If you have painted or stained furniture that you would like to give a new professionally painted finish, follow the steps below.
photo courtesy of French Finds flickr.com/photos/frenchfinds/27056133334/Preparation
Remove all furniture hardware and use painter's tape to tape off any parts that you do not want painted.
Be very meticulous with your taping.
Remove any drawers or doors.
Paint Stripper
Remove all of the old stain or paint from the furniture using paint stripper.
Read the directions on the back of the paint stripper container to make sure you get the correct one for your application in order to get the best results.
Also make sure to follow all safety precautions listed, including wearing special gloves and protective eyeware.
Sand
Sand the furniture to make the surface smooth and to make sure all of the old paint or stain is removed.
If a tiny bit of paint remains in the grooves, you can leave it there as long as it feels smooth when you drag your hand across it.
Wipe down the sanded furniture with a tack cloth to remove all of the dust.
Primer
Paint on a quality oil based primer following the directions on the back of the primer container.
Let the primer completely dry after each coat.
You may require 2 coats of primer. You may need to sand in between coats, depending on the directions of the primer you use.
Paint
Paint the furniture with your desired color of paint.
Use a light coat and let the paint completely dry.
Sand your furniture very lightly with fine grain sand paper and wipe off the dust with a tack cloth.
Apply a second light coat of paint.
You may have to repeat painting and sanding several times to get your desired result.
Make sure each coat is completely dry before lightly sanding.
Protect
Apply a water based polyurethane or finishing wax to protect your newly painted furniture, following the directions on the container.
Make sure to let the furniture completely dry before using, which may take anywhere from 2 days to 1 week.
