To Paint or Not to Paint

We have all looked at an old piece of furniture and thought "that would look so much better if I painted it." But, this can seem like a daunting task to figure out what color to paint the piece, what kind of paint to use, or even what prep-work is involved. Fear not! I will give you a guide to choosing color and paint, and prepping your piece of furniture.

When choosing a piece from an online classified or local thrift store, choose pieces with simple lines and is the correct dimensions for your space. The next thing to consider is what you want to do to the piece. Do you want to re-stain the wood or just paint it. On a non-visible piece of the furniture, scratch the wood to test how thick the polyurethane is on top of the stain. if it is thick,
I would suggest painting the furniture. If the poly is thin, it might be worth stripping and sanding to re-stain the wood to a more pleasing color.

To strip the wood, you will need chemical stripper, googles, mask, thick plastic gloves, some of those disposable foil roasting pans, paint brushes you don't mind throwing away when you are done, scrapers, mineral spirits, lots of plastic bags, brillo pads, plastic drop cloths, and cleaning supplies.

WARNING - Stripper is nasty, strong stuff. The chemicals in stripper can kill you. Make sure to work outside in a well-ventilated area. Children shouldn't be anywhere near you while you're using stripper, or while the stripper is soaking into the layers of polyurethane.

Here is an informative video on stripping wood furniture.

Click here for another great tutorial and supplies list.

 Once you have stripped the furniture, let it air out for a few days outside. Then you can begin sanding the piece until you see raw wood. Choosing stain is easier than you think as well. Nowadays, stain comes in cute little sample cans. Buy a few that you like and test it on the back of the piece until you find one you like. Do not try it on another piece of wood. You need to try it on the actual piece of furniture. Because you stripped the furniture and sanded it, it will take stain differently than fresh pine or whatever scrap wood you have on hand. If you like the raw wood look, finishing wax is a good option as well.

If you choose to paint your furniture, I think the most daunting decision is what color to paint your piece. The best way to find a color you like is to look online. All you need to do is search for "furniture re-do" and you'll get thousands of images to choose from. Another source for inspiration can be found on Craftionary.net here.

Once you've chosen your color, determine the material. Is the furniture wood, laminate, or plastic? I suggest using spray paint for any type of plastic. Make sure to read the labels of EVERY type of paint you use to make sure it's the right kind. One thing that people don't typically think of is to ask the people in the paint department of your local hardware store. Most of the time, they know what they're talking about. (ALWAYS ask the old guy. I've gotten some of the best advice from "the old guy in the paint department") If you choose to go to Home Depot, look for the guy with the apron that's full of word and drawings. They have been there the longest and probably have the information you need.

Always remember that the more prep work you do, the easier it will be to paint. Make sure to sand your piece well with first a rough, then fine sandpaper. You can rent power sanders from your local hardware store for a few bucks a day. A power sander will save you time and your hands will thank you. Do not feel that you have to sand the entire piece down to wood. Just make sure to get the outer layer of polyurethane off with the rough sandpaper, then smooth out the wood with the fine sandpaper. I recommend using what I call a soccer tent (pictured) and then taping plastic drop cloths on all four sides. Make sure to make a door with overlapping pieces of plastic on one side, though. You don't want to get stuck in there. Cr
eating this outdoor room to paint in will help keep bugs, dirt and grass out of the paint. Let each coat completely dry before applying another one. Let the last coat dry and cure for at least 24-48 hours before you take it inside.

We only have a few more short weeks until winter descends upon us, so get those projects done so you can enjoy them this winter. Send me some before and after photos to mocklidesigns@gmail.com and we will feature them on our social media. Stay tuned for more inspiration and continued fun!