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How To Paint Furniture

Painting furniture can sometimes seem overwhelming! Use this step-by-step guide on painted furniture to take on your next project! Decide what type of furniture is best to paint, and which type of paint to use and go over the best ways to apply the paint. Plus how to make your painted furniture last a lifetime!
The amounts, times and sizes in this tutorial may need to be adjusted depending on the size of the project you are taking on.
Prep Time30 minutes
Active Time2 hours
1 day
Total Time1 day 5 hours 30 minutes
Course: diy projects
Keyword: diy furniture, painted furniture, painting furniture, wooden furniture
Yield: 1 piece
Author: Deborah McDonald
Cost: 50

Equipment

  • Paint Brush
  • Paint Rollers 
  • Painting Tray
  • Drop Cloths
  • Orbital Sander
  • Mouse Sander

Materials

  • 1 piece Sand Paper
  • 1 quart Primer
  • 1 gallon Paint
  • 1 quart Polyurethane or Top Coat
  • 1 can Furniture Wax

Instructions

Prepping and Sanding

  • Begin by prepping the furniture piece by cleaning off any dirt or grime!
    cabinet furniture being prepped for painting
  • Using fine-grit sandpaper, lightly sand the piece down for smoother coverage.
    sanding furniture to prep for painting
  • Fill any holes with wood filler. Remove any dust with a damp cloth.

Priming and Painting

  • Paint one coat of primer on the entire piece. Let your primer dry completely.
    paint and primer for painted furniture
  • Lightly sand your piece with 120-grit sandpaper before you begin the painting process.
  • Begin by painting the edges and corners of one side of the piece with an angled brush first.
    brushing paint on a cabinet
  • Using a paint roller, apply the first coat of paint on that same side. Make sure to not work too far ahead with the brush before you fill in with the roller or it will leave unwanted brush lines. Continue for the whole furniture piece.
  • After the paint is completely dry, repeat the step of lightly sanding the piece with 120-grit sandpaper before you apply the next coat. 
    girl painting a piece of furniture with a paint brush
  • Repeat the paint application and sanding steps above until you reach your desired finish on your piece. 
    sanding furniture with a mouse sander to be painted

Seal and Protect

  • Simply apply a thin layer of top coat to the surface of your furniture. Furniture wax will help condition and protect the piece as well.
    beautiful painted antique cabinet

Notes

If you choose to destress the edges of the wood for a shabby chic or vintage look, make sure to seal the wood with furniture wax.
Apply thin coats of paint as opposed to thick coats! This will give you a beautiful, durable finish to your furniture makeover.
Lightly sand in between every coat of primer and paint. This will help your products adhere better in the long run.