How to Spray Paint Wood Furniture

Do you have an old dresser, or other wood furniture you want to paint and give it a new look? Here are some simple instructions on how to spray paint wood furniture. After you try this method, you will not want to do it any other way.

Advantages of Using Spray Paint 

I used to think brushing paint on furniture was the only way to do my painting projects, but the spray paint and prime has many advantages.

• it takes less time to finish the project
• it doesn’t require priming then sanding primer before applying paint
• the paint goes on more evenly
• there won’t be brush strokes
• it dries fast so second coat can be applied
• it is durable and dries to a nice hard finish (unlike Behr Paint and Prime brush-on paint)
• the clean-up is more easier

Materials for How to Spray Paint Wood Furniture 

Whenever you do a painting project, always make sure you use a well ventilated space. This is especially important when using spray paint because the paint particles get into the air.

• Drop cloth
• Blue tape and paper
• 220 sandpaper
• dry paint brush and damp rag or tack cloth to wipe of dust
• Rust-oleum Ultra Cover spray paint and primer ( I used Satin Stone Gray)
• screwdriver
• disposable mask

Process

1. Place a drop cloth under the furniture to protect surface.
2. Remove hardware. *I did not remove the hinges on the doors because the were so small and imbedded into the wood. In normal circumstances, remove all hardware for best results. 
3. Tape and paper all areas that does not require paint.
4. Lightly sand all areas before painting with 220 sandpaper. This is necessary to help paint stick to the surface. *If wood is very greasy or dirty, clean with mineral spirits before sanding.
5. Brush out cracks and crevices with a dry paint brush. Then wipe the rest of the surface to remove all dust.
6. You are now ready to paint. Shake paint can thoroughly before painting. Always shake paint after every spray so the color of the paint stays consistent.
7. Hold can about 10-16 inches from the surface. Use a long spray motion starting and stopping from end to end of the surface for best results. Slightly overlap paint on each pass. Be careful not to let paint drops from can fall back on the furniture. Use light layers to prevent paint from dripping or dropping. Reapply a second coat (within 1 hour) after paint has dried.
8. After applying the paint to your satisfaction, let it sit overnight in well ventilated area. This will allow fumes to gas off before placing it back into the house.

Results

The spray painted finish is very durable and easy to clean. The project took approximately 3 hours of work time not including drying time. I was able to finish it in 2 days after letting fumes came of the furniture. I only used 3 cans at $3.99 each to paint both dressers.

After painting the Victorian vanity mirror, I decided to spray paint an old oak dresser to go with it. Even though the pieces don’t match in design, they fit perfectly. The piece stands in a dark corner of our bedroom. Adding glass knobs and stainless steel pulls gives it some reflective elements that helps cast a very small amount of light to the dark corner. It also gives it an elegant and contemporary look to the room.