Hello friends! I hope your summer is bringing you happiness! This season is an incredible time made better by spending time with family, taking long awaited vacations, and checking off to do lists around the house. What is your favorite thing to do during the summer months? Making over furniture can be fun, and it gives new life to pieces you already own! I have painted lots of furniture pieces, from real wood to laminate. While some turn out gorgeous (see how I painted stripes on a dresser here, and how I painted a table here), others can be a disaster! As a result of each project, I have come up with 5 secrets to using paint to make furniture beautiful.

Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links to products and services I personally use and believe in. If you make a purchase, I may earn commission at no additional cost to you.

5 SECRETS TO USING PAINT TO MAKE FURNITURE BEAUTIFUL

To get to this point, you have eyed up the piece you want to paint and you have decided on a gorgeous color of paint! Are you ready to begin your project? Let’s go!

1. Clean the surface of your piece really good. You want to make sure you get rid of any dirt or dust particles on your piece. If your piece of furniture has been sitting somewhere like a garage or shed, you may want to consider using Murphy’s Oil Soap to really clean it well.
2. Use wood filler to fill in any holes or scratches. To really create a finished look, you want the surface to be as smooth as possible. Filling in any holes or scratches will help achieve this look.
3. Sand everything– especially the spots filled with wood filler. Believe me when I tell you, sanding is my least favorite part of any project. I hate the dust flying around! But it is a necessary evil to create a gorgeous painted piece. You will be happy later!
4. Use a paint primer. A good primer will help the paint adhere to the surface. You do not want to create a beautiful masterpiece, only to have the paint chipping off in six months! Also, one other benefit I found with using a primer is it preserves the material being painted. This will help with consistency on that final coat of paint. Personally, I have had a lot of luck with Zinsser Bulls Eye.
5. Let your paint dry thoroughly before applying the next coat. Although the excitement makes you want to get the project complete sooner, it is important that you hold off applying extra coats until the time is right! When you do not allow the paint to dry, it can bubble. A little bit of bubbling can be sanded away, but thick bubbles will wreck the beautiful finish you are trying to create!

…BUT WHAT ABOUT SEALING THE PAINT?

Once your piece has dried for at least 24, you may want to consider sealing it. I have sealed furniture before, but I caution you to be careful when sealing pieces you have painted white. Sometimes, the sealant can make it turn yellow. Because most of what I paint is white or light gray, I prefer to just leave my pieces untouched (for 15-20 days) to naturally seal. However, I have been told that if I use a sealer that does not contain polyurethane, I will not have the discoloration. Have you sealed furniture you have painted? What did you use? Please share!

In honor of the July 4th holiday, I have a patriotic craft for next Monday! Be sure to check it out! Here is a sneak peek:

See you next week!