Do I Have to Use Paint Thinner to Repaint Wood Furniture?

Prepare Furniture

• The first step in repainting furniture is to remove any hardware. For example, a chest of drawers may have metal drawer handles that need to be removed. Casters on the bottom of a crib should be removed. A simple table or bookshelf may not have any hardware, but when working with furniture with hardware store the pieces in a jar in a safe place.

Strip Wood Furniture

• Wood strippers are not paint thinners. Use a liquid wood stripper to remove old finishes and paint from wood furniture. Strippers are available at hardware and home improvement centers. The directions generally include laying down an old sheet or towel in a well-ventilated area and placing the furniture on top. With a soft-bristle paintbrush, spread the wood stripper over the furniture. Let it sit for a few hours, then come back and remove the goop off with a paint scraper. Sometimes more than one application is necessary.

Prime Furniture

• After the furniture is fully stripped it should dry overnight. Once dry, sand it to a smooth finish. Paint one coat of primer on the furniture. Spread the primer with a paintbrush in the same direction as the wood grain. Don't thin the primer with paint thinner. Let the primer dry for a few hours or overnight.

Paint the Furniture

• The last step is to paint the furniture the desired color. In general, two coats is sufficient. Do allow the first coat to dry before applying the second coat. In most cases, paint thinner is not necessary and may be detrimental. A thick coat of paint is opaque and considered good protection.

Artistic Effects

• Paint thinner may be used for artistic effects. For example, use a thick coat of white paint first, and a thinned application of dark paint as a second coat. The thinned, darker color may also be used to paint trim for an artistic effect. Consider practicing on small pieces of cheap lumber before deciding whether to use paint thinner for artistic effects.