Wood furniture paint: how to choose a type and manufacturer?

Varieties

When looking for paint for children's furniture, consider the terms of use, not personal preference. The basic factor is the type of surface, since metal and wooden furniture have their own, separate paints and varnishes

The most popular are acrylic paints, as their composition is environmentally neutral. This allows the paint to be used anywhere. After the liquid has evaporated, an elastic film forms on the treated surface. The composition of the paint includes a polymer that provides high-quality adhesion of the paint to the surface, as well as a polyacrylic dye of a fine fraction.

Fillers are responsible for the level of gloss and haze. Since wood requires protection, antibacterial fillers are also added to the paint. There are also additives on which the density and curing time of the paint depend. The good thing about acrylic paint is that it can be removed before it's completely cured. How to wipe off the paint? It is best to use warm water and a sponge. Acrylic paints are almost the only material that allows moisture to evaporate, but does not let it pass through itself. It turns out that the surface of the furniture will breathe. It does not matter with what intensity the paint will be used, since the color fixation lasts for tens of years. There is no need to think about how to remove the smell of paint, since acrylic paints practically do not have it. This means that furniture can be located in any room, even without ventilation. It is also worth saying about such types of paint as:

Gouache and watercolors - they can be used to paint furniture. They can be used exclusively as a material for artistic painting. For the main background, it is better to use other types of tools. From the properties of the material, dissolution in water and burnout in the sun can be noted. Printed furniture should be kept away from water and sunlight. It is quite easy to wash the paint off. The advantage can be considered the relatively low cost of the material, due to which you can often experiment;
It should be noted paints and enamels based on organic solvents - they can be combined into one group. Oil paints are outdated, as they do not last very long on the surface. On average, the term is approximately 3-5 years. But on the other hand, oil paints give a high-quality gloss;
Automotive enamel (spray paint) may be suitable for furniture facades. It must be used if the facade is plastic or metal. Car paint is not recommended for wood furniture;
Varnishes and impregnations can also be attributed to paints, as they can change the appearance of an object. Impregnants and additives for tinting are used already on the painted surface, then when it needs to be given a special look. As for varnishes, they, like paints, can be oil, acrylic, nitrocellulose. Both impregnations and varnishes can only be used if the furniture is wooden. They penetrate deeply into the structure of the tree, provide protection of wood fibers from pests;
Silicone based water based paints are odorless and can be used to repair cracks. The coating will last for a long time, even if the furniture is in a room with a high level of humidity;
As for the latex-based water-based paint, its properties can be compared with oil paint. But at the same time, it does not have a pungent smell.This paint can only be used in warm rooms, since at low temperatures the coating can begin to crack;
Alkyd paints do not react to moisture in any way, and they cost an order of magnitude lower than water-based materials. Such a coating will not have a long service life, since the film will have a thickness of no more than 0.1 mm.

If acrylic paint is not suitable, you can opt for chalk paints. The recipe for chalk paint involves the use of an acrylic or latex mixture - it will act as a base. Plaster or grout for narrow joints can act as a fixer. Water is also added to the mixture. How to make chalk paint? Typically, the proportions of water and anchoring element are one to one, and paint is added as desired.

The point of creating chalk paint is that the material is unique in its versatility - chalk paint lays down on any surface with the same quality. It can be used for both chipboard and any other surface. The paint can be used without preliminary surface preparation.

Acrylic

Gouache and acrylic

Oil

Enamel for cars

Water-based

Latex

Alkyd

How to paint a pine bed

The solid pine bed is chosen by lovers of eco-friendly, natural materials. Pine has a pleasant appearance, relatively low cost, and products from this wood species will suit almost any interior. Another advantage of pine products is that you can paint them yourself, giving the desired look to the bedroom. When you buy a new smoothly sanded pine bed, you can increase the wear resistance of the surface yourself by simply covering it with oil, varnish or wax. There are a number of general rules and steps on how to paint a pine bed, which are presented below.

If the bed has complex elements and places that are difficult to paint, take it apart and paint the parts separately. It is allowed to paint the whole product if the design of the bed is simple enough. Place newspaper, tape, or any other protective covering on the floor, provide access to fresh air, and ventilate the area during the process.

If you want to preserve the texture of the wood, you will need wood stain and / or varnishes. They will give the desired shade, and the natural pattern of the wood will remain. To repaint the bed in a different color, you will need paints that hide the natural texture of the wood. From the tools you need gloves, a roller, a brush for painting small parts and corners, a paint bath and a sandpaper.

