the proper drying time

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