Furniture Rehab - Paint Tips

How did I do it? Here was my process:

1. CLEAN IT - Clean the piece you plan to paint very well with a grease fighting cleaner such as TSP (when using TSP, you MUST rinse off any residue afterward). You can also use denatured or rubbing alcohol to rub down the piece to take off any grease.

2. SAND IT - You need to give the paint and primer something to stick to - particularly if the finish was very smooth or varnished in any way. For previously painted, varnished, or polyurethane finishes a 120-180 grit sand paper works well. Use a sanding block or paper to get in small areas or areas where you don't want to sand off details - like edges. But do yourself a favor and hit the large surfaces with an electric sander - unless you need an arm workout.

3. PRIME IT -Now, as a former painter, I have to say that I constantly lecture about the need to PRIME your surfaces properly before painting. Primer will help to seal in stains and ensure better adhesion of the paint to the surface - this is particularly important for items that have a very smooth surface or that will see a lot of wear-and-tear. Some of my favorite primers are Zinsser B-I-N and Kilz, both of which are alcohol-based and require denatured alcohol to clean up. They have some wicked fumes, so use them with excellent ventilation or outside if possible. They will seal in stains like oils, marker, wood resins, etc. If you don't need to seal the surface but need good adhesion - like say on a kitchen counter or tabletop- you could use a water-based primer. My favorite is Benjamin Moore Fresh Start - that sticks to just about anything. If you're painting a dark color paint, I recommend tinting your primer to a 1/2 shade of the color - or grey. That way if you get a chip, it shows less than if you see white primer. It also allows you to do less paint coats!


That said, I BROKE my cardinal rule on my living room table. WHY? Because I know my son will beat this table up mercilessly. I had a smaller table I had primed and painted that was showing white primer on all the chips and I didn't like it. So with this table - which I was painting black - I wanted any chips and dings to show woodtone. I also didn't mind if the piece looked distressed and a bit rustic, since the styling suited that sort of feel. So... I broke my own rule... I cleaned, sanded, and then applied the paint directly to the piece. And the results? EXCELLENT! The black acrylic paint has help up very well, and dents and dings just add character to the table!


4. PAINT IT - Select a color and paint. But HOW? If it is a small piece, or you want a very even and glossy smooth finish (like on a chair) I always opt for spray enamels - I like Krylon's paints for sheer range of color and quality. They have everything from Chalkboard and Iridescent sprays to basic flat black and grey. If the surface is likely to take a beating and/or I want a more handpainted or rustic look, I will often brush or roll on an acrylic paint. Acrylics are a bit more flexible when they dry and don't tend to chip quite as much as spray enamel, and I find them easy to touch up too!