2. Surface cleaning

Before painting, the old surface must be prepared, cleaned from the previous coating, grease or dust, putty on irregularities and sand. It is advisable to degum surfaces made of coniferous wood with a special solution, the resin can interfere with the further absorption of the coatings. Since we are looking at painting a new smooth-sanded pine bed, we omit these steps, but are required in other cases. To prepare our bed, it is enough to wipe the surface with a damp cloth.

Stain (stain), in addition to giving the wood tone and expressiveness, protects against rotting and pests, improves the moisture resistance of the material and the service life of the product as a whole. Alcohol, water, acrylic, wax and oil stains are distinguished. They all differ in their properties, have application features, so carefully read the characteristics of the substance before buying.

The stain is applied along the wood grain, it can be used as a base before further painting the bed, or as an independent coating if you want to preserve the natural pine pattern. The stain should dry completely after application.If you are using the stain as a stand-alone finish, you can use a layer of varnish on top to add shine.

In the case when the stain is used as a basis for further painting and if the bed manufacturer's recommendations are available, the next step will be to apply a primer. It will reduce paint consumption and improve surface adhesion. When choosing a primer, check with your paint dealer if it is suitable for pine. Wait until the primer is completely dry before applying the next coat. Dried primer can be lightly sanded with sandpaper

It is important to take into account the compatibility of all layers of the coating, therefore it is recommended to choose a primer, paint, varnish from the same manufacturer that is combined with each other.

When choosing paints and varnishes, give preference to safe, environmentally friendly compositions, use odorless paint. Acrylic paints are the most popular and harmless to health option, convenient for home use. Alkyd paints can release toxic compounds, oil paints dry for a long time and are more suitable for painting in professional conditions than at home. Do not try to apply one thick coat of paint, it is much more effective to apply the composition in thin layers on top of each other, letting each dry.

Varnishes are used to fix the result over paint or independently to add shine, shade over a previously prepared product. Varnishes can be made on water, polyurethane, acrylic, alkyd base. Resin, oil, alcohol and other varnishes are also distinguished. Choose a varnish that is compatible with the rest of the coating and with the type of wood of the bed, carefully read the information on the packaging and consult with the seller of paints and varnishes.

What paint is better to paint?

An important condition for high-quality painting of furniture with your own hands is the choice of a suitable composition. Currently, several varieties are used for work.

Acrylic water emulsion

This option is becoming more and more popular, which is explained by many advantages:

Environmental friendliness. This is an important parameter, since the products to be painted will be located in the residential area.
Fire safety. The film formed does not promote flame propagation and does not support combustion.
Good adhesion. The solution is applied to almost any surface.
Moisture resistance. Due to special additives, the resulting coating lends itself to wet cleaning.
Decorativeness. Although white is considered the traditional color, the use of a color scheme gives an opportunity to show imagination.

But the use of this product has a peculiarity. Since most of the solution is water, and furniture is made mainly of wood or its derivatives, which absorb moisture well, this can lead to damage to the parts. Therefore, the base needs to be treated with primers.

Silicone water-based paint

The silicone variety is used primarily outside, but can also be used inside the home to cover pieces of furniture that are in direct contact with moisture. Due to the composition based on acrylic copolymer and silicone, the mixture acquires the following properties:

Elasticity. This avoids cracking when the wood expands.
Wear resistance. Scuffs do not appear on the surface, therefore the attractiveness of the products does not decrease.
Durability. The applied layer, subject to the technology, does not need to be replaced for decades.

A significant disadvantage is the high cost.

Alkyd enamels

This option is inferior in quality to the acrylic variety, but is quite popular due to its advantages:

Availability. The cost of the material is very affordable, and the choice of colors is wide.
Ease of application.The presence of an organic solvent does not require the use of deeply penetrating soil, but it will not be superfluous either.
Prevalence. There are products even in remote areas, which cannot be said about water-based versions.

The disadvantages of this variety are quite significant: flammability and an unpleasant odor, which is also toxic, so it is better not to use an alkyd composition at home.

Car enamels

The convenience of this type of paints is that they are sold in spray cans. This greatly simplifies the work process, but increases the final cost. The products are perfect for touching up a small area or completely decorating the facade of furniture. But for large-scale work, the expense will be too significant.

The peculiarity of these compositions is that they form a reliable coating, which, when choosing the right variety, can shine.

Nitro paints

This option allows you to paint the furniture very high quality, but the home environment is not suitable for the process. To work with this composition, it is necessary to have appropriate experience and more professional equipment.

