Hi FunCycled Friends!!
Are you stopping by to see how to transform your furniture? We’re here to help you repurpose your furniture piece! Since painting has the same steps no matter what the piece, we’ve created this page to help everyone!
The steps that we take to repurpose furniture with a professional finish are below. If you’re looking to do it as a business or get a fine finish, we recommend getting a high end paint sprayer because that makes a huge difference in the finish.
If you’re looking to paint your own piece without making a business out of it, here are step by step instruction for you! ;)
Step 1 – Prep the Surface
The best paint job starts with the right prep work! Although there are some products designed to paint plastic, laminate, etc, the easiest to work with is solid wood or a wood veneer pieces. The others can be a bit tricky to paint. If the wood is glossy, you’ll want to sand it with 100-120 grit sand paper. We prefer to use an electric sander on all top surfaces and hand sand using a sanding block on the detailing. If it’s unfinished wood, ignore that step and head to step 2.
Step 2 – Repair
Fill in any holes, scratches, etc, using wood filler and a putty knife. We use Gorilla All Purpose wood filler.
Let it completely dry (the dry time depends on the size of the holes). Sand the spots with the wood filler smooth. Also, remember if you are going to be replacing the knobs, take them out now and fill in the original holes so that you can drill new holes that are the correct size (unless they match exactly). If you have hardware on the piece that you like the look of but not the color, leave it on the piece and prime that, too. After it’s primed, remove it and use spray paint to paint it the color of your choice. Using the same hardware will save you a ton of money!
Step 3 – Clean It Well
Clean, clean, clean. Most likely if it’s been sitting around long enough to need a paint job, it needs a good cleaning. If you don’t clean the surface well, the paint won’t stick properly and you won’t get a nice smooth finish. There are plenty of different products out there and I am not married to just one. At the moment, I am using a vinegar and water mixture because I like things all natural as much as possible. I breath in enough chemicals as it is, thank you very much. :)
Step 4 – Bonding Primer
Time to prime! We use a water based primer and try to stick with Zinsser 1-2-3 Primer. You’ll want to look for the gallon that says it sticks to all surfaces without sanding.
We use this for a couple reason. It is less toxic than oil based primers and it is easier to clean up. Not to mention, it does an awesome job!!
You can apply all of your product with a brush, a foam roller, or an air sprayer. If you are doing this as a one time job, just use a foam brush and foam roller brush. I think it applies better than using a regular bristle brush. We use a commercial air sprayer which is a huge investment (it took us 4 years to buy the one we use). If you use an air sprayer to paint using latex paint, you will need to water it down to have it work correctly and not get spitting. See the user manual for your sprayer to find out the exact mixture needed.
Here’s a list of my favorites:
Brush
Roller Set
Foam Brush
Step 5 – Paint
Time to paint with the color of your choice.The same brush choice applies as in Step 4. We prefer Clark and Kensington or Benjamin Moore paint. As a tip – check out the “oops” section of your local hardware store to see if they have paint that has been returned. This will save you money if you can find the right color. As you begin to paint, make sure you do thin coats of paint so you don’t get dripping and uneven coverage. Always watch for drips. Drips love me and want to ruin my life! If you catch them quick, it’s much easier to fix.
Step 6
If you are going to be painting something that will be getting a lot of use (table top, dresser top), you will want to add a sealer to protect it. We have used Varathane Water Basic Clear Coat.
Step 7
This may feel like the hardest part! Wait, wait, wait. It’s best not to use a piece for 5-7 days and can take up to 30 days to completely cure. I know, I have cheated and put it in place earlier than that but it’s risky business. If you want to put it in the room and not touch it or put anything on it, that should be ok. Just enjoy it from a distance for a week, ok?
You can do it and if you try and can’t finish, shoot me an email I’ll try to help!
Here’s some of our favorite before and afters for you to enjoy:
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Did you decide you’d like us to paint your furniture for you? Contact Us today!
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We offer interior design, kitchen cabinet painting, and custom built tables, barn doors, and repurposed furniture. Thank you, again, for working with us and for taking the time to spread the word about what we do.
Happy FunCycling Friends,
Sarah ;)
