When people grow tired of their old furniture, they usually paint it to give it a new look. Although there may be tons of tutorials and design inspirations online, people still make common mistakes when painting their furniture. Listed below are some of the common mistakes one should avoid when painting furniture.
There are different tutorials that claim that sanding the furniture is not necessary. However, House Beautiful said that sanding is definitely a must even though there are paint and primers which promise that sanding is no longer needed. It is important to sand all surfaces with sandpaper so that the primer will easily adhere to it. Knowing the right grit of sandpaper is also important, depending on the needs of the furniture.
Aside from sanding, it is also important to clean the furniture before painting it. Wipe down the surface with a tack cloth to remove any residue left behind. Tack cloth is the best for this kind of task.
According to Country Living, the next important task is to prime the furniture. The sites suggested using Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-based primer or Zinsser Bulls-Eye 1-2-3 primer and to prime the furniture using a mini foam roller. For hard-to-reach areas, use a foam brush and let it dry according to the instructions. For drips, use a 220-grit sanding block and wipe away with a tack cloth.
Painting furniture is a long process, and most people do not really know that it usually takes a couple of layer of coats before it can be completed. It is also important to sand in between coats so that drips or residue won't be left behind on the furniture. Use new tack cloth every cleaning for every coating.
Lastly, it is important to protect the paint by using a thin coat of water-based protectant in gloss. Give the furniture at least three days to dry before using it.
