How to Paint Wardrobes

Sand the whole wardrobe evenly with an orbital sander fitted with a 100-grit sanding disc. Be sure to remove any and all shiny surfaces from existing finishes or laminate veneers. Switch to a 150-grit disc and sand the piece again to smooth the surface, using sandpaper of the same grit to get into nooks and crannies by hand.

Wipe the wardrobe thoroughly with a tack cloth to clean away all of the sanding residue. Tack cloths are different from plain rags because they have a special surface that causes small particles to cling, rather than go everywhere and make a mess. These are also useful in the kitchen for picking up small crumbs.

Apply a very thin coat of spray-on primer to the entire wardrobe. The appearance should be streaky, showing the wardrobe surface beneath. Wait 30 minutes and apply a second, slightly thicker coat of primer so that the color is fairly opaque and uniform all over.

Open the paint and stir it well with a paint stick, since it will have settled. Apply the paint to the wardrobe with a paintbrush or small-nap paint roller, going in the direction of the wood grain. Layer the paint on in three to five thin layers, rather than one thick layer.

Let the wardrobe dry completely. Apply a clear spray-on varnish to protect your painted wardrobe.