Thank you for sharing
Ready to give your old furniture a stunning new look? Painting can transform any piece, but the secret to a flawless finish lies in the preparation.
In this furniture preparation guide, we share the crucial prep steps that make all the difference between an amateur attempt and a (near) professional-quality outcome. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a first-timer, these tips will ensure your painted furniture turns out perfectly smooth and durable.
Preparing furniture for painting is one of those things that makes a lot of people cringe, me included. We just don’t want to do it.
When you scored a sweet deal at the thrift store, (maybe you followed some of our tips on how to find the best pieces at the thrift store), you are eager to start and you can just picture that result in your mind, you want to dive in head first and start painting that baby.
I know I have been there, and I have done that, and I have regretted it each and every time.
While it’s so, so tempting to just start painting, the amount of prep work you put into this type of project directly impacts the quality of the results. So be patient, be thorough, and keep your end goal in mind.
Properly preparing your furniture for painting is one of those things that will make your future self happy.
Your current self will just have to get over it and get it done. Luckily there are only five steps involved in prepping furniture to paint and none of them are hard.
The following steps will get your piece cleaned and prepped for paint like a pro!
Furniture Prep Step 1: Remove Hardware and Mirrors
In order to get a fresh, clean surface for painting, you have to remove any attached hardware prior to painting. Be sure to remove drawer pulls, hinges (if they’re exposed to the area being painted), Mirrors, or any other items that can be unscrewed and removed.
If you’re reusing the hardware after painting, keep it close. Either place all hardware with screws into a clear, labeled Ziploc bag, or tape the screws for each piece to the back of the hardware.
Make sure to give all the hardware pieces a thorough clean!
If there is decorative trim on your piece that you do not like, you can remove that in this step too. I have written some easy instructions for how to remove decorative trim that you may want to check out.
Furniture Prep Step 2: Thoroughly Clean
To thoroughly clean your furniture it is best to first quickly vacuum your piece. Get the dust out of the ridges, the crumbs out of the drawers, and the cobwebs out from the bottom.
Then it is time to de-grime your piece. With the hardware removed, you’ll no doubt see some build-up of dirt and mysterious goo around where the hardware was. In addition, even if the piece looks clean, there could still be grease or residue that will prevent your new paint job from properly adhering.
For an average, to not-so-dirty piece, a scrubby sponge and a solution of lots of warm water, and a drop or two of dawn dish soap will do the trick.
If your piece has been in storage long or it was used in a kitchen or shop it will require more cleaning attention. For those kinds of old pieces, I prefer I grease-cutting cleaner like TSP that is meant for paint jobs specifically. They are designed to resolve the grease quickly and effectively without leaving any residue behind (in contrast to regular kitchen degreasers, those won’t work here).
When cleaning make sure to get into the nooks and crannies, don’t skip an inch, and make sure you’ve gently scrubbed the entire piece. If it’s a super ornate or detailed piece, consider breaking out an old toothbrush!
Remember that fingerprints leave grease behind (hello CSI!) so take extra care of all the places that were touched regularly.
Let dry.
If after the cleaning and drying your ‘new’ old furniture still stinks of old furniture, you can follow the tips on how to remove a musty smell from thrifted furniture that I have written previously
Furniture Prep Step 3: Inspect and Sand
While the piece is continuing to dry, give it a thorough once-over. Make a mental note of any scratches, gouges, holes, or gaps in the piece of furniture.If you are stripping the piece of all paint that is a whole other ballgame and I won’t go into that for now.
This is also the time to take an extra moment and check your furniture for signs of pests or critters.
Get out a power (or block) sander, and, using a medium-fine grit, thoroughly sand the areas where the hardware was attached. Also, smooth out any spots where the varnish or old paint is flaking off or any other areas that are imperfect and need leveling. And orbital sander makes this go very fast, just make sure you keep it under control and don’t sand too hard.
Were a dust mask or a respirator to prevent inhaling dust particles.
Then with very fine grit go over the entire piece of furniture. This should be quick and easy. You have removed the bumps and drips in the previous round of sanding, so this is just for roughening up the surface a bit to make the paint adhere better.
Always sand in the direction of the grain and keep a light hand.
Now I do realise there are many paint companies that claim that their paint does not need sanding. That may or may not be true, I have used both chalk paint and milk paint before and written reviews.
In my experience sanding, even ever so lightly, is always the better choice. It gives much better control of how the paint sticks, especially on previously painted furniture. Even or especially when you are going for the old, shabby chic, style that allows for flakiness. It is much better when you determine the distressed look of the piece than have the paint fall off uncontrollably.
Furniture Prep Step 4: Make Repairs
Next up is making repairs to any dents, scratches, holes, and gaps. Since the goal is a smooth, even surface, we must fill in any holes, scuffs, and gaps. Use your fingertip to press wood putty gently into each imperfection on the surface of your piece.
Don’t worry about making it super smooth upon application, instead focus on making sure the gouge or gap is completely filled. It’s ok if the wood filler is raised a bit once you’re finished, don’t stress. Once complete, pat yourself on the back, take a break, and give it time to cure.
If you are going to use new hardware, this is the time to fill all the holes the old hardware has left behind. Fill those screw holes with plenty of putty, but don’t forget to clean away the excess that oozes out at the back of the hole (ask me how I know this).
Furniture Prep Step 5: Sand and Clean Again
When the wood putty is fully cured (which will depend on your environment and the manufacturer’s recommendation), gently sand those spots by hand until the surface is smooth. I prefer wrapping a piece of fine grit sandpaper around a sanding block.
If you find you under-did it a little, you’ll have to add a little more putty to that spot and wait again for it to cure. While this may seem tedious now, you’ll thank yourself later!
BTW, while your putty is drying, is a good time to take a second look at that old hardware you removed. This is the time to polish, spray paint, or wax it.
Remove the sand dust from the piece with a vacuum following up with a wet cloth.
Once all repairs are complete, and everything is sanded and smooth to both the touch and the eye, clean the piece once more. This is a crucial final step- as any dust left behind on the piece will cause issues with the paint’s application and be visible – and then all your hard work was for nothing!
Vacuum the piece first with a hose and bristle brush attachment, really getting into the corners, drawers, etc., and then wipe it down with a damp rag. We recommend an old t-shirt or a microfiber or a tack cloth, instead of a towel or other material, as you don’t want to leave any lint behind.
Allow the piece to dry out overnight- or if it’s morning for this step, give it a couple hours before painting. You want to be sure the piece is dry, and you don’t want to seal any moisture in, as it will certainly cause issues with the paint!
That’s it. All done and ready for prime and paint.
More Furniture Makeover Tips: How to Score The Best Furniture At Thrift Stores
More From Songbird
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Review
- How to Reupholster a Chair (With a Mail Bag)
Marianne Songbird
Songbird|Website
Marianne Songbird is the founder of Songbird, where she hopes to inspire everyone to create a home they love, one DIY project at a time. She shares anything from craft ideas to home decor inspiration and from DIY projects to decorating hacks. Originally from the Netherlands Marianne and her husband Lex are currently renovating a 250-year-old farmhouse in Germany.
