Asked on Jan 13, 2016
Painting my bedroom set-1st time refinishing furniture!!
by
Egs3853443
+7
Long story short-1 of my 2 new hobbies is learning to & hopefully getting good at either refinishing (re-staining) or painting pieces if furniture. My 1st project is my bedroom set- dresser & 2 nightstands to start. Can anyone give me advice on how to paint what is now a long dresser (6 drawers) with mirror attached & the 2 nightstands that are a light maple finish? It's a set bought at Seaman's Furniture store approx 12 years ago & I think it's not solid wood, more like cheap wood and is it called a laminate finish?? What's the difference in the process painting solid wood vs. a wood dresser that's probably not solid wood? It's 12 yrs old & still in pretty nice condition, I just want to paint it to have a change & looking at some other peoples painted furniture with some new hardware it's like having a brand new bedroom set! Any advice/suggestions greatly appreciated!!!!
10 answers
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Take a look at this. www.wikihow.com/Paint-Laminate-Furniture
Janet Pizaro
on Jan 13, 2016
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I've found that using spray paint made for plastics (Krylon brand) works exceptionally well on laminate surfaces. (follow directions on can) Remove hardware. Clean well, allow to dry. Lightly sand if there are any rough spots. Spray paint. Several coats may be required. (We've found usually 3-4 light coats works best.)With all the colors available you can choose what works for your style. Another option is chalk paint. DIY or store purchased, then follow instructions.
CK
on Jan 13, 2016
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I commend you for being ambitious. But since this is your first attempt, practice on a smaller piece first. Good luck.
Liliana Wells
on Jan 13, 2016
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You should start with a bonding primer. It will stick to glossy or shiny surfaces. once you have primed it, i would check to see if it is smooth. If it needs sanding use a fine sand paper and light pressure. once smooth ,you can paint it with any paint you want. i have used foam rollers or a flocked roller for the smoothest finish. They also have many varieties of chalk paint that you can use without priming. i like a shinier paint for furniture, so with that you should prime first. If you dont want to use the primer, you could sand the surface really well and then use just the paint, but it will take more coats. spray paint also works great, but you should practice first. read the cans on either to see what that brand recommends using it on. On a stained piece of furniture, i would test the paint first to see if any color bleeds through. If it does bleed through you should use a oil based paint that blocks stains. I have run into this problem a few times. Also clean the piece very good with a good cleaner. If the piece was in a smokers home, yellow may bleed through from the tar and nicotine residue. i paint for a living so, i hope these tips help you!
Tracy d
on Jan 13, 2016
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first before you paint make sure the piece is squeaky clean, wash with a mixture of TSP and let dry thoroughly. Next Primer needs to be applied in a nice even coat so you don't have much sanding to do when that is dry use a good quality paint and let everything dry thoroughly between coats, good luck .
Paula Tenaglia
on Jan 13, 2016
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Make sure the piece is very clean no greasy finger prints etc. de-gloss(lightly sand or use a liquid sandpaper) the finish for better paint adhesion. Use a primer. Just noticed Paula's comment. Yep, clean it well.
Toolpro
on Jan 13, 2016
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Just a little bit of info on cleaning before priming with a high adhesion primer [Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3 The instructions for surface preparations said Not to use TSP so please read the instructions on the products you chose carefully. Have fun
Jean Myles
on Jan 13, 2016
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I'm excited for you! Painting furniture is one of my all time favorite hobbies! I've painted lots of laminate, veneer, and real wood pieces and I can tell you the painting process is pretty much the same. Of course you can use expensive products like chalk paint that promise you can skip steps, but for me I do the simple prepare, prime, paint, and protect method. You can read a detailed tutorial on how to paint furniture on my blog: http://www.welcome-to-the-woods.com/how-to-paint-furniture-in-4-steps/ If it's a piece you really want to last, be sure to take your time on the prepare and protect steps. It's really important to sand thoroughly, especially glossy finishes. On real wood, you can even use a stripping solution to remove the stain for a fresh start. Also, lightly sanding with 220 grit paper between each coat of primer, paint, and clear protect will also ensure a stronger adhesion and lasting finish. For me, painting laminate I just prime and paint. No laminate piece of furniture lasts too long in my house because they just aren't quality. So I get the paint job done quickly and don't mind when the paint starts to peel after a couple years. Painting real wood furniture, like this beautiful mid-century Bassett dresser ( http://www.welcome-to-the-woods.com/mid-century-modern-dresser-redo/ ), I put a lot more time into. Good luck to you!! I hope I helped and if you have any specific questions, feel free to ask!
Welcome to the Woods
on Jan 13, 2016
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laminate and veneer are 2 very different things. 2 things common with painting laminate furniture are bubbling whiloe the paint and or primer are still wet and lack of adhesion after its dried. I would use vinegar and not TSP for cleaning first. Sanding is a pain, but it is essential if you want all your hard work to really last. Just don't over-sand. Prime (we use B.I.N.)...once that is dry do 2 or 3 coats of paint, sanding lightly (400 grit is good) between coats.....after they thoroughly dry) Once that's done we use a sealer. MinWax wipe on is good. Lots of work, but if you want your project to last for years and years...that's how you do it.
Marlene Murray
on Jan 14, 2016
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This is what I did...
Mary Hill
on Jan 15, 2016
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