Restoring furniture is such a fun, creative process that can help you transform an old furniture object and enhance its look. It’s quite an affordable option as well for refinishing furniture than having to purchase new things. As fun as this process is, the worst about restyling furniture is sanding! If you ask any furniture maker or a professional furniture painter what they dislike the most about it, they’ll probably say sanding. Sanding helps make wood feel smoother and ensure a uniform surface, but it is quite a messy, time-consuming, and tiring process. A lot of people often tend to cringe at the mere sight and feel of sandpaper when salvaging furniture, which is why one of the most commonly asked questions in this area, is: how to paint furniture without sanding?
Ways to Paint Furniture without Sanding
While sanding is a crucial step, the good news is that it’s quite possible to paint furniture without sanding! There are several ways through which you can refinish furniture without having to sand off any sealer or varnish.
Take a look at the best options you can use to paint furniture and skip the sanding process altogether.
1. Prep with A Bonding Primer
If you have a very specific kind of paint in mind, this is the most ideal option for you. Get a high-quality bonding primer that you can use as a base coat to paint over the furniture piece.
These primers feature excellent binding powers; they don’t require sanding and will easily stick to a variety of different surfaces.
Good quality primers surely cost a tad more than the other varieties; however, they thoroughly justify the price. You can use these primers as a base to paint furniture without sanding and ensure that the paint adheres to a range of surfaces.
Another great thing about these primers is they work really well with surfaces like metal, glass, vinyl, and many others.
2. Chalk Paint
This is a kind of decorative furniture paint that is super reliable, quick, and easy to use. It doesn’t need any kind of preparation and has no requirements such as sanding or priming either.
The most standout feature of chalk paints is that you can use them to paint literally anything without sanding.
Chalk paints are commonly and popularly used by furniture painting professionals, especially when they wish to paint something without sanding. The two main reasons why they have such a huge mass appeal are they don’t require any prep, and they provide a stunning matte finish.
Think of chalk paints like a miraculous option that sticks to so many surfaces without any prep work at all. You can easily get a smooth, chalky, attractive finish at the end with a single coat and easy application.
3. Mineral Paint
Another excellent way to paint furniture without sanding is using mineral paint. As the same suggests, this type of paint contains natural minerals from the earth. The minerals are primarily what provide the paint with its distinctive color pigments.
They are further mixed with a solvent and a binder such as acrylic resin, for instance. The resin is responsible for two of mineral paints’ most important and special qualities: exceptional durability and fantastic adhesion.
In addition to that, mineral paints are completely non-toxic. So, you can easily use them to paint your furniture without worrying about any kind of health hazards.
Other impressive characteristics of mineral paints include how they are stain-proof, waterproof, and that they don’t require a topcoat.
4. Mix Bonding Agent with Equal Parts of Milk Paint
Made with clay, lime, milk protein, and pigment, milk paint is an environmentally-friendly paint that doesn’t require sanding either. It’s water-based, completely non-toxic, and also biodegradable, which makes it an excellent option for painting furniture and many other surfaces.
To skip sanding, mix equal parts of milk paint with any bonding agent where the latter works like a primer. The bonding agent allows the paint to adhere well to the furniture surface without having to sand it.
Since milk paint is water-based, you can easily paint it in thinner, smoother coats, unlike oil and latex paints. With the bonding agent, it will help you create an even better look with a more consistent finish.
What’s great about milk paint is that it’s super easy to use and also features quite a sturdy grip. You can purchase milk paint premixed or in powder form, depending on your personal preference.
When using milk paint for furniture, you don’t need to sand or prime the object. Since it is non-toxic, you can easily discard it in your lawn or backyard.
How to Ensure Perfect Results
While you can easily paint furniture without sanding, it’s still possible for issues to occur, such as peeling and chipping. So, to prevent that from happening, the best way to go about it is to do a patch test first. It might sound like a hassle, but it’s worth a shot to test an area and see how it works.
Not to mention, doing a trial test is much better and easier than putting in so many days’ worth of effort. Next thing you know, you are stripping it off and starting all over again!
Begin by applying your choice of paint in a small inconspicuous area and allow it to dry. Once fully dried the following day, do a scratch test with the help of a screw or even your fingernail. If the paint doesn’t come off and adheres well, you’re good to go.
Final Word
Being able to paint furniture without sanding offers a lot of relief to many people. However, it is possible for the scratch test to fail, causing the paint to peel. In that case, the ideal thing to do is to give your furniture a quick sanding.
All you need to is get 150-220 grit sandpaper and rub it across the surface of the furniture to scruff it a little. Remove all the dust with the help of a dry cloth. And then you can begin the painting process, creating perfectly painted furniture!
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