How to Paint Furniture

Colourful furniture has been making a comeback in recent years, and we’re here for it! This doesn’t always mean you have to go and spend a fortune on brand new furniture though! Instead, find yourself some furniture appropriate paint and get stuck into a DIY job. If you’ve got some old furniture that’s looking a bit dull and old, you have the perfect blank canvas, so check out our handy step by step guide on how to paint furniture, and give it a new lease of life.

Find an appropriate space
Prepare your furniture
Prime any wooden furniture
Get painting!
Apply the finishing touches

Zhoosh Hip Hop Green Woodwork & Metal paint on kitchen cabinets. — Above, Zhoosh™ Hip Hop Green Paint for Woodwork & Metal

1 – Find an Appropriate Space

As with any painting project you’re doing, your space needs to be well ventilated and the surrounding area must be protected from splashes and spills. When painting furniture this is often easier as you may be able to move the piece you’re working on outside into the open air. You can’t get much better ventilation than that! If this isn’t possible, you should open every window and door to the room, to allow the air to circulate, opening up the opportunity for a draft. If you’re having to paint your furniture inside, cover any surfaces you don’t want to get paint on with a dust sheet.

Zhoosh Smooth Blue Woodwork & Metal paint on utility cabinets and door. — Above, Zhoosh™ Smooth Blue Paint for Woodwork & Metal

2 – Prepare your Furniture

If you’re working on a piece that has any kind of knobs or handles, remove these to keep them free from paint, and to keep them out of the way. This will allow you to keep an even coverage across the whole piece, resulting in a better finished look. You should also aim to sand any wooden furniture, to ensure the surface is completely smooth before you begin, as you won’t be able to correct this once the paint is on. If your piece of furniture has been painted in the past, use a coarse sandpaper to remove as much of the old paint as possible, making way for the fresh stuff! If you’re working on a surface that hasn’t previously been painted, wash down with a sugar soap and lightly sand. Make sure you wipe away any dust or grease before you apply any paint product.

Zhoosh Soulful Green Woodwork & Metal paint on kitchen cabinets. — Above, Zhoosh™ Soulful Green Paint for Woodwork & Metal

3 – Prime the Furniture

To ensure you get the best results possible, we would always recommend priming the surface before you apply colour. It not only creates an even base to work on, but also ensures your paint will look and feel it’s best, allowing it to look fresher for longer. It’s especially important when working on a dark surface if you’re planning to paint your furniture a lighter, brighter colour. Without it you could end up applying many layers of paint, resulting in a thick layer that may chip or flake away in the future.

Zhoosh White Primer tin lid. — Above, Zhoosh™ White Paint Primer 750ml

4 – Get Painting!

Now for the fun part, applying the colour! After allowing time for your primer to completely dry, you can start applying paint to your furniture. For large, flat surfaces we’d recommend a roller, and for the nooks and crannies, try using a round brush. Apply a thin layer of your paint to begin, ensuring you’ve covered every part of the furniture. Allow for this to dry for the recommended amount of time that your tin of paint recommends, and return to apply a second coat. Keep applying as many coats as you need until you’re satisfied with the pigmentation and coverage on your furniture, ensuring you leave enough time between coats to allow them to dry thoroughly.

Zhoosh Rhythmic Red Woodwork & Metal paint on kitchen cabinets. — Above, Zhoosh™ Rhythmic Red Paint for Woodwork & Metal

5 – Apply your Finishing Touches

Once your paint is completely dry you’ll notice your furniture coming back to life! For a weathered and vintage look, use a coarse sand paper to buff away at the corners of your furniture to reveal small amounts of its original wood. This looks great in traditional or bohemian style homes! If you’ve used a chalky paint, your newly painted piece of furniture will need sealing. Wipe away any debris or dust from the furniture and apply a thin coat of sealer to finish it off. If you previously removed any knobs and handles, now’s the time to fix them back on, or replace them with new, shiny ones!

Zhoosh Pop Blue Woodwork & Metal paint on kitchen cabinets. — Above, Zhoosh™ Pop Blue Paint for Woodwork & Metal

There you have it! We hope this guide helped you in your project and shed some light on the steps to take to get a beautiful new piece of furniture! Be sure to check out our range of high-quality paint to help you with your project, available for both Walls & Ceilings and Woodwork & Metal! Tag us in pictures of your DIY projects on Instagram, @Wallsandfloors, we love seeing what you’ve been up to and it may get featured on our website!