Painting & Glazing Vintage Furniture

Sand the surface of the furniture using fine-grit sandpaper attached to a sanding block to remove any finish present on the furniture’s surface. Sand the furniture following the grain of the wood of the piece until you’ve taken off any glossy finish present, as well as any loose or peeling paint that may be present. Wipe the piece off with tack cloth after you finish, removing any sanding residue.

Fill any holes in the piece using wood filler the same color as the furniture’s wood. Pack the filler into the hole with the corner of a putty knife and then smooth the surface of the patch by scraping across it with the putty knife’s edge. The filler will prevent the holes from expanding over time. Wait about two hours for the filler to dry.

Place the piece onto a drop cloth and then spray a layer of primer over its surface. Use smooth back and forth strokes with the spray can, covering the surface in an even layer of primer. Allow the primer to dry for two or three hours after application.

Cover the primer with the topcoat of your choice. Spray the surface with two or more thin layers of paint, building up the top coat layer by layer until you’ve concealed the primer. Allow each coat to dry before placing the next, following the manufacturer’s suggested drying time.

Create your own colored glaze by mixing one part glaze with three parts paint. Brush the glaze over the painted piece using a foam applicator. Thin the glaze on the piece as you go by wiping over it with a damp cloth, leaving just a light coating of the glaze color that accents rather than overwhelms the topcoat color. Rinse out the cloth often to avoid clumping of drying paint on its surface. Allow the piece to sit for 48 hours drying before moving.