How to Paint Old Wood Furniture
Revitalizing an old wooden piece of furniture through painting is a rewarding DIY project that can breathe new life into tired, worn items. Whether you’re looking to preserve the natural wood appearance or completely transform your furniture with vibrant colors, this guide will walk you through the various painting options and techniques to achieve professional-looking results. With the right materials and a bit of patience, you can turn that outdated dresser or side table into a stunning centerpiece for your home.
Choosing the Right Paint
Before painting old wooden furniture, it’s important to decide what look you want to achieve, as this will help you select the right paint.
If you want to maintain a natural wood appearance on your furniture, you can use a Stain & Sealer. These products will give your furniture the natural colors of woods like walnut, cherry, oak, or chestnut. However, for these to adhere properly, the furniture needs to be raw wood. If the furniture already has paint on it, you’ll need to sand it down until you reach the bare wood. This ensures that the Stain & Sealer will adhere well and display its true color.
Another way to paint old wooden furniture is with all-purpose acrylic paints or chalk paint. These two types of paint have similar properties, though chalk paint has a more matte finish and better adhesion. If you’re planning to paint your old wooden furniture in solid colors like cream, blue, green, white, or red, you can use acrylic paints or chalk paint. Let’s explore these painting methods in more detail.
How to Paint Old Wooden Furniture with Varnished Wood Stain (Stain & Sealer)
Varnished Wood Stain is the best way to paint old wooden furniture while maintaining a natural wood appearance. However, it doesn’t work well on painted or laminated furniture. Therefore, if your furniture has paint on it, you’ll need to sand it down until you see the raw wood. Tip: A power sander can speed up the sanding process. If your furniture has a processed or coated surface, acrylic paint might be a better option.
Follow these steps to paint furniture with Varnished Wood Stain:
- Make sure the furniture is raw or unpainted. If it’s painted, sand off all the paint completely.
- If there are cracks or breaks in the furniture, fill them with a water-based wood filler that matches the paint color.
- Once the filler is dry, sand the surface.
- Apply one coat of Varnished Wood Stain. If your stain is water-based, apply 2 coats with 3-4 hours between coats. If you’re using an oil-based Varnished Wood Stain, wait at least 24 hours between coats.
- If your wood stain doesn’t include varnish, apply a coat of varnish 24 hours after painting for extra protection.
How to Paint Old Wooden Furniture with Acrylic and Chalk Paint
Whether your old wooden furniture is raw wood or processed laminate, you can paint it with acrylic paint. However, acrylic paints will give your furniture solid colors rather than a wood appearance. Follow these steps when painting processed and coated old wooden furniture with acrylic or chalk paint:
- If there are cracks or breaks in the furniture, fill them with a water-based filler that matches the paint color or is white.
- Apply a coat of primer to the furniture. Primer prevents raw furniture from absorbing the paint. Tip: For coated and processed furniture, primer helps the paint adhere better to the surface. “Related article: Do you need to primer before painting?”
- After applying the primer, wait at least 4 hours for it to dry.
- Apply two coats of acrylic paint or chalk paint to the furniture using a short-nap roller, with 4 hours between coats. A 2-inch brush will be sufficient for recessed areas.
- After painting the furniture with acrylic paint, you can apply 1 or 2 coats of water-based varnish 24 hours later to protect the paint.
How to Paint Old Wooden Furniture with Enamel Paint
Enamel paints can be either synthetic or water-based. “Related article: Oil based stain vs water based.” You can paint old wooden furniture with either type. Enamel paints will also give furniture solid colors. Enamel paints, which have high adhesion capabilities, are typically glossy. Glossy enamel paints can give your old wooden furniture a nice, vibrant appearance. However, glossy enamel paints have a high potential for leaving roller and brush marks. Therefore, make sure to use high-quality brushes and rollers when using these paints in your wooden furniture painting project. If you don’t have painting experience, opting for other paint options might give you better results. “Related article: Enamel paint application.”
Follow these steps in the process of painting wooden furniture with enamel paint:
- Repair cracked and broken parts of the furniture with wood filler. If you plan to use oil-based enamel paint, the filler should be oil-based; if you plan to use water-based enamel, the filler should be water-based.
- After the filler is completely dry, apply 2 coats of enamel paint to the furniture, waiting 4 hours between coats for water-based enamel paint and 24 hours between coats for oil-based paints. During the furniture painting process, the articles ‘How to Paint a Coffee Table‘ and ‘Painting a Dining Table‘ may also be helpful to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of paint do you use on old wood furniture?
For old wood furniture, you have several excellent options. Varnished Wood Stain is ideal if you want to maintain the natural wood grain while adding color. For solid-color transformations, chalk paint is popular because it adheres well to most surfaces with minimal prep. Acrylic paint offers great durability and comes in countless colors. For a glossy, highly durable finish, enamel paint works well but requires more skill to apply smoothly. Choose based on your desired finish and the current condition of your furniture.
Can I just paint over old furniture?
While it’s tempting to simply start painting, most projects require some preparation. At minimum, clean the surface thoroughly to remove dirt and oils. For the best results, lightly sand the surface to create texture for better paint adhesion. If the furniture has a glossy finish or is made of laminate, you’ll definitely need primer first. Chalk paint is the exception that sometimes allows painting directly over old finishes, but even then, proper cleaning is essential.
Do I have to sand wood furniture before painting?
The amount of sanding depends on your paint choice and the furniture’s condition. For stains and sealers, you must sand completely down to bare wood. For paint, light sanding to rough up the surface is usually sufficient. If the furniture has peeling paint or an uneven surface, more thorough sanding becomes necessary. Electric sanders can make this job much easier for larger pieces. Remember to wipe away all dust before applying paint.
Do I need to prime old wood before painting?
Primer is highly recommended for most furniture painting projects. It creates a uniform surface that helps paint adhere better and last longer. It’s absolutely necessary when: painting raw, unfinished wood (which would otherwise absorb too much paint); covering dark colors with lighter ones; working with furniture that has knots or stains; or painting laminated surfaces. Quality primer reduces the number of paint coats needed and prevents bleed-through issues that might appear months later.
