DIY - Painting Furniture WHITE

How do you take THIS...

... and transform it into THIS... on a budget?!

Get ready.

We are about to turn an ugly, brown bookshelf into something BEAUTIFUL again.

But, painting old furniture WHITE is no easy task.

Sure, you may think - "throw a few coats of white paint on it."

You could do that... but the paint would eventually chip - and start looking like a hack job.

What you'll need:

- 1 can of white primer

- 1 can of white furniture paint (I used the "American Accents" brand)

- 1 can of Finishing Wax (make sure it's "Natural" - for lighter woods)

- Sandpaper (I recommend getting an assortment - because you'll need 100 and 220 grit)

- 1 paintbrush, 1 roller

- Clean rags

- Murphy Oil Soap spray

FIRST UP...

Clean the entire piece of furniture with Murphy Oil Soap.

Just spray it on, and wipe off with a clean rag.

Once the furniture has been cleaned...

You'll need to get out your 100 grit sandpaper.

Sand the piece of furniture - ALL OVER.

Get off as much paint as you can!

The more paint you get OFF... the more surface your "new paint" has to grab on to.

After it's been sanded...

Clean the furniture (once again) with Murphy Oil Soap and a rag.

Get all the DIRT off!

THEN...

You're ready for PRIMER!

Brush one coat of primer onto the furniture.

(If you don't happen to have primer, it's okay - you'll just have to do THREE layers of paint.)

NEXT UP...

Let the primer dry on the furniture.

(This takes about an hour.)

Then, grab your 220 grit sandpaper.

Lightly sand the piece of furniture. 

You'll NEED to do this between EVERY SINGLE COAT OF PAINT.

Trust me - it's needed.

Otherwise, you'll be able to see lines and streaks underneath each layer.

Once you're done sanding, wipe the piece of furniture with a CLEAN, dry rag.

(This helps remove the dust/sand particles.)

Now you're ready to paint!

I'm using a "Smooth Satin Finish" - ideal for indoor wood - in "Blossom White."

Roll it on!

Layer #1 of paint

Let the paint dry.

(This will take between 1-2 hours.)

Then, SAND the furniture (again) with 220 grit...

 ... and wipe with a dry cloth.

NEXT...

Roll on your LAST layer of paint.

 (Unless you didn't use a primer - then you still have one more layer to go.)

Let the paint dry for at least 2-3 hours.

The longer the better!

Once the furniture is dry...

You'll want to add a coat of Finishing Wax.

This will help protect the piece from "every day use."

However...

Some people like to use polyurethane (instead of wax) - but it can eventually turn your WHITE bookshelf YELLOW!!! Something we DO NOT WANT. 

 STAY AWAY from polyurethane on WHITE furniture.

But, if you're painting your piece ANY OTHER COLOR - go ahead and use a polyurethane.

To use...

Get out a CLEAN, dry rag and wipe the Finishing Wax ALL OVER your furniture.

Once it's been on the piece for 15 minutes, wipe the wax OFF with another clean rag.

After waxing...

Let the furniture dry for a few hours.

(The LONGER THE BETTER!)

If you can last 24-hours without placing anything on it - do it!

Then, you're done!

BEFORE

AFTER

Have fun... and good luck!