Painting Furniture Dark Colors

Dark-colored furniture can look chic and fashionable or flat and uninspired. The key to an attractive piece of dark furniture is selecting the right color and using it as an accent in your room. While a large living space can handle several pieces of dark furniture, smaller rooms will look better with one piece, mixed with more neutral styles. Dark furniture can add drama and a polished appearance to any room, whether it is the dining room table or a small entryway desk.

Sandpaper or sanding block
Towel, tack cloth or vacuum
Primer
Paintbrush or paint roller
Varnish (optional)

Instructions

- 1
  Select the color of paint you want to use. Use paint chips to determine how the colors will look in your home. The fluorescent lighting in most stores is different than the lighting in homes; color that looks rich and vibrant in the store can appear muddy and flat in your home.
- 2
  Sand the furniture to create a smooth, even surface. Use a sanding block or fine-grit sandpaper, such as 220-grit.
- 3
  Wipe the sawdust off the furniture with a clean towel or a tack cloth, or vacuum it.
- 4
  Apply a coat of primer. Primer creates an even surface for the paint to adhere to, giving the finished piece a smooth, professional appearance. Allow the primer to dry completely, typically about two hours, before painting.
- 5
  Use a paintbrush or paint roller to apply at least two thin, even coats of paint, allowing the paint to dry between coats. To get a rich, dark look, you may want to apply three or more coats. Using multiple thin coats, rather than fewer thick coats, prevents brush and roller marks as well as provides a smoother finish. Allow the paint to dry between coats.
- 6
  Paint on a coat of clear varnish to provide additional protection if you like. Varnish is a good idea if you are painting tabletops or other furniture pieces that get much abuse.

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