This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to paint a wooden bench, a simple and cost-effective way to give your patio or garden a fresh new look. The first step is to sand down the wood with sandpaper to remove bumps and uneven surfaces, making the surface smoother and easier to paint. Once the wood has been properly sanded, apply a coat of primer.
Next, remove the lid, as it’s the last piece of the bench that needs to be painted. Choose the right paint and follow the painting instructions for a flawless result. If your bench has any existing paint or finish, remove it before applying a new coat of paint.
To prepare your wooden bench before painting, remove the outside hinges, sand it smooth, clean it, prime it (if needed), shake and stir the paint, and clean the bench with Krud Kutter and an old damp rag. Sand any raw wood smooth using 80 grit sanding screens and 150 grit sanding screens. For wooden benches, an exterior-grade primer is best as it’s designed to withstand the elements. Use a brush or roller to apply an even coat of paint.
For distressing, use a power sander or wet distress method, which can be done using a power sander or a video tutorial. After the paint has dried, seal it with marine varnish, making sure it’s well ventilated before applying varnish. Sand the bench with fine-grade sandpaper to create an adhesive surface for the paint.
📹 How to Paint a Wooden Bench for Outdoor Use
In this video, we’ll show you how to paint a wooden bench for outdoor use. Join us as we give this bench I built from a headboard …
What kind of paint do you use on indoor wood?
Wood is porous, so primers are essential for its protection. Latex and acrylic primers are suitable for wood due to their flexibility. Vista Paint’s 4000 Uniprime is suitable for both interior and exterior use and can be lightly tinted. The 8000 Carefree Prime-ZALL is formulated for indoor use and low VOC. When choosing paints, consider gloss or matte finishes, as matte looks more natural, while light eggshell finishes provide iridescence. Both primers are suitable for indoor use and can be used on any surface.
Can I paint over stained wood without sanding?
Scuff-sanding is a method of lightly sanding a surface to smooth out bumps, especially for a super-smooth painted finish. This method is particularly effective when spraying paint, as it knocks down raised wood grain. If painting old finished wood, sanding is more important to dull and etches the finish, allowing better paint adhesion. An orbital sander and 150-grit sandpaper can be used to achieve this. If sanding is not preferred, liquid sandpaper or a deglossing agent can be used to dull the finish and improve paint adhesion.
What is the best paint for indoor wood benches?
Latex paint is a popular choice for furniture due to its accessibility and variety of brands. Low or no-VOC formulas are recommended for indoor painting projects. To achieve best results, prepare the surface with sanding and primer, and consider future touch-ups. Latex paint comes in multiple finishes, including flat, satin, semigloss, and gloss, and it’s essential to select the right one for your project. Choose from various brands at your local hardware store.
What kind of paint do you use on indoor wood furniture?
In regard to wood furniture, latex or oil-based paint represents the optimal choice.
Do you have to sand a bench before painting?
In order to achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and a durable finish on wooden furniture, it is imperative to prepare the surface by removing the existing paint and finish and then sanding it down prior to applying a new coat of paint.
How do you paint bare interior wood?
House One’s Jenn Largesse shares her process for painting bare wood, which involves thorough cleaning and sanding to ensure a smooth finish. She recommends applying thin, even coats using a high-quality brush or roller, painting in the direction of the wood grain, allowing each coat to dry completely before applying the next, and sanding lightly between coats for a smoother finish. This DIY project requires preparation and good technique to achieve long-lasting results. The guide is available for both new and experienced painters.
Does interior wood need primer?
Priming is a crucial step in painting walls, especially on bare wood surfaces that are porous and absorb moisture at varying rates. Primers help hide stains and prevent discoloration, and should be used when transitioning from dark to light colors or from a glossy base coat. They bond best to matt or low-gloss surfaces and are formulated to meet specific surface requirements. Primers come in different categories, such as drywall, wood, masonry, and multi-purpose primers.
Bonding primers are ideal for more difficult surfaces, while sealers can manage stains in a single coat. Using primers and undercoats enhances the finished look, prolonging paint’s lifespan and preventing chipping, peeling, or discoloration. Opting for a primer is a fail-safe way to achieve the perfect finish, making it a reliable choice for any painting project.
Can I paint wood furniture with acrylic paint?
Acrylic paint can be applied to both treated and untreated wood surfaces. However, the smoother or sealed surface of treated wood may affect the adhesion of the paint. To guarantee optimal adhesion, it is advised to lightly sand the surface or utilize a primer.
What happens if you don’t sand wood before painting?
Sanding cabinets before painting is crucial for removing existing paint or finish, as cabinets may accumulate multiple layers over time, affecting the surface’s appearance and smoothness. Sanding removes these layers, ensuring a clean slate for the new paint to adhere to. Direct painting over old paint or finish without sanding may result in poor paint adhesion or a poor finish. Sanding also smooths out imperfections and uneven surfaces, such as nicks, dents, or scratches, creating a more uniform and aesthetically pleasing surface.
