Painting Oak Furniture Black
If you have an old piece that you no longer love or are looking for a way to liven up a room, painting oak furniture black is an excellent option to give it a fresh new look. These black painted furniture ideas are classic, pair well with different styles, and add sophistication to any space.
Working with oak requires the right tools, techniques, and products to create the perfect finish. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the process so you can get the best looking finish!
Oak has a distinct grain pattern that isn’t seen in some other types of wood. Paint cannot be applied over this porous surface without proper prep and technique. So, we’ll show you how to paint oak furniture and get the best results!
With just a few coats, your oak piece can go from outdated to sophisticated in no time. Imagine how beautiful your dining table, chairs, or coffee table will look with a dark finish that highlights their unique grains and textures.
If you’re a DIYer or someone looking to improve your painting skills, follow these steps to transform your piece into a beautiful and elegant piece that matches your style and decor.
Supplies Used for Painting Oak Furniture Black
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- Screwdriver
- Krud Kutter
- KwikWood
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- Shop Vacuum
- Tack Cloth
- BIN Shellac Based Primer
- General Finishes Enduro Black Poly
- Paint Sprayer
- 400 Grit Sandpaper
Check out the 10 best painting furniture supplies you must have here, so you’re always ready for your next project!
Preparing Oak Furniture
Before you start, you need to properly prepare so that your new paint will stick well and that your piece will look high end when you’re done.
Start by removing any hardware or knobs. You can do this by unscrewing them using a screwdriver. Clean the piece thoroughly using a degreaser and water. You can use a sponge or cloth to apply the solution and then wipe it off with a clean cloth.
I personally like to use Krud Kutter and a damp rag to cut through any grease or grime that is on the surface. Learn more about how to clean furniture before painting here.
On this china cabinet, we also had a tiny bit of chipped oak veneer on the front, so I filled that in as well.
I used KwikWood, one of the best wood fillers for furniture, to fill it in. When it was dry, I sanded it down so it was completely flat and flush with the wood around it. Learn more about how to use Kwikwood here.
And then the last step is I scuff sanded the entire cabinet, inside and out with 220 grit sandpaper. Enough to remove a little bit of the sheen but not so much that you go through the finish. Learn more about sanding before painting furniture here and how to sand wood by hand here.
Then, I vacuumed up the dust and wiped any leftover dust off with a tack cloth. Get more tips on how to clean wood after sanding in this post.
Priming Oak Furniture
And then, I primed the cabinet with a couple of coats of BIN shellac based primer. The primer helps the new paint stick, but it also helps it have an even coverage (without it, it could look shiny in some spots and dull in other spots.)
A good stain blocking primer is also one of the ways how to stop stains from coming through paint… an annoying thing that happens when you use waterbased products on wood pieces.
Painting Oak Furniture Black
Now, there are many different paints that you can use, but this time, I chose to use one of these best black paints for furniture. I used General Finishes Enduro Black Poly. It’s basically a highly pigmented topcoat that dries to a durable satin finish.
The biggest downside of this is that it has to be applied with a sprayer. But the combination of this product and a sprayer creates a flawless finish. Check out another post on spray painting a dresser black with Enduro Poly.
And it’s really easy to do. It’s already thin, so you just put it in your sprayer and then spray on a light, even coat to avoid drips and runs. If you end up dealing with drips, here’s how to fix spray paint drips. It is ready to recoat after about an hour, which is so nice!
But in between coats, I like to go over everything with 400 grit sandpaper to make the finish feel buttery smooth. Check out the best sandpaper for furniture painting here. And then, I, of course, removed the dust with a tack cloth again.
It’s recommended to apply 3 coats of this for the best durability. Then, allow it to dry completely and cure for at least 24 hours before using the piece.
That’s it! By following these steps, you can paint oak furniture black using General Finishes Enduro Poly. If you want to try another classic color, check out this makeover on painting oak furniture white. I have more tips on updating oak furniture and how to get a high end look without replacing it here!
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Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.
