Home > Tutorials > Painting Furniture (1, 2, 3, 4)

Introduction

This is a step by step guide to help you paint your own furniture.

The Project
A double pedestal desk with a varnished top and distressed finish on the edges and corners.

If you don't have an unfinished raw wood piece of furniture, we have included instructions on how to paint over an existing finish. However, this means your piece will not be able to have a stained top, instead it will be painted.

Supplies:

T.S.P.

180-220 grit sand paper

wet sanding sponge, bucket

tack cloth and lint free cloths

a good quality brush for latex paint

latex paint, colours of your choice

water-based latex varathane

plastic wood, putty knife

wood stain

shellac

We are starting from a raw unfinished wooden furniture. If you have a piece that you would like to repaint, that is okay. We can do this project over most surfaces and will guide you through the process.

Please Note: It may be best to avoid painting over a waxed finish unless you want to do a lot of stripping with turpentine or mineral spirits.