How to Make a Zebra Print on a Piece of Furniture

Place plastic sheeting on the floor of a well-ventilated room. Position the furniture item on the sheeting.

Sand the furniture using an orbital sander. Sand with the grain and remove all of the existing finish with medium 60-grit sandpaper. Use 120-grit sandpaper to make the wood smooth. Wipe the furniture with a tack cloth.

Paint the furniture white. Use a quality latex paint in a glossy finish. Allow each coat to dry for eight hours. Apply two or three coats for the best finish. Allow the final coat to dry for 48 hours.

Use stretchy painter's tape to create your zebra design at an angle across the top of the piece or wherever you wish to have the stripes. Consult the image you've chosen for the design to help you position the tape. Rub the edges of the tape down well so that the paint will not seep under it.

Paint the stripes with white paint and allow the coat to dry for eight hours. This is a trick used by faux painters to prevent the dark stripe paint from leaking under the tape edges. Using this trick will save you time when you remove your tape.

Paint over the white stripes with black glossy paint. Apply two or three coats for the best finish and let each coat dry for eight hours. Allow the last coat to dry for 48 hours.

Remove the tape by pulling it away from the surface at an angle. Touch up any blemishes in the paint treatment. Lightly sand the edges of the stripes if the paint heights are uneven using a piece of 120-grit sandpaper. Wipe with a tack cloth.

Spray the entire furniture piece with a clear-coat sealer. Allow two hours of drying time between coats. Apply several coats until the furniture has the appearance you want. Allow the last coat to dry for 24 hours. Do not position any items on the furniture for at least one week. This allows the paint and sealer to harden.