Painting Wooden Furniture: How To Do It And Some Tips

If you want to change the face of your wooden furniture, we will tell you how to paint it step by step. Thanks to these tips, which we present below, they will look as if they were made by a professional.

Do you want to remodel your cabinets, but don’t know where to start? In this article, we’ll give you some tips on how to make them look like new. Painting wooden furniture is simple and you just need to consider a few precise tips.

Wood is such a noble material that it is found in most homes. Be it tables, chairs, doors, chests of drawers or decorations.

This noble material is also so versatile and durable that it gives us endless possibilities of recycling and regeneration. In other words, by painting wooden furniture, the same piece of furniture can take on different styles over time without having to invest in a new piece of furniture.

Characteristics and advantages of wooden furniture

Choosing wooden furniture has many advantages, some of which we will discuss below:

Wood brings warmth to the home : as it is a natural material, the interior is cozy and comfortable.

This is a classic that will never go out of style. Wooden furniture will always be up to date regardless of the prevailing trends.
Wooden furniture is easy to clean and repair or refurbish.
They are very durable products, therefore many of them take on the features of a family memento and tradition passed down from generation to generation.

Where to start painting wooden furniture?

Painting wooden furniture is simple, although it has its secrets. The most important piece of advice for both of the options below is that you must follow each step carefully, without missing any.

Also use the materials we suggest, as not all varnishes or paints can be applied to wood. With that in mind, let’s move on to the first option.

Wood is recycled in an elegant way, lending an original style to homes or places where this material is chosen.

Paint colorful wooden furniture

With this alternative, the first thing we are going to do is sand the entire surface thoroughly. This step is necessary and forms the basis of the final result of our work to make the furniture look professional.

Use sandpaper to remove the remains of varnish, dirt, grease and other unevenness. Remember that the sandpaper must be moved in the direction of the wood grain.

When you notice that there are no old paint or varnish marks, you need to wipe the entire surface with a damp cloth to remove any circulating dust. If you don’t remove it, the paint you then apply won’t stick.

Now we move on to applying a primer, called a stain. It is a paint that is applied to the wood before applying the first coat of the color of our choice.

Let it dry for a few hours and once it is dry you can apply the first coat of final paint. You will definitely need to apply more than one coat, so you need to let each of them dry at each stage.

Finally, apply a coat of clear varnish (matte or glossy) to protect the paint and prolong its intact durability.

As for the materials, you will need a brush for corners and grooves and a roller (foam or wool). Sizes and materials will vary depending on the dimensions of the furniture and what is most comfortable for you to work with.

Renovation of the furniture with varnish

In the latter option, painting wooden furniture will be aimed at restoring old or damaged elements. The varnish may be colorless or have a specific shade. The choice depends on what the base wood is.

The first thing we need to do is to remove the stains from the wood using agents designed for this purpose. Then we rub the surface with medium-grained sandpaper to remove the remnants of the previous varnish and other imperfections from the furniture.

For a good finish without scratching, fine steel wool is ideal.

Then we apply the first coat of stain in a color similar to the primer described in the previous section, this way the final color will stick better to the wood. This product often comes in the form of an oil or spray.

When it dries well, we rub the surface with sandpaper, but this time we choose fine-grained. This will help the next coat of paint stick better to the surface. After sanding, wipe with a damp cloth to remove dust.

Now it’s time for the main varnish. The first layer should be thinly thinned, the second layer can be slightly thicker. It is important that the furniture is allowed to dry for at least 24 hours between the application of subsequent layers of paint.

General tips to keep in mind when you plan to paint wooden furniture

We’ll give you some tips that are important when you start painting and restoring your wooden furniture. It often happens that we want to recreate the effect of a project that we have seen somewhere. But it cannot always be applied to the furniture we have at home.

What products and materials to choose?

When choosing a paint, make sure it is suitable for what you want to do. Read the manufacturer’s labels and instructions well before purchasing and especially before applying.

For example, if we want to restore garden furniture, the varnish must be more resistant to water and sun. In the case of wicker, the perfect solution is a spray that penetrates well into all nooks and crannies.

When it comes to work tools, the variety of brushes and rollers can be overwhelming. Accordingly, the most important criterion will be the type of furniture that needs to be painted.

A roller is best for wide and smooth surfaces as brushes can leave bristle marks. However, when it comes to processing slats, angles and corners, we suggest switching to a brush.

Assembled or disassembled furniture?

This is the million dollar question. Again, everything will depend on the type of furniture. If the piece of furniture is easy to disassemble, we recommend that you do so to make sure that you can reach all of its corners and cover everything thoroughly with paint.

However, when it is definitely not removable, only remove parts such as handles, drawers and shelves to at least make sanding and painting easier.

If the piece of furniture is removable, it is better to do so so that you can easily apply paint to the edges.

Is the underlay mandatory?

Yes, it’s about saving time and painting. After priming, the wood is ready for use and this element will help to achieve an optimal finish. Always check what type of underlay your furniture needs.

What do I paint first and how?

We will always start painting wooden furniture from the inside. We start with the slats and corners with a brush, and then use a roller to move to larger surfaces.

The direction in which to walk for both the brush and the roller should match the grain of the wood. It is not recommended to soak the brush too much so that the paint does not drip.

Painting wooden furniture at home brings great satisfaction

There are two moments that are very important when painting wooden furniture: the beginning and the end. Make sure you prepare the surface well before painting and don’t fall prey to the emotions when looking for a quick effect.

A clean surface, free from contamination and dirt, is a guarantee that the paint will stick well. If the piece of furniture has many imperfections, you can apply the putty in the tone closest to the current color of the wood.

Finally, the finish we want to give is the last step to make our refurbished furniture look perfect. It is up to you to choose whether it will be varnishing, applying products that make the wood look aged, or a cracking effect. You have unlimited possibilities.