Furniture Paint

How to paint furniture?

Here are our tips for painting furniture in just 6 steps. As well as our recommended products for each step.

Step 1 - Preparation: First, prepare your piece of furniture by giving it a good clean and removing all the dust. Our website offers a range of surface cleaners to choose from.

Step 2 - Sand your furniture: Next, use medium-grit sandpaper to sand your furniture. Be careful not to groove the surface though as you may end up stripping the surface.

Step 3 - Prime: After your furniture is dry and dust-free, paint it using some primer. This helps your paint adhere to the furniture better.

Step 4 - Sand again: Sand your furniture again using fine-grit sandpaper. This helps you attain a much more professional and even finish. Make sure to use a tack cloth to remove the dust.

Step 5 - Paint: Finally, start painting your furniture. You can either use a paint sprayer or a regular spray paint, a brush, or a roller. It is advised to use a small foam roller for the main parts of the furniture and a brush in the hard-to-reach crevices. A specialist paint brush is recommended for extra precision.

Step 6 - Protect: Leave your last coat of paint to dry for at least 24 hours before sealing it. This will provide extra protection for your furniture. Use a water-based topcoat as it’s easy to clean up, and there aren’t as many fumes.

How to paint wooden furniture?

For wooden furniture, we advise you to follow 3 simple steps to achieve the best look for your old piece of furniture.

Step 1 - Preparing: Remove any necessary hardware from the furniture to evenly paint the whole surface. Fill any holes or chipped surfaces with wood filler. Sand the surface of the furniture to remove any existing varnish or lacquer, making it easier for the primer coat to adhere. Remove any dust or dirt left after sanding the furniture surface by using a tack cloth or wood reviver.

Step 2 - Priming: Brush or spray on a smooth coat of wood primer and allow the primer to dry before moving on to the next step. Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the primed surface after it has dried. This will help your paint adhere to the primer even better.

Step 3 - Painting: Start painting with a thin layer of latex or other furniture paint. Use a foam roller for any even surfaces. Remember to apply several light coats rather than a single heavy one. Wait for at least 6 hours to dry the first coat of paint and then apply a second coat. Sand between coats of paint after each one has dried. Make sure to wipe away any dust using a tack cloth. Once the paint is dry, apply a clear finish to protect the paint from nicks and scratches. It is advised to use a water-based polyurethane as it will work well in most cases.

Remember to let the furniture dry for a few days before use.

What kind of paint to use on wood furniture?

There are many types of paint you can use on wooden furniture, it all depends on the finished look you want to achieve.

For example, you can choose chalk or milk latex paints to create distressed furniture. Milk latex paint in particular, can be great for creating a weathered look for dressers, sideboards and headboards as it distresses easily through paint cracks. Chalk furniture paint, on the other hand, doesn’t distress as easily, so it may work great on items such as tables and wooden coat racks. Because chalk paint is tougher to flake, you’ll have more control over the amount of distressing on these pieces.

Use our Rust-Oleum Chalky Finish Furniture Paint for your furniture. This quality chalky paint for furniture is available in 16 classic colours and is perfect for transforming old furniture. It can be used directly on wood, brick, stone and plaster (or any suitable primed rigid surface).

Or if you want your furniture to have a smoother finish, use oil-based paint. The advantage of using oil paints is that they dry quickly, so you won’t lose much time without your daily furniture.

How to paint garden furniture?

Follow the below steps to paint a garden furniture:

Scrape off all large pieces of existing paint.

Smooth all surfaces using a sandpaper as it will help your paint adhere to the surface.

Wipe any dust from furniture using a tack cloth.

Apply one coat of exterior primer to the furniture using a brush. Use strokes in the same direction as the wood grain. Wait for it to dry before moving on to the next step.

Apply one coat of exterior paint with a brush and allow your furniture to dry. Apply additional coats if needed and allow the furniture to dry completely before using it.

What is the best furniture paint?

The best paint for furniture depends on the purpose of the painting project. Overall, pick a furniture paint that has a good bonding agent for the furniture's surface as well as a hardener to defend against wear and tear.

Rust-Oleum paint is well-known for its durability, making it an ideal choice for furniture that requires durability. Especially, if you are looking for furniture paint that works best for outdoor environments, our range of Rust-Oleum furniture paint is the perfect choice as a brand of high-quality paints and coatings. It contains a special formula that can protect outdoor chairs and tables, keeping them durable and colourful even when exposed to the environment. Furthermore, it is a water-based acrylic paint that may be easily cleaned with soap and water. With our furniture paint, you can use it on metal, wood, unglazed ceramic, and plaster surfaces.

Is it best to use a brush or roller for furniture paint?

If you want to paint furniture with a smoother and more even finish, a paint roller will generally provide the best results. You can also achieve highly even coats using brushes, but this requires more time and skill. However, a paint brush or roller has a different aesthetic and requires a different plan serving distinct functional roles.

Simply, brushes are perfect for minor painting tasks like cutting in edges, touching up coats, and covering small, thin, and/or angled surfaces, while rollers are designed to cover large, open, uninterrupted areas efficiently.

It is worth noting that you are considering which tool is better suited for the task you want to do, and you might have your own personal preference. You can contact us for our support and recommendations.