Do It Yourself: Painted Furniture

Stripping

• Before painting, you will need to strip off any finish, such as varnish, shellac or paint.

  If the furniture is painted, the easiest way to remove it is with a liquid wood stripper. Be careful not to breathe in the fumes or allow it to touch your skin as many wood strippers contain harsh chemicals. Remove any drawers or hardware from the furniture before using the stripper. Pour the stripper onto the furniture and use a paint brush to evenly coat the piece. After stripper has had time to set, use a paint scraper to scrape off paint. You may have to reapply wood stripper for harder-to-strip areas.

  If the finish is varnish or shellac, it can be removed with a finish remover and a steel wool pad.

Painting

• After stripping the finish from the furniture, you will need to sand the surface of the piece with sandpaper to make sure it is smooth for painting. Make sure to wipe off any dust with a clean rag.

  Choose your paint accordingly. If you want the furniture to look original, paint it the same color as it was before. It is good to note that enamel paint will result in a durable, glossy finish, while latex paint in matte finishes that will often begin to chip and peel over time.

  Using a 2-inch-wide brush, spread paint evenly over the flat surface of furniture using long, straight strokes. Use a smaller brush to paint ridges and crevices. Work your way down the piece, painting the sides and the bottom and using the smaller brush where needed. After you are done, go back and recheck for any blemishes or drips and fix accordingly. Then paint any drawers, knobs or handles you may have removed.

The End Result

• Allow to dry untouched and apply a second coat if needed. After all coats have dried, replace drawers and hardware. The end result will be new, updated furniture to complement any room in your house.