Jazz up a recycled chair by painting it.
Adding a coat of paint to an old chair, dresser or other piece of tired furniture can make it look brand new. Often, the painted furniture will look better than new since it's customized to match your own d cor. You can really jazz up a piece of recycled furniture by adding a few designs as well, either freehand or with a stencil. Painting furniture is well worth the effort, and it can be an easier solution than refinishing.
Instructions
1. Remove drawer knobs and handles. Replace them or set them aside to be reattached at the end of the job.
2. Evaluate the condition of the furniture. Remove previous coats of paint or varnish if they are cracked or peeling. Purchase a paint stripper and apply according to package directions. This Old House recommends using a less harsh, environmentally-sound stripper to remove the paint in an eco-friendly (and lung-friendly) manner. Use a paint scraper to remove the old paint or varnish once the paint stripper has done its work for the recommended time.
3. Sand the furniture with fine-grain sandpaper. Sand along the grain of the wood, then sand against the grain. Wipe down the furniture with damp rags. Remove all traces of sawdust, grease and dirt.
4. Fill in any deep scratches or dents with wood putty. After the wood putty has dried, sand those areas.
5. Use a small roller to apply a coat of white latex primer to large pieces of furniture such as tables or dressers. Use a brush to apply it to smaller areas, such as the legs and detail work. According to the magazine Real Simple, primer will "hide imperfections and provide a surface for the paint to adhere to." Allow the primer to dry thoroughly---at least an hour.
6. Apply a coat of latex flat paint in the color of your choice. Allow it to dry, then follow up with an additional coat of paint. For a shiny surface, use enamel paint for the top coat. Match the color of the enamel paint to the color of the underlying latex paint.
7. Reattach the drawer knobs and handles.
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