

Make sure everything is completely dry before moving on to help achieve a smooth coat of paint. After all of the grime is gone, follow up with a rinse of fresh water on a damp sponge to make sure the furniture is clear of any remaining cleaner. Using a gentle grease remover may be helpful. Taking these pieces away may mean a few extra minutes of prep time, but saves potential headaches down the road.Īfter it’s dismantled, clean the furniture to remove dirt and grime from its surfaces, which will help the paint adhere better. This is an important step because it protects hardware from dribbled paint, eliminates the possibility of accidentally painting drawers shut, and reduces the likelihood of ruining fabric cushions with paint. Prepare furniture for painting by removing any drawers, cushions, and hardware.

RELATED: Buyer’s Guide: The Best Air Purifiers We Tested This Year DO clean the furniture and prepare it for painting. If you experience watering eyes, dizziness, headaches, or breathing difficulty, close the paint can and leave the painting area. An air purifier also may help to keep fumes at bay.Ī paint respirator mask or N95 mask, which are generally available at hardware and big-box stores, can also help keep fumes from entering lungs. If it’s feasible, use window-mounted box fans to exhaust vapors from the work area and take frequent fresh air breaks while painting. When painting indoors, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends keeping windows wide open, weather permitting, to avoid unwanted exposure to vapors. Because volatile organic compound (VOC) content varies depending on the type of paint you choose, low-VOC paint may not have these effects. Paints contain chemicals that evaporate in the air, and can cause eye, throat, and lung irritation along with headaches, dizziness, and vision problems.
#Just paint it right how to#
To avoid any snafus, follow these expert dos and don’ts about how to paint furniture. It takes patience and a little bit of know-how when it comes to painting furniture the right way.
