How To Paint Bedroom Furniture

If you want to refurbish your bedroom furniture, there are many ways you can go about it.

However, it does require you to invest a lot of time and effort into transforming your furniture.

Hence, it is better to make sure that you’re doing it right from the start.

Shortcut painting techniques or trying to get it done in a hurry will only cause mishaps.

The paint might start chipping or peeling off or you might not get a smooth finish.

Here are some of the tools and supplies you will need:

A Sander or sandpaper
Primer
Paint
Tack cloth
Dense Foam Roller
Paint Brushes
Masking Tape
Wax or lacquer (if needed)

Here are the basic steps you should follow when painting your bedroom furniture.

Table of Contents

Deciding What You Want

Home projects can have several different goals.

Maybe you want to refurbish your vintage bed set or give it a makeover.

You’ll have to decide whether you want your finish to be distressed or block color, or glossy or matte.

The type of finish or outlook you want will determine which paint, primer, and techniques you use.

Chalk paint often needs little to no prep work, but it does need to be sealed once it’s done. With chalk paint, brush strokes are far more visible.

However, if you want to paint with latex or spray paint, you’ll probably need to sand and prime first.

Disassembling Your Furniture

If possible, take apart your furniture before painting it.

Flat surfaces are easier to paint uniformly, and it will be easier for you to get every crack and corner.

Remove all hardware and tape any places that you don’t want to be painted.

Painting a deconstructed piece does take up more room, but it is worth it in the long run.

It will make it easier for you to properly paint each part.

Sanding Your Furniture

When painting wood, abrasion is necessary to ensure that the paint adheres to the surface.

A light sand will suffice if the furniture is clear of pollutants.

You can select fine sandpaper with a grit of 360 to 600 or 40 to 60 grit for heavy sanding. Alternatively, you can use an orbital sander if you don’t prefer to do it by hand.

The goal here is to rough up the surface, so the primer is able to stick to it. Try not to overdo it by stripping the surface.

Cleaning the Surface

After prepping the surface, it is important to clean away any contaminants and residue.

Leftover varnish can reach with your paint and give an undesirable result. After sanding, it is wise to use wire wool and white spirit to clean away any residue.

Use a tack cloth for best results.

Make sure the surface you’re painting is absolutely clean, dry, and clear of any pollutants that might prevent the paint from achieving a good result, such as wax, furniture polish, dirt, or dust.

We recommend thoroughly washing the item in hot water with a liquid detergent, then rinsing away any residues with clean, lukewarm water.

Allow for a final wipe using methylated spirit or white spirit after the surface has dried.

Priming Your Furniture

The amount of primer you need depends on the type of surface and the paint you’re using.

Some paints do not need priming, so you should read the label directions before getting started.

There are primers specifically designed for wooden, metal, plastic, and ceramic materials.

The primer’s job is to seal the surface, offer a decent key for the paint, and give a consistent base to add your color to, all contributing to increasing the finish’s durability and overall outlook.

Use a foam roller to apply the primer and a foam brush to get into many areas that are difficult to reach.

Allow the primer to dry as per the instructions given on the can.

Painting Your Furniture

Once the primer is dry, you can get started on painting. It is not as stressful as you might think.

Any stray brush strokes or drips you missed will simply blend in by the time you’re done.

Here, we should mention that paintbrushes are divided into two categories. There are bristles made of natural hair and those made of synthetic materials.

Natural hair can give you a better finish if you’re using oil-based paint.

Natural bristles, on the other hand, retain water and become limp when used with latex or water-based paint.

You can use a combination of brushes and paint rollers if you prefer.

A foam roller works best for flat areas, while brushes are ideal for crevices or detailed areas.

Use masking tape to create patterns as you wish or to cover areas you don’t want to be painted.

You will most likely need at least two coats of paint. It is best to wait around six to seven hours in between coats.

If there are any drip marks or residue on the piece, you should sand in between coats.

You should use a new tack cloth and the same sanding paper to remove every speck of lint or dust.

This is a crucial step before you apply your finish.

Adding the Finishing Touches

Before you finish your piece, you should use an old hairdryer to blow away any sanding dust that may have gotten into the corners or crevices.

You don’t want your dust to stick to the object before you seal it.

Many paints have a tough, long-lasting finish without the need for additional protection from wax or lacquer.

However, to preserve and improve the painted surface, some colors do require the application of wax or lacquer.

A brush or cloth makes it easy to apply furniture wax. It produces a smooth, velvety shine, which is ideal for a chic look.

At the same time, the furniture lacquer is coated onto the furniture with a brush.

It leaves a matte finish for furniture pieces that need to withstand bumps and stains.

If you’re using a water-based polyacrylic varnish, make sure to use a mini foam roller. It will help to smoothen out any bubbles by going over the coat very lightly.

Give it around 72 hours to dry before using the furniture, as it can become sticky.

Points to Keep in Mind When Painting Your Bedroom Furniture

Sanding your furniture will result in a lot of dust, whether you do it manually or with an orbital sander. You should wear a mask with a proper filter, use a vacuum, and wipe down your furniture to remove any contaminants.
Any home renovation or makeover project takes longer than you expect. Keep in mind that the paint and primer you use produce harmful fumes. Be sure to open the windows during these steps.
Sand and paint outside if possible. This removes the issue of dust and fumes while providing enough space if you want to disassemble your furniture.

Of course, you could paint inside, but in a small space, it will only be a nuisance to you.

You’ll have to walk around freshly painted furniture and paint cans.

If painting inside, drape your walls, floors, and furniture with plastic, paper, or cloth. Paint drops get everywhere, so make sure everything is covered properly.
For smaller projects, a sample-sized paint can be enough. For bigger projects, you can get by on a quart of paint. Hence, you should carefully gauge how much paint you need to avoid getting more than necessary.
Look up painting techniques to make sure you achieve the best results. Ideally, you should start from the edges and corners. Next, you should feather out the straight lines with a brush. Then, use the paint roller on flat surfaces.
The paint color you choose could look altered in different lighting or have a finish that you don’t like. Be prepared to start over if needed.
While the paint itself doesn’t cost too much, the tools and supplies do. It is better to invest in them to make sure that you do the job right.

The process of painting your bedroom furniture can be tedious and stressful.

However, when you achieve your desired finished product, the effort is worth it.

The key to doing it right lies in the prep work, however messy and time-consuming it is.

Keeping the above-mentioned steps and point in mind, you can work your way towards transforming your furniture.

Other articles you may also like: