How to Paint All Types of Cabinets and Furniture
Say you found a piece of furniture at a thrift store and most everything about it is perfect. It’s the right size, shape, and it’s cheap so you feel like it was meant to be yours, but there’s one problem - it’s ugly. Or maybe you’re looking at a new (old) house, but the cabinets in the kitchen are hideous, and you can’t afford a full renovation. Know what the solution is? PAINT. That’s right, you can paint almost everything. Seriously, with the right prep work, the perfect ugly dresser can simply be perfect after you paint it. The same goes for cabinets. You can transform them into something you love for a lot less money than a full remodel. Today we’re going to walk you through a 101 on how to paint all types of cabinets and furniture.
Bare WoodDo you want to change something old-timey rustic to here-and-now contemporary? Follow these easy steps:
- Sand - Wear a dust mask. Start with 100 grit sandpaper and work your way up to 220 as the piece gets smoother. If it was already smooth, just give it a light sanding. Wipe off the dust with tack cloth.
- Prime - Primers can be very toxic and release a lot of nasty VOCs, so zero-VOC* Ecos Interior Wood Primer is a preferable alternative. Apply one coat of primer with a brush or mini-roller. *Conforms to CDPH 01350 (VOC emissions test taken at 11, 12, & 14 days for classroom and office use). Learn more about VOCs and our commitment to healthier paints here.
- Sand In Between Coats - Use a fine grit sanding sponge to sand in-between paint coats. Paint raises the grain of the bare wood so sanding after each coat will give you a smooth finish. High grit sandpaper is fine also, but the sponge is easier to use.
- Paint - Try ECOS Exterior Semi-Gloss Trim and Furniture Paint – it's high quality and also self-priming (so you can skip that earlier step and get right to painting). Apply two coats of paint. Make sure you sand in between the coats and allow for plenty of dry time. Let it sit overnight before using the furniture or cabinets.
- You Don’t Need to Sand - Laminate is already smooth and if you tried sanding it, you might damage the surface. Just make sure it is clean and dust free.
- Prime - Laminate often has a glossy finish that paint will not adhere to. ECOS Universal Primer is a perfect primer for laminate because it’ll not only seal the wood, but it also blocks any water stains or other imperfections. Most bonding and stain blocking primers are oil-based, so if you use them you need to wear a respirator and do the work somewhere with plenty of ventilation. If you use ECOS Universal Primer, that won't be the case and you can feel comfortable doing this project in your home. Apply one even coat with a brush or mini-roller. If you see any discoloration after it’s dry, apply another coat.
- Paint - Again, we highly recommend ECOS Exterior Semi-Gloss Trim and Furniture Paint because of its superior coverage, outstanding durability, and for the fact that it is self-priming. Apply two coats with a brush or mini roller. Let the piece sit overnight before using it.
- Prep - Test for lead. You can pick up a kit at most hardware and home improvement stores. If there is lead, you need to seal and cover the lead paint. And you shouldn’t disrupt the finish with scraping or sanding which will release the lead into your home or soil. You’re going to have to paint right over the existing finish.
- Prime - Once again, if you’re using ECOS Paints then you can skip this step. Let it dry overnight before painting.
- Paint - Apply two coats of semi-gloss or gloss paint, whichever you prefer, with a brush or mini roller. Let it dry overnight before using.