Varnish

Such products are actively used as a coating for interior items. Well suited for the restoration of old wooden furniture. There are many varieties on the market that tint the surface in the desired color or emphasize the natural texture (colorless).

Paint application

The main stage - dyeing - is the most enjoyable process that even Tom Sawyer enjoyed. It's nice to watch how the furniture is being transformed.

If the structure is painted disassembled, the walls are laid horizontally so that the paint is distributed evenly, without drips. Furniture as a whole is painted more slowly, carefully controlling the homogeneity of the resulting layer.

First, a background is made, then they are allowed to dry for half an hour, after which they are stained twice more, pausing to dry.

If you wish, you can play with the color to enhance the decorative impression, for example by painting the countertop in a light color and the side walls in dark tones. To enhance the effect, furniture is varnished, making from one to several coatings on different parts. With a great desire and observance of accuracy, the effect will surpass expectations.

How to choose the right paint

When old but sturdy furniture has lost its former luster, it is not necessary to think about purchasing a new headset, it is better to think about buying paint and restoring the old one. Thus, you kill two birds with one stone - give a second life to your favorite furniture and save money.It is easier to buy new paint than new furniture.
What you need to know when choosing paint for wood:

where and in what conditions the furniture was used;
the type of wood of the furniture element;
the ability to apply paint again;
the type of paint of the original coating.

Since we are talking about furniture, which is usually found in residential premises, then when choosing a dye, give priority to odorless products.Give preference to paint without a strong odor.

Type of material and furniture

We decided to paint the furniture, update its appearance, first decide what, in the end, you plan to achieve. For example, latex-based paint is suitable for bringing vintage-looking furniture. This material is best suited for artificial aging of the surface, it will accentuate abrasions and small cracks.Latex paint can give furniture a vintage look.
For the treatment of smooth surfaces exposed to external stress - oil paints. This type of paint is quite stable and can be used to paint tables, chairs, nightstands and other similar pieces of furniture.For chairs and tables, it is better to choose oil paints.
Acrylic composition, most suitable for covering small areas, from which the surface becomes shiny and smooth. Acrylic paint is quite resistant to temperature fluctuations, has high wear resistance and moisture-repellent properties. Therefore, it can be used for painting bathroom cabinets, kitchen furniture, wardrobes.Acrylic paints are durable and suitable for almost any furniture.

Re-staining

When re-painting, be sure to apply the same type of paint that was previously applied to the surface. How to determine without special expertise if information on this issue is hopelessly lost. Go over the old layer with sandpaper, if there are traces of paint on the paper, most likely it is one of the water-soluble emulsions. If the old coating crumbles after exposure to an abrasive, then we are dealing with alkyd or oil paint.

A conclusion on the old material can also be made by the age of its application. If more than ten years have passed since the last painting, then without a doubt, this is an oil-alkyd paint.The surface for re-painting should be clean, degreased and dry.
For re-painting, the prepared surface must be dry and thoroughly cleaned of grease, dust and soot, dirt. To return the furniture to its former look, take the time and qualitatively prepare its surface for applying paint.

Compatibility with other coatings

In order for your wooden furniture to play again with its former freshness and shine, and its staining ended successfully, one important aspect should be taken into account. It is possible that re-painting will be carried out on a surface containing other materials: putties, enamels, primers. They will most likely have a different color and composition, that is, they may not be compatible with the chosen paint.

How to paint children's furniture: possible options

The reason for repainting old wooden furniture may be not only the need to renew the coating, but also the desire to change its appearance. Even an old, out-of-fashion Soviet or Romanian wall can fit into a modern room and become a functional and stylish part of the interior, if you make it a competent redesign. First you need to decide what the new interior of the room will be, in what style it will be sustained.

Look at examples of furniture placement with the participation of the old wall. Here she not only fits into the overall color scheme of the room, but also looks quite modern and relevant. By the way, both wooden walls from the examples in the photo were repainted.

Look for inspiration in examples and choose new colors and décor to update old wood furniture.

Painting wooden furniture, like any other job, has its own specifics and tricks. The tips below will help you not only paint your furniture faster, but also save paint by achieving a high quality result.

