Can You Paint Over Wood Furniture Without Sanding?
Can you paint over wood furniture without sanding? Absolutely!
My favorite option is to use liquid sander; also called a deglosser.
Use deglosser instead of traditional sanding to accomplish the same goal: preparing the furniture to accept and hold paint, long term.
Deglossing is a simple method where you simply rub the product on with a rag. Then, wait a few minutes to allow it to work. Finally, wipe down with a clean wet rag to remove any residue.
Continue reading for an in depth tutorial on the entire process, including proper steps before and after deglossing.
Can You Paint Over Varnished Wood Without Sanding?
Often times people assume they can paint raw wood without sanding, but what about how to paint over varnished wood?
My marketplace find had a high gloss varnish on it, and I was still able to paint over it without sanding! That's because I used a two step process that is my go-to for painting wood furniture.
The degloss and prime combo!
Deglosser is a wonderful way to substitute the sanding process. It is a much less strenuous and much faster alternative to sanding furniture to remove varnish or lacquer. Combine this step with priming and you have a beautifully prepared surface for paint to adhere to.
How to Paint Wood Furniture Without Sanding
Now, let's walk through this method of painting wood furniture without sanding step by step.
1. Find a Sturdy Piece of Furniture with Good Bones
When referencing furniture, good bones means that the piece is structurally sound, has good lines/details and will be a functional piece for your family.
As you can see from the before photo above, my cabinet is a solid piece of furniture and has very clean lines (aka straight and not ornate) for a modern feeling. The shelving is exactly what I was looking for to display my favorite decor and the storage underneath is very functional.
This is the first step in refinishing a piece to bring it to your style. Make sure it is solid and functional and the aesthetics will come later!
2. Clean Wood Furniture Thoroughly Before Painting
The next step to restoring wood furniture without sanding is to clean the piece thoroughly.
3. Degloss Wood Furniture Instead of Sanding
The next step in this version of painting furniture without sanding is to use a deglosser.
Like I mentioned above, this is an alternative to sanding. If you'd rather not work with chemicals then sanding is the other option at this point in the process!
But since you're here to learn how to paint furniture without sanding, I'm guessing you'll choose the deglosser.
Wearing rubber gloves, simply rub the deglosser onto the wood with a clean lint free rag. You can also use steel wool, however I often find it is unnecessarily abrasive.
I like to cut up my husband's old white tshirts he wears under his dress shirts for my rags! They are a great fabric and totally lint free.
After you've applied the deglosser, wait for the allotted time on the label and then wipe down with a clean wet rag. Each brand has a slight variation to the instructions so make sure to follow the recommendations of the brand you buy.
Once you've cleaned and deglossed your furniture piece, you will want to decide if you're keeping the existing hardware or not.
Patching Old Hardware Holes
I wanted to update the pulls on my piece and found that the new hardware didn't line up with the existing screw holes.
This is an easy fix!
Simply use wood filler to fill the existing holes, sand down the surface flush, and then drill new holes in the position you need for your new hardware. I like to drill these holes before I prime and paint so I don't mar up a freshly painted surface later.
4. The Key For How To Paint Furniture Without Sanding: Prime
The next step is to prime!
I'm always asked, "Do I need to prime furniture before painting?" And the answer isn't exactly straight forward.
For this method, yes you do. But I will share a few other methods at the end of this article that don't require a priming step!
Best Primers for Painting Wood Without Sanding
Since I am using a latex paint, a quality bonding primer is necessary. Latex paint is versatile since it comes in many finishes and colors, but it isn't the most durable option for furniture.
So priming first will ensure a long lasting finish.