If you’re looking for a sleek new look to your old or neglected furniture, you can easily accomplish this with some affordable black paint. This how-to will teach you how to prep your furniture and paint it correctly.
Step 1 - Clean your furniture
Before painting your furniture, you need to clean it and make sure that it is free of any debris. Take a damp cloth and wipe away any dirt and scuff marks. Try to avoid using cleaning products that will decrease the ability for paint to properly adhere to the furniture.
Step 2 - To prime or not to prime
Since you will be painting your furniture a flat black, you probably don’t need to prime. Commercially available spray paints don’t generally need to be sprayed on a primed surface. This step is your call. Sometimes primed surfaces create a smoother end result, but depending on the type of wood, plastic, etc. you probably don’t need primer.
Step 3 - Paint!
Once your furniture is ready for paint, move it to an area that is far away from anything that you don’t want to catch flying paint. You should choose a well ventilated area outside for this step. If the weather is humid or raining, you might want to wait a few days. Paint always works best when the humidity levels are low. Hold the spray paint can about 12-14 inches away from the furniture and use slow sweeping motions to achieve a professional look. The most common mistakes that people make when trying to paint something are holding the can too close (this causes streaking) and holding the can too far. Experiment to find the optimal distance. It is always easier to paint a second coat than to try removing bubbles and streaks.