Painting is one of the easiest methods of giving wood furniture and other décor items a fresh new look. When some of our readers wrote to us asking about how to spray paint wood furniture, we went to our resident repurposing expert. She took us through the process and all of the considerations you have to make in order to do this job and get great results.
She even gave us some helpful advice and tips to share with our readers so they would be better equipped to do the job they wanted to do.
How to Spray Paint Your Wood Furniture: Step By Step Guide
Preparation is the Key to Success
You have to prepare the furniture properly if you want to paint it. Without proper preparation, the paint may not adhere to the surface of the wood, and it may be a waste of your time and money.
Move the Furniture Under a Cover
If you have a garage or interior space that you can move the furniture to before painting you can reduce your concerns of bugs, particles of dust and debris in the air, rain, dew, and other progress inhibitors.
If you do move the work inside you need to make sure that the area is properly ventilated for your safety and so the paint can dry properly. You also should cover the floor of the room so you do not get paint all over the surface of it.
Clean Away Dirt and Debris
You will need to wipe down the entire piece of furniture to make certain that you have removed all loose particles of dirt and debris that might be clinging to it. If the piece has been kept outdoors you may also want to check under the seats and in hidden areas for little inhabitants like spiders.
Sand Wooden Furniture
You need to get the sandpaper ready so you can sand it. The sanding will remove loose paint and imperfections that could stop the piece from being flawless when finished. The sanding also creates a surface that the paint will adhere to more easily.
Remove The Dust
Once you have sanded the item then there will be dust particles on it. The dust particles can interfere with your paint so you will need to take a dry cloth and brush away the dust. You can also take a shop vacuum and use the brush attachment to go over the furniture and remove all of the dust.
Finally, you should take a damp, not wet, cloth and wipe the entire surface of the furniture down to make sure that all dirt, dust, and debris have been eradicated.
Bonding Primer for Wood
You do need to use a bonding primer even if you are using aerosol spray paint for your top coat. The bonding primer prepares the item so the paint is going to adhere better. It also protects the wood of the piece from damages caused by humidity, moisture, exposure to heat and cold, and more.
The primer will make your paint last longer and be less likely to peel, blister or crack. Primer also helps to make a uniform surface by covering slight imperfections.
Bottoms Up
You want to turn the piece of furniture upside down so you can spray the bottom first. This keeps you from having to touch the item after the topcoat is applied and possibly damages the layer of paint.
When you are spraying paint, you have to make a continuous pass from one edge of the piece to the next. You do this by choosing a section of the furniture like the seat and then when it is complete you move on to another section.
Your paint spray will need to be overlapped in order for it to cover the entire piece. The amount of overlap should be about 30%.
While painting your spray can be in a continuous motion to avoid drips and spurts. When you get to the end of a section allow the can to go slightly past the end before releasing the button to stop the spray.
More Paint is Better
You want to make several light coverings of paint instead of trying to paint the entire item in one fatal swoop. The idea is to make thin layers of paint and repeat the thin-layer process until the furniture has complete coverage and looks like you want it to look.
Each layer of paint must dry completely before you apply the next layer. The complete drying gives you better adhesion to the next coat. If you rush the process and put the second layer on top of a still-damp first layer then the first layer may peel away and the entire piece will be messed up.
Do not be in a hurry when you start to paint. Painting is easy to do but it does take a little time in order to do it well. If you do not have the time to invest in the project do not start until you do have enough time.
Read More>> How to Paint a Door without Brush Marks
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Spray Paint Wood Furniture Without Sanding?
You probably can spray paint wood furniture without sanding but you cannot spray paint wood furniture without sanding and getting a professional-looking finish. You have to sand in order to remove old paint and debris that can cause your finish to be of lesser quality.
Is It Better to Use Spray Paint for Wood Furniture?
Spray paint does create a great finish on wooden furniture. You can use paint that is applied by brush or roller but spray paint leaves no brush marks and creates a more consistent finish.
What is the Best Spray Paint for Wood?
Enamel paints are the best ones to use when spraying painting furniture. The enamel paint dries to a durable finish that can withstand frequent touching and cleaning. It is a little less forgiving than other paints but it is long-lasting and beautiful.
Final Thoughts
Painting your wood furniture will allow you to change styles and colors and breathe new life into older things. This also allows you to spend less money on décor and still have awesome-looking spaces. Spray paint is simply the simplest method because the paint comes with the applicator, and it requires no mixing or deep cleaning after the job is done.
Here are some additional articles about interior painting for further reading
1. How to Spray Paint Interior Walls and Ceilings
2. How to Paint Baseboards with Carpet
