Epic Painted Wood Chair Makeover: DIY Furniture How To Guide

Prepping a Chair for Paint

The first step in every furniture makeover is cleaning, and my go-to product for this is a degreaser. You’ll also need a clean cloth and some warm water, which I use to wipe everything down after doing one or two rounds with the degreaser.

Since this chair had been a free pile pick and sat in my garage for over a year, it was extra filthy. I started by giving it a good blowout with my leaf blower, then wiped everything down with the degreaser and rinsed it off with warm, soapy water.

Sanding a Wood Chair

The next step in your old wood chair makeover is sanding, which is definitely an art—especially if you’re planning to stain the wood. That’s why I often recommend starting with paint instead of stain if you’re new to furniture makeovers.

For this project, since I wasn’t entirely sure what was solid wood and what was veneer, I decided to hand sand. If you’re unsure how to tell the difference between solid wood and wood veneer, check out this super helpful guide that explains what to look for!

Fortunately, the original finish on this chair was so dried out that it sanded away easily. Even so, by the end, my arms were killing me, but it was worth the effort to avoid damaging the piece by rushing into using a power sander.

Here’s a quick guide to sanding wood:

• Always sand with the grain of the wood.
• Sand the entire surface, then switch to a higher grit. Gradually work your way up to finer grits (like 120, 220, 320, and possibly higher) for the smoothest finish.
• After sanding, be sure to remove all the dust. A tack cloth, clean rag, or even a leaf blower (if you’re working outside) will do the trick.

For a deeper dive into sanding techniques and tips on achieving a swirl-free finish, check out my full post on sanding tips.

Fixing a Damaged Old Wood Chair

Before getting to the big transformation—paint—I had to repair a few damaged spots. One of the legs had fallen off, so I used wood glue and my brad nailer to reattach it.

Then, the seat area, as I suspected, was veneer, and it was in pretty rough shape. There was a chipped section, so I decided to peel that part off entirely. I grabbed a putty knife and my hammer—just angle the putty knife a bit and give it a few taps with the hammer. As you get under the veneer, flatten out the putty knife so you’re lifting the veneer without messing up the surface underneath.

Priming + Painting Wooden Chairs

For this chair makeover, I’m going with a raw wood and painted combo—and if you’ve been around for a while, you know this is my fave look!

My go-to primer is Zinsser 123. It’s the only primer I use for all my furniture makeovers because it covers wood knots, blocks tannins, and sticks to surfaces like no other! It might cost a bit more, but I’m always happy with the results. 

The two most important things to know about priming and painting furniture are:

1. Don’t skimp on primer. Aside from sanding, the quality of your primer is key to making your paint stick.
2. Always apply two coats of primer and two coats of paint. Never less!

For a complete guide with all the details on furniture painting and painting wood, check out my full post on furniture painting and painting wood.

After applying the first coat of primer, I let it dry for at least an hour, then gave it a light sanding with 220 grit. The trick is to use gentle pressure—just enough to smooth out any small imperfections and lightly scuff the surface.

Once I wiped the area down with a clean cloth, it was time for the second coat of primer. After it dried, I repeated the light hand sanding step again. Finally, I followed the same steps for applying the paint to finish the chair.

>> Discover how much easier it is to have everything in one place with this handy guide! Say goodbye to piecing together information from different sources and hello to clear, straightforward steps that save you time, avoid costly mistakes, and help you achieve the transformation you’ve been dreaming of.

Best Way to Paint Spindles

Painting chair spindles can be tricky due to their shape and hard-to-reach areas. Here’s the best way to do it using a paintbrush:

• Brush Type: I used a 2-inch short-handle angled brush, and it worked great! For smaller spindles, you might want to go with a 1-inch brush for more precision.
• Thin Coats: Apply thin coats to avoid drips and runs. A little paint goes a long way, so use a small amount.
• Direction: Start by painting up and down on one side of the spindle, then switch to side-to-side strokes, almost like painting an “X.” Slightly rotate the spindle and repeat these motions until you’ve covered the entire surface. Don’t worry if it’s not fully covered in the first coat—additional coats will take care of that!

Sealing Painted Wood Chairs

I’ll admit, I rarely seal my painted furniture makeovers because I typically don’t have issues with chipping (just follow my exact process for great results!). For this painted chair, I decided to skip the sealer.

However, there are times when skipping a topcoat isn’t ideal, and protecting your work is crucial. Without a sealer, you risk potential water damage or reduced durability. You have a few options for protective finishes: polyurethane, wax, and shellac. Each serves a different purpose and offers its own benefits, depending on your needs.

Here are a few topcoat tips:

• Poly and shellac provide the most protection, while wax offers the least.
• Use water-based poly to prevent yellowing.
• How your wood looks when wet is a good indicator of how it will appear with a poly topcoat.
• Even if a product claims it won’t change the look of your wood—beware! It most likely will.

Painted Wood Chair Before and After

Here it is—my trash-to-treasure, free-pile find turned into a gorgeous painted chair! I’m loving the contrast between the wood and black paint.

I’m so pleased with how it ties together the vibe in my boy’s bedroom! The black adds a nice contrast and pairs perfectly with his bed frame. The chair’s style is vintage yet modern and cool with the wood and paint combo. He loves it, and so do I!

What do you think? Head over to Instagram and check out the highlight I have saved on this epic chair makeover!

Painted Chairs Finishing Touches

Taking on a furniture makeover might feel daunting at first, but with The Ultimate Furniture Makeover Guide, you’ll realize it’s not only doable but also incredibly rewarding.

Just imagine the joy of transforming a piece with your own hands, creating something beautiful that reflects your style, and gaining the confidence to tackle even more projects in the future.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your guide here! I can’t wait to see what you create.

DIY Furniture Makeover Next Steps

• Gather all your furniture makeover tools and supplies- here is my list of trusted sources!
• Save time, avoid costly mistakes, and achieve the transformation you’ve been dreaming of – download your guide!
• How to tell Real Wood Vs Fake Wood Furniture
• 10 Ways to Remove Paint From Wood
• Painting wood furniture made easy
• Staining wood without blotches
• Better than Citristrip paint stripping strategy

Hey Girl!

---

---

---