How To Repaint a Piece Of Furniture

If the item has any hardware, unscrew and remove it now.

Gently rub the surface of the furniture with your fine-grit sandpaper to remove any grit and to help the paint adhere.

Remove any dust from the piece with a tack rag or a damp microfiber cloth.

Apply a thin coat of primer to the entire piece, brushing with the grain of the wood if it’s visible.

Wait at least an hour or two for the primer to dry completely.

Apply a coat of your paint over the primer, again brushing with the grain of the wood if it’s visible.

Wait for the paint to dry completely—the longer you wait, the better, so try to let it dry overnight if you can.

If the paint still looks a little spotty, blotchy, or uneven, give the furniture a second coat of paint.

If the furniture will be outside or is likely to get scratched or dinged from heavy use, apply a coat of varnish.

When the paint is completely dry, put any hardware you removed back on—or replace it with new, updated hardware—and position your renewed piece in a place of honor.