Buy products - varnishes, paints, putties, primers - from one manufacturer. This guarantees their compatibility, since manufacturers of finishing materials usually specialize in certain types of surfaces and take into account their operating conditions. This will make it easier to choose the right paint and other products.
Experiment with shades and color combinations. A well-chosen color scheme refreshes the room and visually enlarges it. In interiors of different styles, the technique of contrast is very popular: furniture is painted in a color that contrasts with the walls.
Before starting to paint on wood furniture, prepare a roller and several brushes of varying thicknesses. The roller is useful for painting large flat surfaces, and small embossed details - furniture ends, trim, convex decor - are best painted with brushes.
Apply masking tape to protect areas that have already been painted and dried from paint splashes. The solvent will not help in this case, but will only spoil the main layer of paint.
During painting work, wear a respirator mask or take care of high-quality ventilation of the room

Many of the modern wood furniture paints are odorless and non-toxic, but caution is always best when working with construction chemicals.

Features of painting various types of furniture

Each material has its own subtleties and nuances that should be taken into account when working.

Painting of MDF furniture

The surfaces are freed from the old coating, cleaned and degreased. Next, a layer of acrylic primer is made. It will help to level surfaces, close all pores and provide an even coat of paint. You can apply the coloring composition in various ways:

spray can;
spray gun;
roller;
brush.

If, when painting furniture made of MDF at home, it is necessary to obtain a rich, deep tone, several layers are made, each of which is dried. The final stage is varnishing. It will give shine and protect against adverse external factors.

Painting of chipboard furniture

The first steps with this option for painting furniture are standard - the surfaces are freed from the old coating, sanded, covered with a layer of primer, and, if necessary, putty. The peculiarity of working with such a surface is that the material is covered with veneer or varnish, laminated, laminated. Pre-treatment depends on the type of surface.

Painted chipboard boards are heat treated (for example, with a building hair dryer). The soft paint can be easily removed with a spatula. If you don't have a hair dryer, you can use an iron. The surfaces are ironed through foil, after which the paint can be removed very easily. The veneer or laminated layer is removed with sandpaper. Dust is swept away with a brush, you should not wipe the surface with a rag or sponge - the dust will get into the pores of the tree.

For painting chipboard furniture, you can use alkyd, oil or acrylic paints. The choice depends on the characteristics of the room. In the kitchen and in the bathroom, alkyd compounds that are resistant to moisture and microorganisms are best suited. For the bedroom and nursery, acrylic is chosen that does not have an unpleasant odor.

Features of painting furniture made of chipboard with your own hands:

After applying and drying the first layer, you should carefully clean up all irregularities and roughness with fine-grain sandpaper. Then apply a second coat.

Varnishes are also used for chipboard, they will protect surfaces from moisture and mold.

Alkyd, alcohol, epoxy compounds are suitable.

If you have to paint the cabinet in an unassembled state, you need to work very slowly and with small layers, this will help to avoid drips.

Painting of natural wood furniture

Most often, instead of painting furniture, it is varnished. But if there was previously a coloring composition on the surfaces, it should be updated. Preliminary preparation is standard, the only caveat is that the so-called "lint removal" is required for natural material. For this, the surfaces are covered with a layer of stain or other wet composition, for example, varnish.

After preparation, a layer of paint is applied. You can use any kind of furniture painting (toning, painting, varnishing).

Stain is used for toning, it perfectly emphasizes the beautiful texture of natural wood. It can be waxy, alcoholic, aqueous or oily.

The technology of painting solid wood furniture with wood stain:

The composition is applied with a flute brush.
If you need to make two layers, each is carefully dried.

It is important to evenly distribute the composition over the surface, otherwise stains will appear. Paint options for painting wood furniture:

Paint options for painting wood furniture:

If the item is located in a room with high humidity, a water-based emulsion is suitable.
The best option for painting children's furniture is acrylic. It is environmentally friendly, odorless, dries quickly.
Compositions for furniture must contain the designation "Eco Label" in the marking, this indicates safety.
Latex and acrylic compounds are suitable for the bathroom. For the kitchen - odorless water-based emulsion.
Previously, painting wooden furniture with oil was considered the best option, but this composition dries for a long time and has an unpleasant odor. It has been replaced by modern silicone paints.

The type of wood affects how much composition is required. Cedar, pine and fir absorb the best paint. Birch, maple, beech are much more economical.

Optimal materials

Baby cot with a natural wood frame

Before you paint the furniture in the nursery, you should study all the options for paints and varnishes that are acceptable for use in such an important room. Of course, there are many varieties of modern paints with a wide variety of bases, but the best option is the classic water one:

Quite often, latex and acrylic water-dispersion products are used, since they are distinguished by excellent quality of the finished coating, strong elastic film, complete absence of harmful substances in the composition, and, of course, a large selection of various shades and colors. At the same time, the resulting coating has an incredibly rich color and pleasant texture;
An excellent option would be acrylic-polyurethane furniture varnishes.

