How to Prep Furniture for a Makeover

When looking to give your furniture a makeover, proper preparation is key to ensuring a beautiful and durable result. Whether you are looking to revive old, worn-out furniture, or have changed styles and want to update your furniture to match, you’ll need to start by preparing your furniture. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the essential steps to ensure your makeover project is a success.

• Take a close look

  • Before starting a makeover, take a look at the furniture and make sure there are no irreparable damages. Assess the piece for any loose joints or other structural issues. Evaluate whether or not the furniture is worth the work you need to put in to fix it!

•   Gather your Tools and Supplies

  • To prep your furniture, you will need a few tools and supplies on hand. HERE is a checklist of essential items you should have.

    •    Safety goggles, gloves, mask

    • Sandpaper in various grits

    • Tack cloth or lint-free cloths. You can use a microfiber dampened with water as well.

    • Wood filler and a putty knife

    • Screwdriver

    • Primer

    • Paintbrushes or paint sprayer

    • Paint or stain in desired color.

    • Clear protective topcoat (poly, wax, etc.)

• Clean the Piece

  • Thoroughly cleaning the furniture is an essential step. Use a degreaser or dawn dish soap and water to gently scrub the surface of the piece. Paying special attention to the corners, crevices, & detailing. Rinse off the cleaning solution and allow the furniture to dry completely before moving on.

• Remove the old finish

  • If the furniture has an existing finish or paint job; you’ll need to remove it for the best result of your new paint or stain. The most common way to do this is by sanding the piece. You will want to start with a coarse grit sandpaper (100-150) to strip away the old finish. Gradually switch to finer grits to smooth out the surface (220). You may also want to use a chemical paint stripper depending on how much paint or finish is on the furniture. (as a rule of thumb, I like to strip painted pieces and sand stained pieces).
    

• Repair

  • Inspect the furniture for any gouges or scratches. Use wood filler to repair them. Apply the filler with a putty knife and let it dry . Once dry, you can sand the repaired areas to achieve a smooth surface.

• Smooth Surface

  • After all the previous steps have been completed; sand the entire surface to create a smooth and even base for paint or stain!

• Finish of piece

  • Finish the piece by priming and painting or staining the piece to your desire! Follow with a top coat for pieces with high traffic surfaces for a longer lasting and durable finish

• All done!

  • Enjoy your new and improved piece!

Still unsure about all that goes into flipping furniture? Grab my FREE step by step furniture painting guide HERE for a more in depth walk through! Feel free to print it off or download it onto your phone and keep it handy for your next project!!