How to Paint Wood Furniture Black Without Sanding
If you don’t want to sand beforehand or in between coats, you can choose a different product that sticks better to finished wood. Heirloom Traditions Paint is my favorite all in one product that sticks really well, even to laminate surfaces, without the need to scuff sand.
It’s even better than chalk paint (which, in my opinion, should never be used without scuff sanding or priming beforehand.) You can read my Heirloom Traditions All In One Paint review to help you decide on using it for your next DIY project. Learn more about the best all in one paints for furniture here.
You can also skip this step if you use a really good primer like we used in this makeover. BIN shellac based primer has AMAZING bonding abilities and technically will stick to even slick laminate without sanding beforehand. Check out the best primers for painting furniture here.
But just know that your new finish will last longer and hold up better if you scuff sand beforehand. If you’re set to skip it, learn all about how to paint wood furniture without sanding or priming in this post.
What Is the Best Black Paint for Furniture?
There are so many different types, and sifting through all of the options can be a pain. But you don’t need to because I have tried a lot of them, and I know what is the best and what is not worth your time. Here are some of the very best black paints!
- Heirloom Traditions Paint in Iron Gate (Painting Furniture Black)
- General Finishes Enduro Poly in Black (This makeover!)
- General Finishes Milk Paint in Lamp Black (Paint Furniture Black)
- Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black (Repainting Furniture)
If you want a matte finish, here are the best black matte paints for furniture.
Do I Need to Strip the Old Finish Off?
When painting oak furniture black, it is not necessary to strip the old finish. You can scuff sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper to create a dull surface that will allow the new color and primer to adhere properly. Make sure to clean off the dust afterward!
How Many Coats of Black Paint Do I Need?
You will usually need about 2 coats to get full coverage. Some cover really well, like Shackteau Interiors Milk Paint, and might only need 1 coat. But it’s very typical for black to need 2 coats for full coverage. 3 coats are sometimes necessary when using thinner paints like General Finishes Lamp Black.
How do you paint oak without the grain showing?
If you’re not a fan of the porous surface and want a smooth, flawless finish, there are a few easy steps you can do so the grain wouldn’t show. You can use spackling to fill in the wood grain!
Start off by putting some spackling into a separate container and adding some water to it. Mix the two until you have a consistency that can be brushed on. Apply it against the direction of the wood grain to make sure it fills in properly, then let it dry.
Sand down the dried spackling with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it out. If you can still see some wood grain, just repeat the process a few times until it’s as smooth as you want. Then, you can proceed to prime and paint the piece with your new color. For a more detailed guide on this, here’s how to hide wood grain when painting.
There you have it, now go tackle your project! And don’t forget to have some fun!
Painting Oak Furniture Black
Painting oak furniture black is a great way to give your old furniture a fresh new look while still keeping it classic.
Materials
Tools
Instructions
- Prepare your oak furniture by removing old hardware then cleaning it thoroughly with Krud Kutter and a damp rag. For any chipped oak veneers, fill them in with wood filler. Scuff sand the entire cabinet, inside and out, with 220 grit sandpaper. Then clean all the dust with vacuum and tack cloth.
- Apply a couple of coats of primer to help paint stick and to help paint have even coverage. Priming will also stop stains from coming through the paint.
- Spray light even coats of black paint onto the cabinet. You can sand everything with 400 grit sandpaper between coats to make the finish feel buttery smooth. Paint 3 coats of paint for the best durability.
- Let the paint dry and cure for at least 24 hours.
- Add hardware and enjoy your new black furniture!
Recommended Products
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More Black Painted Furniture Ideas
- Best Black Furniture Paint
- Painting a Bed Frame Black
- Chalk Painted Black Dresser
- Painting a Dining Table Black
- How to Paint Cheap Furniture
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GORGEOUS make over!
Followed and Pinned!
Creatively, Beth
Amazing outcome, love the black on this cabinet! So beautifully done.
This turned out absolutely beautiful!
I would be afraid to try this myself, but the black looks great! Doesn’t even look like the same piece. Great job, thank you for sharing with Whimsy Home Wednesday.