May 23 2009
Decor on a Budget - Paint Old Furniture for New Life!
Have you ever wanted a new “look” in your home? A room that was just missing that little… well… “something” to brighten or just change it? I’m afraid I do, quite often! If you’re like me, and have wishes bigger than your budget, there are ways around this.
I recently tackled my dining room. It’s a small room, with walls painted a light golden color, a white chair rail and white bead-board below it. The furniture in this room was all natural wood-grains, not quite matching, but all pieces with sentimental value. The buffet and hutch had been my paternal grandmothers. It’s of no great value, other than sentimental, and I have often thought of replacing it with something no quite so dark and substantial. However, I found a wonderful compromise that may help some like-minded folks bring new life to their old furniture and add a touch of something special to a room! Yes, that’s right folks, I bit the bullet and painted my grandmother’s buffet and hutch. I think she would have approved, it looks fabulous and brightens the room as well as highlights the items I keep in it!
In order to get this done right, with the least amount of fuss, I’m laying out the steps for refinishing old furniture with paint. My piece was composed entirely of real wood (not fiberwood or plastic) and did not have a glossy finish, so it wasn’t necessary to actually use a stripping agent. Please keep this in mind when choosing a piece to paint. Stripping the finish would add more time and effort to the process I used.
The supplies you will need include:
- space - be sure you have enough room to reposition the piece as needed and have the freedom to move all the way around it as you work.
- ventilation - some of the chemicals in the cleaning process and the painting process can be very potent and good ventilation is essential for your safety and those around you.
- drop cloth - I prefer using a drop cloth that is absorbent on one side and lined on the opposite side as drips and drops happen sometimes no matter how you try to prevent it!
- clean rags - I prefer old t-shirt rags (soft and non-abrasive, easy to work with and inexpensive)
- mineral spirits - if ANY type of oil-based polish or cleaner has been used on the piece you are painting, mineral spirits will clean remove the residue.
- chemical resistant gloves - more substantial than regular latex gloves as the mineral spirits can eat right through those! It’s always a good idea to read the warnings on all chemicals you choose and use the suggested protective equipment specified!
- wood filler - this is a wonderful tool for fixing and smoothing out little nicks and dents, and can be found with a quick-dry formula at almost any store.
- sand paper - just in case, select both a fine 220 grade as well as another stronger grade since the initial sanding may require heavy duty but the 220 grade can be used between primer/paint layers.
- primer - ALWAYS choose a high quality brand when painting furniture (this will save you many headaches in the long run), and I strongly suggest using an oil-based primer. An oil-based primer will cover anything, whereas a latex or water-based primer may peel off easily if not applied directly to a water based paint or finish. It took less than 2 quarts to do both the buffet and the hutch.
- paint brushes - ALWAYS choose high quality brushes suitable for oil-based products, unless you have plenty of time and sandpaper to smooth out the lines!
- paint - again, ALWAYS choose a high quality paint. The paint you choose can be either oil-based or water-based as both can be used over an oil-based primer (the opposite is not true).
Have all of your supplies ready? Then here we go…
Once you have your piece positioned on the drop cloth, the first step is to go over the entire surface with a standard grade sandpaper. Use wood filler to fill in any holes, nicks or dents you do not want to show through. Once the wood filler dries it can be sanded and smoothed as well.
Next, use the soft rags to CLEAN the piece with mineral spirits. Soak your rag in mineral spirits and be sure to wear the chemical resistant gloves. Cover every nook and cranny liberally with mineral spirits. Once you’ve cleaned your piece it will need to dry completely. Further, on a safety note, be sure to rinse the rags used thoroughly with water before disposing of them. Mineral spirits are highly flammable, and the rags will become a strong fire risk if not properly disposed of.
Once the piece has dried completely, you’re ready to apply the primer. I applied two coats and allowed the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. This is something that can be subjective so use your best judgement.
Once dry, you can use the 220 grade sand paper to smooth any drips or bush strokes. Wipe down after sanding with a clean soft cloth. Apply your paint next, as many coats as you deem necessary depending on the durability of the paint and the use of the piece you are painting. If the piece holds collectibles, it will not need to be as durable as a dinner table, for example. If the piece has drawers or knobs, new hardware can also help to give it a new/updated “look”.
Now that your piece is painted, dry, and simply BEAUTIFUL, you can return it to it’s place of honor and be proud of what you’ve accomplished. “New” furniture that cost you pennies on the dollar!
Enjoy!
If you have any questions or comments, I’d love to hear them. Check back with me often as I will be posting blogs on other topics as well. Thanks for stopping by!
