Re-finishing or refurbishing furniture has become super popular, with many different posts about DIY decor and how to turn boring old pieces into chic new designs to either spruce up your home or to sell. Some of these pieces, like most of the ones I work on, can turn into unique works of art, but others are quick re-design jobs. Depending on your creativity and skill levels you can do both. If you want to re-finish furniture, you don't need to have superior painting skills- you just need a few tips to get going. It's super easy to get started and you don't need to buy any specialty design kits or spend hundreds of dollars starting up your new business. Even though you probably are already getting ads on your social media accounts if you've searched how to fix up old furniture, don't be discouraged by the prices. I can tell you how I got started.
Where do I start?
Okay, this might seem self-explanatory, but you need a piece of furniture. I would start with something easy that doesn't need too much TLC. A small end table is usually a good place to start so you don't get overwhelmed by a big piece of furniture. Definitely don't go spend a bunch of money on something either. I usually troll FaceBook Marketplace and Offer Up for local pieces and try to find some unique pieces if I can. Sometimes you get lucky and people want to off a coffee table or dresser for free. That's even better! Yardsales, thrift stores, and checking grandma's house for unwanted pieces of furniture are great too. I typically don't go to estate sales that often because I think they mark a lot of that stuff up in price, but if you can make it work for you, go for it. The point is that it doesn't matter where you get it from, just don't spend a lot of money getting it. If furniture works out for you, then you can buy some more expensive pieces later, but chances are, you might be off to a slow start and you don't want to invest a lot of money in something like this right away.
Next you need an idea. If you are more of an artsy person, feel free to get creative. If you hate it, you can always put some primer over your paint job and try again. There is no wrong way to be creative. If you just want to flip furniture quickly, you don't have to be super crafty or have a ton of skills. It's actually pretty easy. Below is a list of must have supplies. You can actually get all of this at Lowe's or Home Depot (If you're a veteran, go to Lowe's and use their discount).
Supplies:
*A good paint brush- make sure the brushes you buy have bristles that are solidly attached to the brush. Last thing you want is little strings stuck to your finished product.
*Paint trays- disposable cups also work if you just want to stick to a brush. if you are buying a roller, which I recommend for larger pieces, you'll need some paint trays.
*A drop cloth- I can't emphasize how important this is. Tarps work too but a real painter's drop cloth will save your life (and your floor) if you happen to spill paint (I'm a messy painter so this has been a core part of my creative process).
*wood filler- this comes in smaller tubes so you don't need a lot. Wood filler is great for any dents or nicks in your pieces that you want to make disappear. If you do need this, I recommend getting some sand paper to smooth it out once you're done. Fine or semi-fine grit should work.
*Paint- paint is going to be the most expensive thing you buy so I recommend getting a color you can use on multiple products if possible. I usually start with a pint. It's usually plenty for any piece of furniture and you can always get more later. Semi-gloss indoor paint is my favorite to use, but if you want to just paint a piece without too much fuss, I would look for some chalk-based paint. Ask the paint guy at Lowe's or go to Hobby Lobby. This stuff will stick to anything and if you don't want to sand, it's the way to go. There is also chalk filler that can be added to any (ANY) paint to make it chalk-based, which can save you some money. Home Depot for sure sells this.
Now, if you want to get fancy, there are other things you can add for sure, but these are the basics. I would recommend getting some kind of sealant for your furniture- either paint or spray can. This goes on top after your paint is dry to give it that nice glossy shine afterward and keep your paint in place. Krylon has the best clear coat spray paint or if you prefer hand painting it on, Valspar makes a good sealant that you can get at any hardware store that sells paint.
I think when I bought all this stuff I spent about $50-70, but it's all things you can use multiple times so it's worth it. Another pro tip is to always buy your spray paint at a hardware store if you're going to use it. It's about half the price as Hobby Lobby.
What next?
If you've stuck with me this far, I know you're really interested so let's get started. The first thing I do is wipe down my furniture with a damp cloth. Some of these pieces have been collecting dust for years so you want to get all that off before you start. Don't use a furniture cleaner because that leaves a residue that can mess with your paint; water works just fine.
Once everything is clean and dry, I take my paint filler and fill in any dents or scratches that I want to make disappear. You can use a plastic spatula, but mostly I use my fingers (make sure you wash it off your skin when you're done!). Most fillers dry pretty fast so once it's dry, you want to sand it so it's even with the surface of the furniture. Regular sandpaper works fine for small areas. I'm kind of lazy and have a power sander, but you don't need to invest in that right away.
Now you're ready to paint! I tell people this all the time and there's always someone who doesn't know so here it goes: house paint and acrylic paint does not come out of your clothes! Put on some grungy paint clothes or pajamas before you start so you don't ruin your cute outfit. Other than that, go to town! The biggest tricks to painting are:
1. start small. thinner layers are better and can help you reduce any drips or weird patches. You can always layer over with more paint later.
2. Be sure to watch out for drips! Paint drips don't look good on furniture so try to catch them when they happen. If you miss one though, don't worry. You can sand it out once the paint is dry to smooth it out and then paint over that section again.
3. Know when your paint is dry. One of the biggest mistakes people make is trying to paint a second coat when the paint hasn't fully dried. I know you're anxious to finish your piece, but if the paint is still tacky or sticky at all, it's best to wait. Painting over paint that hasn't fully dried will just cause it to peel off and look gross. Then you'll have to sand and start over. Patience will save you time. Promise!
4. Brush strokes. If you are using a brush, most brushes will leave some brush strokes, even after the paint dries. This is perfectly fine, but if you aren't going for an edgy or abstract type look with your paint, be aware of what direction your strokes go. I usually try to paint a flat surface going all one direction, so like painting back and forth only instead of adding in multiple directions. It helps with the finished look. Some sealants will hide these brush strokes so if you pick a good one, you won't even need to worry about this tip, but it's good practice.
I hope this information helps and doesn't overload anyone. The biggest key to refinishing furniture is practice. That's why you should start small, maybe with an end table. If you hate it, you can paint over it or get rid of it and start over without having lost too much money on the piece. Also, have fun with it. Re-finishing furniture is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. I play music or audiobooks while I work and find it pretty relaxing. So don't panic. You got this!
I look forward to seeing some of your creations and wish you the best of luck!
Hannah