How to Do A Quick Easy Cheap Paint Treatment for Furniture

It couldn't be easier to make your furniture pieces unique once you learn this quick, easy and cheap paint treatment. This is not about being perfect, it's about giving furniture a great painting job and doing it easier than you've done before.

Things You'll Need

• Sandpaper
• Soft, clean rag
• Water-base primer
• Paint brush - foam or bristle
• Water-base craft paint or paints - your choice
• Empty margarine tub w/lid
• Water-base polycrylic (satin or semi-gloss finish)

Instructions

1. Remove existing hardware and sand the piece of furniture. You don't have to take it down to the bare wood for this paint technique, just get it to the point where it feels smooth when you run your bare hand across it.

   Start by lightly sanding with a medium grit paper and then one time around with fine sandpaper. Make sure to change the sandpaper often enough so it does the work it's supposed to.

2. Wipe down furniture with a very slightly dampened rag, rinsing often.
   Let furniture dry thoroughly before you apply this quick easy cheap paint treatment.

3. Apply one coat of water-base primer to furniture. Let dry well before proceeding.

4. 

   Using paint color of choice, mix this with a little hot water in the plastic margarine tub (or something similar, as long as it has a lid). Use the water-base craft paint available at the discount store (price is anywhere from 89 cents to under $2).

   Stir the paint and water to get rid of any paint lumps. Apply one coat, then put lid back on tub while first coat dries. Repeat till you've applied an average of 3 coats of this paint. Keep adding more paint and water to tub and mix as needed.

5. Apply three coats of water-base polycrylic for a solid paint treatment, letting it dry between coats. However, if you are painting a design or graphic on the piece, you must do that prior to applying the polycrylic.

Tips & Warnings

• These small bottles of latex craft paint are available in a wide variety of colors to choose from.