How to Paint a Wooden Desk

Remove the hardware from your wooden desk with a screwdriver. Put the hardware pieces inside small envelopes and label the envelopes so you can keep track of them and know where to put them back when you are finished painting the desk.

Cover the floor with old newspaper or painter’s cloth. Remove any parts of the desk that can be removed, such as drawers. Set them nearby so you can prepare them after you have finished the main body of the desk.

Wearing protective gear, start preparing the wooden desk for painting. Sand the desk, beginning at the top right-hand corner. Use a simple back and forth stroke, and always go in the same direction. Brush off the sawdust from time to time. Continue down to the legs and the front and back, if necessary. When the body is sanded, sand any drawers or other parts you removed. Make sure the wood surface feels smooth. If the desk has had a lot of use it may need more than one sanding. Use a dry cloth or vacuum to remove sawdust.

Brush a light coat of white primer onto the desk. Follow the instructions on the can and allow the primer to dry for about two to four hours, or as directed.

Wash the primer from your paintbrush. If you used water-based primer, simply rinse your paintbrush under running water. If you used oil-based primer, use turpentine to remove the primer from the brush.

Using the brush, apply one coat of paint, going in the direction of the wood grain on the desk. Paint the entire surface of the desk. Apply another coat of paint if necessary. Paint the drawers of the desk, as well. Let the paint dry overnight.

Replace the desk hardware using the screwdriver.