Sanding is a way to prepare cabinets for a flawless paint job, addressing any unevenness, bumps, or rough spots that would otherwise be visible through the paint. This creates a smoother canvas for the paint, resulting in a more professional and refined appearance.
Can I paint straight over varnished wood?
The application of an appropriate preparation technique, comprising cleaning, sanding, and priming, enables the painting of varnished wood to achieve a smooth and durable finish.
📹 How to Paint Furniture: A Beginner’s Guide
Learn how to paint furniture with this step by step tutorial! Consider this a beginner’s guide, or Furniture Painting 101 crash course, …
I’ve been a painter for 32 years and until now it never occurred to me to buy one of these things this is great for shooting oil primer rather than taking a machine to convert back and forth from oil to latex or latex and oil and it doesn’t matter how good I clean my machine the oil pump always goes out faster than the latex. I’ve seen these before I just kind of laughed at them personally don’t really use stuff like this, this article rather than spending 12 1500 on an additional sprayer just to shoot oil or primer this will be perfect like to buy three of them if they break down. Thank you darlin you just taught a pro something new! 🙏❤️🇺🇲
We love your outtakes we think they complete your articles and brings them to life. They give you a feel of your true character, they also make us feel like they bring out your charm. Thank you so much for your genuine efforts and allowing us to share your great ideas from your perspective. keep inspiring us and this coming from a person that suffers from depression. we also thank the ones behind the scenes which we don’t usually get to see.
I’ve watched several articles on how to paint furniture. I must say your article is the simplest of all EMPHASIZING that you don’t need to completely sand off the finish just slightly sand so the paint adheres. Yasss I love that, because it would be too much for me to move the furniture outdoors to use a sander.. Now, after perusal this i will begin my project with CONFIDENCE LOL… THANKS A BUNCH
Love this article! I really want to re-paint my small dining table from black to white, but I did not know where to start… I have one suggestion: I would love to see under the article a list of the products you used – like type of paint, wax, primer, top coat, etc. Even if it is important what type of brushes/rollers is good to use with which kind of products. I am a beginner and all this will help tremendously! Thank you so much for the simple article!
Thanks so much for this article. I have bookcases that I’ve been hesitating to paint because of the varied information online but you have given me some confidence! With that being said, I have read that some of the water based latex paint will stick if you put items on it. I see towards the end you have placed items on some of your painted furniture. Do they stick and if not, how did you prevent sticking? Was that the wax? I also heard if you use wax you need to re-apply every 6 months. Really appreciate your help!
Thank you so much for the helpful tips,I really liked the article, there is one more thing you didn’t cover in your article which I belive its one of the most important steps to maintain your brushes and the rollers which is cleaning the tool,i like to hear from you about the good way to do that,I tried the paint thinner and brush cleaner from home depot but I wasn’t really satisfied with the result cause the brushes remain dirty and ended up drying
Oh wow…so glad I found this. I have been researching for DAYS on how to paint furniture, but they have all been using chalk paint. I didn’t want to use that being as it is expensive and hard to get the color I want to use. I finally found your article, and having EACH STEP LISTED and showing how you do it also is going to be so helpful!!!!! I will definitely be using your article to paint my bedroom furniture. I am tempted to use a spayer, but like you I don’t think I want to worry about the clean up and the extra paint that might be getting on other things in my garage. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP. I am super nervous about doing this, but will get it done with your help!!!
Thanks so much! I am about to paint my first piece of furniture! I am usually THAT person who doesn’t paint antiques but unfortunately I bought a sweet Victorian walnut brides chest that is already painted and in my attempts to strip it is just not going to happen. So thanks for showing me a simple way to do this!
Thank you so much for this very helpful tutorial. Quick question, when you applied the last top coat of finish, do you need to pour that coat onto the cheese cloth multiple times throughout the buffing process? You said that we have to let the coat sit in the cloth for about 15 minutes. I am curious how it’s going to work if I have to pour the top coat onto the cloth multiple times. Do I have to wait for 15 minutes every time I pour some more onto the cloth? I hope my question makes sense. Thank you very much.
I enjoyed the article very much – but I have to admit, I hit the “subscribe” button only after perusal the outtakes!! There are a lot of how-to articles out there, putting the outtakes in and letting us get to know the real you made me want more!! Thanks again! I just painted a bed and the end tables using chalk paint, wax and polycrylic, but I really want to do something a little different for the two dressers so am considering a satin paint instead. I am a bit discouraged that using the satin paint doesn’t remove the wax/polycrylic step, so I may just continue with the chalk paint. Any thoughts???
