Painting Furniture with a Paintbrush: Preparation

Painting Furniture with a paintbrush: Preparation

In this video, you will discover the steps to take before painting a piece of furniture.

There are four stages to this process, which we will explain to you.

Step 1: Choosing Your Furniture

There are three criteria to take into account when deciding whether it's worth repainting a piece of furniture.

Firstly, the condition of the furniture: it shouldn't be broken.

Secondly, the material: choose a piece made from solid wood or plywood rather than laminate furniture.

You can identify laminate furniture by its plasticised look- paint will not adhere to this material.

Thirdly, the size of the piece: the bigger the furniture, the longer it will take to paint.

For large wardrobes or sideboards, it's best to use a paint sprayer.

Step 2: Preparing and Positioning the Furniture

Start by removing any detachable parts from the furniture, including any ironmongery

Place the furniture to be painted at a comfortable working height.

Apply masking tape to any areas you don't want to paint.

Step 3: Choosing Paint

There are 2 types of paint available: acrylic and glycerophtalic paints.

Acrylic paint is the more ecological of the two.

It can be diluted and cleaned with water.

Glycerophtalic paints are dissolved with a hydrocarbon solvent.

In this example, we're using acrylic paint.

This type of paint dries quicker.

It does, however, have a weaker coverage, and will require at least three coats.

But you won't need to use a hydrocarbon solvent to dilute the paint or clean the brushes.

Acrylic paint is suitable for wood, glass and metal.

Step 4: Choosing a Paintbrush

It's essential to choose the right type and size of paintbrush to get a uniform coverage on your furniture.

Use a paint roller for large surfaces and for first coats.

To prevent lint, pass your roller over the sticky side of a length of packing tape before you start.

For inside corners, use a round brush to get into hard-to-access areas

If you have any touch-ups to make, a small, narrow brush is best.

Now you know how to choose and prepare your furniture, you're ready to paint!