Look what a little white paint can do...

From Life in the Fun Lane blog - Fresh Coat Fridays

"Life in the Fun Lane" blog written by Holly did this great post. Check it out!! She takes second hand furniture and makes it look beautiful! She even tells us her tips! Makes you want to paint something doesn't it...!?


Please keep in mind that this is not a "how to" on refinishing furniture, it just covers the basics. Why, you ask? Mainly because I am not one for following rules, and I tend to "wing it" with most projects. I hope you learn something new, but the best piece of advice I can offer is to just have fun.
-Holly



1: What do you use to paint your furniture?
While whipping out a brush or roller is still the norm for most, I neither have the time nor patience to do multiple coats in teeny tiny cracks and corners on these bigger pieces. This is where the right tools really make the difference. I use a paint sprayer attachment for an air compressor.



They range in size and price, so be sure that if you are looking at buying one you first consult the sales person on what type of uses you will be needing it for. Not all compressors are compatible with sprayers and will ruin them if the compressor is too powerful. This is the exact sprayer I use: a Campbell Hausfeld gravity fed.



Using a sprayer reduces paint time, as well as drying time. Often my pieces take about 30 minutes of actual spraying and are completely dry within 20 minutes.

I am regularly asked about the all in one units you can buy in the paint isle. I actually own one and completely packed it up and gave away after 5 minutes of using it due the splattered and uneven finish. However, I do regularly talk to and hear from people who LOVE their all in one. My best recommendation would be to go to your local home improvement store and rent each before you commit to buying. They literally cost only a few dollars for 4 hours which is a small cost to feel reassured with whatever you choose.


2: What colors do you use?
I really and truly wish I could answer this question, for my own sake!!! The reason I can't answer it is because I only buy mis-tints and mix my own colors. To keep my costs as low as possible (more money to do more projects with!) I love buying mis-tints. Often a gallon only costs $5!!! I also love buying them because it is so much less intimidating to pick a color. Too often a color is not what I envisioned on the tiny little card so with the actual paint painted on the lid I can see a true look at how the mixed paint feels in different light and finishes.



The other good news? Most people stick to shades of white, beige and cream for walls and trim so there is usually a pretty good supply to choose from in those shades. The only downside is that unfortunately I have to rely on color matching (which still isn't 100% accurate) when I find a color I love, or if I need more.



3: What do you use to fill holes?
I always use wood filler.

4: What type of paint do you use?
Since I buy mis-tints I don't have the luxury of choosing. It varies from semi-gloss to flat most of the time. Because I finish of all of my pieces with several coats of semi-gloss polyurethane it really doesn't matter anyways, but I always tell people that if you don't want to do the polyurethane step just stick with semi-gloss paint.


5: Do you sand everything before you paint?
The honest answer is no. Unless I have some repair or holes to fill I skip the sanding step. I prefer to just gently rough up the surface with some 220 grit sandpaper instead of completely stripping the old finish off. If I do any type of sanding I usually stick with a basic primer. Other times if there isn't any sanding I use Kilz no-sand wood primer. This has always done the trick, infact I even used it on the railings when I redid them and not a scratch or chip is to be seen.

6: Do you prime everything before you paint?
NO! You can, but I just find it a real pain to clean the nozzle afterward. The other reason is that you do have to thin your primer in the sprayer and that can be tricky sometimes! I use the spray cans of Kilz primer, which are also really fast drying (which is great when you need to work on multiple pieces in a short time frame). I know it isn't the most eco-friendly option, but I do make sure to send along all my used cans to the eco-station.

7: Do you paint inside the drawers and cabinets?
No, I usually don't like my clothes and stuff to smell like paint. I do paint the insides of cabinets when there are glass doors, but other than that I leave well enough alone!


8: How do you work with laminate or veneer finishes?
So far I have only worked on solid wood pieces so unfortunately I don't have any advice on this front. But a little paint never hurt anything right?

9: What do you use to distress the furniture?
I use 320 grit sanding blocks. Going over the most exposed areas, like corners and edges, gives you the most realistic look. I know it can be intimidating to scuff up your freshly applied paint, but trust me, once you start it is hard to stop!

10: What do you use for a sealant?

I use Verathane brand water-based polyurethane sealant. I usually work with semi-gloss but occasionally use satin as well. It is VERY IMPORTANT to try and find this type of sealant (I buy mine at Home Depot) because everything else I have tried does turn the paint yellow over time. Sometimes you can see the yellow fairly soon after it dries, but other times it takes a few months to see (even when the can specifically says non-yellowing). So now I am very loyal to only buying Verathane polyurethane, especially since I primarily paint in shades of white and any amount of yellowing is definitely not good. I usually do two coats to give it a nice, even finish.

inthefunlane.com