The key features of this material include incredible durability, which is so important for every surface in a children's room. In addition, such paints are absolutely resistant to moisture and mechanical stress.

Also of note is the wide range of colors and rich colors of acrylic-polyurethane products;
Acrylic-based enamels are mainly used for finishing the most wear-resistant surfaces and objects. Thus, toys, window sills, various tabletops and all children's furniture are subjected to processing with this product. The material is resistant to mechanical stress, and does not contain various harmful impurities;
Aqualaki are also perfect for decorating a children's room. They are made on the basis of polymer dispersions and water. There are various external characteristics, thanks to which each parent will be able to choose the most suitable varnish - colored, matte, semi-matt, transparent. With all this, the material is absolutely harmless and resistant to all negative influences from the outside;
The composition of oil-waxes contains only natural oils and waxes, which is very important for decorating a children's room. When this substance is applied to the surface of the wood, the oil is absorbed into the material, and the wax remains on the surface, thereby forming a stable protective film. It does not lend itself to mechanical, chemical and any other influences, prevents the penetration of dust and dirt into the object, and is easy to clean. Today, this material is recommended by most European manufacturers.

Walls in the children's room, painted with special paint

Each of the materials described above is absolutely hypoallergenic, does not contain harmful or toxic impurities, and also has a large selection of colors, shades and textures. However, with all this, each material from the list has a rather high price, which is due to a large number of tests, certifications and other checks.

Each of these high-quality materials is absolutely safe, and in the store the seller must provide documents that describe the composition of solvents and fillers, at the first request of the buyer.

Which shade should you choose?

The choice of color depends on the wishes of the owners. However, you can heed some advice:

If the bedroom is small, it is advisable to choose light and cool shades.
In case of insufficient lighting in the room, it is better to refuse staining in too dark colors.
You need to choose the color for the interior decoration of the bedroom.
It is better to choose shades that will help you relax and tune in to sleep.

How to recolor it white?

The procedure for repainting furniture in white is simple. Painting is carried out in several stages:

Remove dust and dirty spots from the surface with water with the addition of any detergent.
Dry, disassemble the furniture into its component parts.
Remove the old coating with sandpaper, treat irregularities, small cracks.
Apply the primer in two coats, letting each coat dry completely.
Apply a thin layer of the white compound with a brush or roller, leave to dry completely, then repeat the procedure two more times.
When the coating is dry, the surface can be covered with a matte or glossy varnish. This will provide the product with a more attractive look and additional wear protection.

How to repaint a crib in a different color?

Important
Children's furniture should be as safe as possible for the child.

Special safety requirements are imposed on the compositions used for painting cribs. They should be:

Quick-drying, fireproof, elastic, resistant to moisture, aggressive environment, mechanical stress.
Does not contain various volatile compounds, toxins, heavy metals, and other hazardous substances.

Most suitable and harmless to children:

Acrylic: have antibacterial additives in the composition, quick-drying, provide a smooth coating, resistant to mechanical stress, humidity, temperature extremes, exposure to direct sunlight.
Silicone: form a film on the surface that is prone to self-cleaning. Elastic, vapor-permeable, resistant to temperature extremes, not afraid of moisture.
Latex: based on synthetic latex. They create a moderately durable coating. They do not deform when in contact with water, but they are destroyed under the influence of sudden temperature changes, direct sunlight.
Milk casein-based: no volatiles, composed of milk casein (binder) and porcelain (hardener). They have good adhesion to wood and can be applied over old ones.

Advice
It is better to paint cribs with glossy paint, since it is more difficult to remove dirt from a matte surface.

It is not necessary to remove the old layers to paint the crib. The high adhesion of modern materials allows the new coating to firmly adhere to the previously applied coating.

Coloring is performed in several steps:

Disassemble the crib into parts.
The surface of all parts is treated with sandpaper. If the old coating flakes off, it is completely removed with a spatula.
Wipe furniture from dust, dirt, eliminate defects.
Putty is put on, the product is primed, left to dry.
After the bed is completely dry, paint is started. With a brush or roller, paint over evenly in two or three layers, letting each dry well.
When the coating on all parts is completely dry, the furniture is assembled.

If you plan to repaint the crib for a very small child, it must be borne in mind that babies often gnaw the sides

Therefore, when choosing paintwork materials, it is important to study the certificates of compliance with the conclusions of state supervisory authorities

Video instruction for painting a crib:

The procedure for painting a bed with your own hands at home is simple and does not take too much time. You need to choose a suitable safe material and follow all the points in the instructions. Proper staining will provide high-quality and long-lasting coverage.