Do you want to repaint a varnished piece of furniture to restore it or give it a completely different style? It’s entirely possible ! However, to successfully complete this job, it is essential to follow several steps and to be equipped with the right tools. Follow the 10 steps to in this guide!
Step 1: make sure your furniture is actually varnished
First of all, you have to be sure that your furniture is well varnished, because it may well look like it, but in reality be waxed or oiled. It can indeed be difficult to clearly identify the finishing product with the naked eye. To be certain that it is a varnished piece of furniture, here is a small simple test to perform.
- On a cloth, pour a little alcohol or white spirit. Rub a small corner of the furniture for a few seconds. If the cloth becomes greasy or if it takes on a brown or black tint, it is a waxed and unvarnished piece of furniture. If you want to repaint it, you will need to remove the wax first.
- Place a drop of water on the wood and wait one minute. If it remains on the surface, the wood is not porous, which means that the furniture is oiled . Again, you will need to remove the oil with a suitable product before repainting, otherwise you will encounter adhesion problems.
If it is now certain that your furniture is varnished, observe its condition in order to proceed with the right steps. If the varnish is in good condition, you can sand your furniture directly. On the other hand, if the varnish is damaged and cracked, you will have to strip it before sanding it.
Step 2: Equip yourself with the right equipment
Do you want to repaint a varnished piece of furniture? You will therefore need to equip yourself with the following equipment:
- a protective tarp
- a sponge
- dry rags
- lukewarm water
- Marseille soap
- fine-grit and coarse-grit sandpaper
- masking tape
- brushes (rechampir brush, flat brush, etc.)
- a paint roller
- a paint tray
- screwdrivers
- an undercoat paint or primer
- paint for your furniture, preferably acrylic, more environmentally friendly, less toxic to health and much faster to dry
- a colorless varnish.
Also, remove what will not be repainted, such as handles, knobs, fittings, hinges, rails, etc.
Repair traces of wear and damaged parts
It will be much prettier for an optimal end result to repair holes and signs of wear. So be sure to fill any holes with a special filler or by mixing as much plaster as drywall glue and diluting them with water before applying and allowing to dry for at least two hours. There is also wood putty for a better result.
Remember to sand the surface well to smooth the whole and ensure that the rework and the repair remain invisible once the furniture is painted.
Treat your furniture
If the piece of furniture has traces of the presence of xylophagous insects, apply a suitable treatment to it before repainting it.
A light sanding to finish
If you did not need to strip the worn varnish from the furniture, it is recommended to lightly sand it with sandpaper in order to make the surface more catchy. You will be able to attack the varnish a little by breaking it to facilitate the grip of the paint.
Step 5: Clean your furniture
Before repainting your furniture, you will have to give it a good cleaning. No need to spend a fortune to do this, Marseille soap is more than enough and very effective.
Start by dusting your furniture with a cloth, or even with your vacuum cleaner to properly remove residues in the corners or rails. Then rub the stains encrusted in the wood with a sponge soaked in soapy water (lukewarm water and Marseille soap). Refine the cleaning with a brush or a toothbrush to thoroughly clean the corners. Finish by rinsing and drying with a clean, dry cloth and/or in the open air.
Then proceed to degrease the wood. On a barely moistened sponge, place a little baking soda or Meudon white , effective and natural abrasive products. The toothbrush will again allow you to scrub hard-to-reach places. Then rinse with lukewarm water and dry between two and six hours so that the wood is perfectly dry. This degreasing will facilitate the adhesion of the paint.
Step 6: Sand your furniture
Sanding is important to allow a good grip of the paint and a more harmonious rendering, but it will be more or less thorough depending on the condition of your furniture. If the surface is in good condition, the sanding can remain light. On the other hand, in case of signs of wear on the varnish, it must be deepened and treated.
You can sand your varnished furniture with a vibrating sander or by hand with sandpaper, or even with both. The coarse grit is best to start with, then the finer grit (80 to 120) is used to finalize the sanding. Follow the direction of the grain of the wood carefully and sand in a gentle, regular motion, always in the same direction to avoid scratches.
Finish by cleaning again with a dry cloth to remove residual dust.
Step 7: Dust your furniture
A good dusting is necessary after sanding. Be sure to remove any remaining dust to avoid unpleasant surprises when you apply the paint. Help yourself with your vacuum cleaner and rags. Finally, finish with the passage of a sponge moistened with soapy water, rinse and let dry several hours so that the wood is perfectly dry.
Step 8: Apply your undercoat to your furniture
Before applying your paint, it is best to start by applying an undercoat or primer. As its name suggests, this product is to be applied before painting and it is essential to hope to repaint a piece of furniture correctly. It allows the paint to adhere better to the surface of the wood and to last much longer without risk of flaking.
Apply it with a brush and roller, preferably in the direction of the wood. Let dry well. Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure that you follow the drying and application instructions.
Step 9: Paint your furniture
To properly paint your varnished furniture, here are the steps to follow.
- Mask surfaces that you do not wish to paint and that are not removable with masking tape.
- Using a stick, mix the paint well in the pot and scrape well to the bottom. You will be sure to have a very harmonious and regular shade. Do not hesitate to remix from time to time for a better result.
- You can pour some paint into a paint tray to make it easier to apply, especially if you’re using a roller. This will allow you to wring out the roller before application.
- Start by painting the reliefs, angles and moldings with a brush. Do not apply too much paint to avoid runs.
- Then use a roller or a flat brush to paint the flat surfaces. The roller is preferable on a perfectly smooth surface. If this is not the case, the flat brush will be more suitable. Follow the wood fibers well for a more natural and aesthetic result.
- Let the first coat of paint, which must be thin, dry well. A layer that is too thick risks running or flaking too quickly. In addition, the result is less aesthetic.
- Once the first coat is dry (refer to the drying time indicated on the product), apply a second coat in the same way.
- Wait until the painted surfaces are completely dry before considering a third coat. Apply this only if necessary.
Step 10: Varnish your furniture
Your piece of furniture is painted, but it is preferable to protect its surface well with a clear varnish. This will allow you to protect it from scratches and stains. It will look better for longer and the paint will hold better.
When the furniture is dry and clean, apply the varnish to its entire surface with a brush and/or a roller. Here again, it is better to have several thin layers than one thick layer which risks forming unsightly drips.
Let your furniture dry for at least 24 hours, or even longer depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Once dry, all you have to do is reassemble the disassembled parts and put the removed elements back in place (fittings, handles, knobs, rails, etc.).
All you have to do is admire your work!
Step 3: Strip your furniture
If the varnish on your furniture is damaged, you will need to strip it first. There are chemical strippers on the market to do this. Otherwise, here are two natural solutions to strip the varnish from the furniture to be repainted.
- Natural tip 1 : mix a little water and baking soda to form a paste. Apply it to the surface to be stripped. Then pour white vinegar on the wood, which will cause a chemical reaction. You will only have to brush until the wood is free of varnish.
- Natural tip 2 : mix olive oil, household alcohol, the juice of a lemon and turpentine, each product in equal quantity. Dip a rag into the mixture and rub the surface of the wood until the varnish is removed. Wipe with a clean, dry cloth to finish.
Step 4: Prepare your furniture
Once your furniture has been thoroughly stripped, you must carefully prepare it for the best result. Indeed, it would be a shame to rush you by dispensing with certain essential preparatory steps.
Dismantle what can be
It’s usually easier to get a nice result by painting the pieces one by one. Accordingly, disassemble the parts that can be disassembled and remove the drawers, doors, shelves and other disassembled elements.