Furniture that has lost its original charm can be given new life by painting it. The correct paint and technique can make a big difference, whether you’re looking to update a metal table, give a plastic cabinet a new look, or revive an old wooden chair.
When painting, different materials call for different techniques. What holds true for wood might not hold true for plastic or metal. Being aware of these variations is essential to getting a long-lasting, glossy finish.
You will be guided through the process of painting furniture composed of different materials by this guide. You can make sure that your furniture looks fantastic and can withstand regular use by adhering to these easy tips.
| Material | How to Paint |
| Wood | Sand the surface, apply primer, then paint with a brush or spray in thin coats. |
| Metal | Clean the surface, apply a metal primer, then use oil-based or enamel paint. |
| Plastic | Use a special plastic primer, then spray paint evenly with light coats. |
| Glass | Clean thoroughly, apply a glass primer, and then use acrylic or glass-specific paint. |
- Features of painting furniture
- Painting veneered furniture
- Painting varnished furniture
- Applying new paint to polished furniture
- Painting laminated furniture
- Painting rattan furniture
- Painting lacquered furniture
- Video on the topic
- Experts know: how to paint furniture
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- How to repaint furniture / new life for an old cabinet / remodeling and painting furniture yourself
Features of painting furniture
You should familiarize yourself with the video in this article before painting any furniture. Not only can you see the entire coating application process here, but you can also see the final product after painting.
The choice of paint composition has a major impact on the operation’s outcome. However, it is impossible to single out a single type of paint or varnish coating because it all depends on the type of furniture and the final outcome that the owner is hoping for.
The type and quality of coating determine which paint is chosen:
- Wooden furniture should be coated with a wood composition.
- Metal products – with metal paint.
On occasion, the paint ought to have
- Water resistance.
- Frost resistance.
Regarding coating type, there are:
- Glossy.
- Completely matte.
- Transparent, coated with a varnish composition.
If furniture needs to have passive fire protection, its surfaces—which may include metal or wooden components—are painted with special fire-retardant paints.
Advice: To prevent corrosion, garden furniture made of metal should be painted. Zinga conductive paint is a tried-and-true solution that offers two levels of protection: passive, or barrier, and active, or cathodic, as in the case of cold galvanizing.
It is essential to use distinct paint compositions and painting technologies for various furniture types, each with their own unique characteristics.
Common furniture found in homes includes:
- Veneered.
- Laminated.
- Lacquered (see. How to paint an old lacquered cabinet with your own hands).
- Polished.
- Rattan.
Painting veneered furniture
Furniture that has been veneered typically consists of chipboard that has been covered in a veneer layer that has a lovely, organic texture.
Prior to painting furniture with veneer, it’s important to ascertain:
- Leave the wood on it in sight.
- Hide the wood with a layer of paint.
The following technology is used to carry out the work:
- The furniture is disassembled, all fittings are removed from it. This point applies to any furniture.
- Remove the old varnish with fine-grained sandpaper. In order not to damage the rather thin layer of veneer, it is advisable to do all the work by hand, the machine can damage.
- The structure is carefully inspected for scratches and chips. If they are found, all defects are repaired with wood putty.
- When the surfaces are dry, previously treated areas are sanded with fine-grained sandpaper.
- The base is carefully cleaned of dust.
- The surface to be treated is coated with a primer that acts as a primer.
- Products are coated with paint or colored varnish.
The furniture with veneers is coated with the following substances:
- polyurethane;
- aquatic;
- glypthal.
Advice: Tear off the old veneer and glue in a new one if you want to update the veneer surface more drastically. When the old coating is seriously damaged, this option is used.
Painting varnished furniture
How should varnished furniture be painted? There are still differences between painting it and repainting veneered surfaces, despite a slight difference in technology.
- Old varnish is removed. The absence of veneer, which can peel off when heated, allows you to remove the varnish with a hair dryer and a spatula. In this case, small areas of the surface are heated with a hairdryer, and they are immediately scraped off with a spatula.
- Before painting varnished furniture, it is necessary to sand it with fine sandpaper. In this case, the remains of the previously applied coating are removed and small irregularities are removed until the surface acquires roughness, sufficient homogeneity and matte finish.
- The product is cleaned of dust and degreased.
- The surface, if necessary, is treated with an antiseptic.
- Existing damage and defects are putty.