Hi, I am thinking of painting an old desk of mine. A few years ago, I painted a desk but I didn’t add any finish paste wax or polycrylic. Would this be the reason that all my desk papers ended up sticking to the desk? It was so annoying that I didn’t get the nice smooth finish. Also, Do I need to use either or of the polycrylic or paste finish wax.
Finally, the article I’ve been looking for! I had an idea of what to do, but I needed to see it! And all these other articles, they didn’t send in between and I wanted to see a article where someone sands in between so thank you!!! How long does it typically take for the paint to dry so you can send it for your next coat ?
I love this! I can’t use the tack cloth without rubber gloves. Drives me nuts. Also, as much as I hate taking the time, I open the tack cloth, fluff it and let it sit out on a clean surface prepared before opening it. I like 15 minutes. It’s what the instructions say and to me, it’s a game changer. Next, I use that tack cloth as light as possible because it will come off on your work and mess it up with goo. So don’t open a tack cloth, keep it square, then rub your work hard and wonder why it looks like ike 💩. My other tip is from a wood worker I trust. They make gray scotchbrite pads. I use them religiously in between coats. It’s a game changer and 8ll never go back. That’s the one tip thap made me a hero from a zero. If using a compressor to blow your work, make sure it’s super dry and having an inline air filter is key. Always expect 3-5 days to do the job right. I always want to do it in a few hours. You can do this but your effort and time is directly related to your final score on perfection. Keep up the great work. Love your content and hope people comment and teach me more!!!
Hi Erin, I am going to purchase a chest from Ikea in a couple weeks and the description reads that the materials are fiber board, acrylic paint and paper foil (I hope that’s in the inside of the drawers). With that said, will I still need to sand or prime first ? The current color is white and I am planning to paint it turquoise with a semi-gloss or gloss paint.
Hello Erin, Thanks for the article! I’m new to the diy world and have decided to build kitchen cabinets. How can I get a smooth paint look similar to having the paint “baked on”? I’m using cabinet paint I bought from ACE but my samples are not turning out smooth. I’m guessing it is user error, I’m trying to the impossible or I’ve chosen the wrong product. Any feedback is appreciated.
I have a question, I want to add some designs to my piece. after I applied my last coat of paint and start my design, what type of paint could I use? because in my area, paints are usually sold in high amounts. Would acrylic craft paints be fine? Or should I really get all the colours I need in furniture paint? also, if I could use acrylics, would it change any of the previous steps? thank you for everyone’s answers in advance : )
Thank you for this tutorial. I am trying to find out how to paint a hutch that is attached to the wall and is a very old piece that has several coats of white paint and does not look smooth. If you have painted a hutch thats attached to a wall please guide me to that tutorial. But thank you i learned a lot.
Oh, one.more tip that my 80 year old mother gave me. There are times when using spackle to fill in small voids completly is better to use than wood filler or plastic wood. I hate plastic wood unless I’m reshaping a big chunk missing. Then it’s best. If the fuller you choose is so hard to sand, you end up sanding off good wood around that area and do more damage than good. Cheers mates!
This is so helpful! I do have a question, though – do you recommend putting a sealer over white paint? I’m getting ready to paint an old oak hutch white, and I have read on some blogs that using a clear sealant over white paint can lead to yellowing? Do you have any experience with this? Do you think some kind of sealant is necessary for a hutch that will mostly be used for display purposes (so not very much wear and tear)? Any advice would be appreciated, this is my first foray into painting furniture and I don’t want to screw it up!
Help!! I started to paint a dresser with a paint that on Amazon everybody declared to be BUY-AND-APPLY and sure enough the paint is not adhering well, and brush after brush it streaked and looked worse. I only did the top and stopped there. I am applying the primer to the rest of the dresser now, of course. HOWEVER, can I apply the primer on top of the ugly paint job I already did on the top part, followed by a re-paint job on top of that? Many thanks for your help.
Hello, thanks very much for the tips! Can you recommend a product that would be the equivalent to Murphy Oil Soap in Europe? I don’t think i can find this brand here in Portugal 🙁 What else would work? What are the key elements or properties in Murphy oil soap i could easily find in another similar product?
I appreciate the topic very much – however I am not 100% sure about my issue – in the beginning you suggested sanding with 320 grit AFTER final coat…but by end of article you had a different technique…I have a cabinet I have painted and has brush marks and roller patterns. The start of this article appeared to solve that…? But then the rest was completely different. Regardless I will try to use 320+ sandpaper to resolve this issue…however the article could be taken in different ways. I do not mean to knock the article, I am a journeyman level woodworker and would love for you to develop “recover” as in the 320 grit more. Sorry if I am an idiot, I just do not understand the beginning or the article versus the second half. Without a top coat we can just sand with 320? If a viewer can help I’d appreciate the advice – I have already painted and have brush marks and roller marks…that is my situation. 🙈