Painting veneer furniture is the easiest way to restore your furniture. Learn the right technique here.
Basically, this type of furniture is made up of low cost material like plywood or fiberboard and is then coated with the most superior quality decorative woods like maple, mahogany, hardwood, etc. Veneer furniture is made to resemble solid wood furniture but the upside is that it is relatively cheaper.
Besides, it is highly durable and with proper care and maintenance is sure to last for many years. Giving it a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest methods to breathe life into your old furniture.
Materials Required: sandpaper, putty knife, glue, all-purpose filler, paint, primer, paint brushes and rollers. Cover up the floor of the work area with newspaper in order to protect the floor from paint drips.
Step #1:
Check for cracks, holes or any other forms of damage on the furniture. Any wood layer that comes off must be fixed with the help of glue. Holes should be filled up with suitable filler material. Allow it to dry up properly before you proceed.
Step #2:
Remove attached hardware like pulls, knobs or hinges. To remove the dirt and grime from the furniture, use a soapy solution made of mild detergent and water. Then wash off the soap with plain water. Let the excess water on the wood surface dry thoroughly and then sand the surface.
A fine grit sandpaper is most suitable for wood veneer. Rub the sandpaper gently on the surface. After you finish sanding, wipe off the sanded dust and debris from the furniture with the help of a tack cloth.
Step #3:
Before painting furniture, apply a good quality primer to ensure that the color bonds well with the surface of the furniture. Apply a thin coat and let it dry.
Lightly sand the primed surface so that formation of ridges can be eliminated. If required, apply one more coat of primer. Each coat should be applied only after the previous coat is dry and sanded.
Step #4:
While painting ensure that the brush strokes are even and are in the direction of the wood grain. This will ensure a smooth painted surface at the end, allow to dry. Once the first coat dries, sand the surface a bit to remove any lumps and rub off the dust with tack cloth.
Apply the second coat of paint in the same way as you applied the first coat. Let the second coat of paint cure properly before applying a layer of varnish to protect the surface.