- Paint or varnish is applied in two layers.
Applying new paint to polished furniture
Painting varnished furniture and restoring polished goods are similar processes. In this instance, the old varnish just does not exist here, so you do not even need to remove it.
Polished furniture is finished in order to:
- Give the coating color. It can be painted light gray or matte white. And to achieve a better effect, after finishing painting, it is better to age the surface a little.
- Preserving the natural texture of the wood, by covering the surface with varnish.
Advice: Make sure the coating won’t fade in the sun before painting polished furniture white. If it does, the product will quickly turn yellow and become unsightly. Paints from reliable manufacturers ought to be preferred.
Painting laminated furniture
Since it can be challenging to paint laminated furniture, laminated products are the most frequently asked questions when restoring furniture.
- You need to choose the right type of paint. For example, you cannot use water-based compositions, it is better to use polyurethane or alkyd enamel.
- The laminated surface is pre-treated with fine sandpaper to give it roughness.
- The paint composition is applied with a little effort, rubbing or pressing it into the surface, which will ensure a high-quality and durable coating.
Advice: New laminated furniture is fairly reasonably priced, and you shouldn’t paint laminated furniture yourself because you can’t always get the desired outcome.
Painting rattan furniture
Painting wicker or rattan furniture is a simple task that can be accomplished with any wood-safe paint. The painting procedure in this instance is the same as that for wood; the picture provides an example.
In order to increase the material’s adherence, rattan furniture surfaces must be carefully prepped and primed before painting. Any technique can be used to apply paint, but using a spray gun or paint cans is preferable.
Painting lacquered furniture
The newly lacquered furniture has a unique and eye-catching appearance. However, the surface will start to show cracks and get covered in scratches as a result of damaging factors. You could try using a fresh coating to get rid of this.
Prior to painting lacquered furniture, you must buy:
- Screwdriver.
- Sandpaper, different grits.
- Paint or varnish.
- Regular detergent.
- A product that helps remove varnish.
- Primer for wood processing (see. Priming wood before painting – features of the process).
- Spatulas.
- High quality roller.
- Brush.
- Sanding machine.
- Wood protection mixtures.
- Steel wool.
- Respirator.
- Solvent.
Order of work:
- Furniture is being prepared:
- contents are removed from cabinets and shelves;
- the doors are removed;
- drawers are pulled out;
- remove hooks, loops, handles and other fittings.
- Fastening parts are cleaned.
- Prepare a soap solution with a mild detergent.
- The surfaces of the product inside and out.
- Left to dry.
- If possible, furniture is placed so that the surface to be treated is horizontal.
- Apply a chemical solution to remove varnish with a brush (see. How to remove varnish from wood: methods of doing the work).
- After the varnish wrinkles, it is removed with a spatula. Remains of varnish are removed from the grooves with a steel wool, which can be replaced with an old toothbrush. The procedure is repeated if necessary.
- To remove thickeners and wax contained in the product, the surface is treated with white spirit.
- A protective agent is applied to the wood and the composition is given time to dry.
- External and internal surfaces are carefully sanded with a grinding machine.
- Existing chips and cracks are putty.
- Apply a primer, after the layer dries, sand all surfaces again, using fine-grain sandpaper.
- Painting furniture starts with the inner surfaces.
- Large surfaces are painted with a roller, small ones – with a thin brush.
- If desired, the fittings are painted.
- After drying, the furniture is assembled in the reverse order.
Old, worn-out furniture can be painted to create new, fashionable decor, but it’s important to use the proper paints and methods for each type of furniture. Whether you’re working with plastic, metal, or wood, knowing the right techniques for priming, painting, and prep work will guarantee a long-lasting, gorgeous finish. You can easily attain results that look professional with the help of this guide, which will walk you through the process.
Painting furniture made of various materials can drastically change how your house looks and feels. Choosing the appropriate paint for each material—wood, metal, plastic, or fabric—and doing the necessary preparation are the keys to success.
Prior to painting, always remember to clean and sand the surface to improve paint adhesion and guarantee a smooth finish. To achieve the best results, adhere to the recommended procedures for each material, such as using a fabric-specific paint or a primer on metal.
You don’t have to buy new furniture if you follow these tips to breathe new life into your old pieces. It’s a creative and reasonably priced way to add personality to your room and make your furniture really yours.
