How to Refinish Veneer
Veneer is a popular material for furniture because of its cost effectiveness and beautiful finish. But you may want to change the look of your veneer furniture or give it a fresh new update. So let’s look into how to refinish veneer, if it’s possible to do so, and what you’ll need to do it successfully.
We’ll go through some refinishing furniture techniques you can do to bring new life to your veneer pieces and make them look as good as new. Let’s get started!
Veneer is basically a thin layer of real wood glued onto a base material like MDF or particle board. It’s a popular choice for furniture because it gives the appearance of high quality wood but it is much less expensive.
It can be difficult to tell if your furniture has veneer, but a good way to check is by looking at the edges of the piece. If you see a thin dark line, that’s most likely the edge of the veneer. But again, it can still be well hidden.
Now, your veneer furniture can look great for years, but eventually, it may need some touching or freshening up. When updating furniture, you can paint or refinish it, but how about veneer? Let’s see if refinishing veneer is possible and how to do it!
Can you refinish veneer furniture?
Refinishing involves sanding the furniture to applying a new stain, and you can definitely do this with veneer furniture! You sand the veneer to remove the old stain and bring it down to a fresh layer. Afterward, you can apply a new stain to give it a new and improved look.
But if you’re working with laminate veneer, refinishing may not be an option. Laminate is a type of plastic material that looks like wood, and it doesn’t have the same properties as real wood veneer. Sanding and staining won’t be effective, so you may want to check if your furniture has laminate veneer first.
Veneer is delicate material, so proper care is needed when refinishing. You want to be careful not to sand too deeply and damage the veneer. We’ll go through some tips on how to refinish veneer without compromising its quality.
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Steps for Refinishing Veneer
If your veneer piece can be refinished, now you’ll need to prepare for the job. You’ll also need these essential furniture refinishing tools and furniture refinishing supplies to make sure the process goes smoothly.
Removing Old Finish of Veneer Furniture
If your veneer furniture has an old finish you don’t like, you’ll need to remove it before refinishing. We recommend using a chemical stripper like Stripwell QCS or Citristrip for the job. These best wood stain removers help remove the old finish without damaging the delicate veneer.
Usually, you’ll just let the product sit on the veneer for a few minutes, and the old finish will soften. Then you can easily scrape it off with a putty knife. For Citristrip, you’ll have to clean any residue with mineral spirits, while you can just use paper towels wet with water for Stripwell QCS (Use code SUNLIGHT10 to get 10% off your order of Stripwell QCS!).
Here’s more on how to remove wood stain with Citristrip, and here’s our Stripwell QCS review with a guide on how to use this product.
Sanding Veneer
After stripping the finish from your veneer furniture, you can now sand the surface for a smooth finish. Use a higher grit sandpaper and gently sand the veneer, making sure not to apply too much pressure. Take your time and go slow to avoid damaging the delicate surface.
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You can also use an electric sander for larger pieces of veneer furniture. But again, make sure the power setting is not too high and that you are constantly moving the sander to avoid sanding through the veneer.
Once you’ve sanded the entire surface, don’t forget to remove the dust by vacuuming and then wiping it down with a damp cloth or a tack cloth. We need the layer to be clean and free of debris so that the new finish will adhere properly. For more helpful tips here’s our blog post about can veneer be sanded.
How to Refinish Veneer with Stain
It’s time to stain! This is where you can really customize the look of your furniture. You can choose from a variety of wood stains, from light to dark, to match your personal style and home decor. Check out these best wood stains here for your options!
Before applying the stain, make sure to tape off any areas that you don’t want to be stained. You don’t want to be fixing any mistakes later on. For your stain, make sure to stir it well until it’s got the perfect consistency. You can also test the color on a small area of the veneer furniture before committing to the entire piece.
With any of these best brushes for staining wood or a cloth, apply the stain on the veneer with smooth and even strokes in the direction of the wood grain. This makes for a natural look and helps prevent any streaks or uneven spots.
Let the coat of stain sit for a few minutes, maybe around 5-10 minutes, so the stain soaks and sets into the veneer. Wipe off any excess stain after with a clean cloth, again following the wood grain direction.
If you want to deepen the color, feel free to apply another coat of stain after the first coat is dried completely. Repeat the same way you did it the first time. The longer you let the stain sit, the darker your wood will be, so take that into account as well.
Sealing Refinished Veneer
With the veneer furniture sanded and refinished, the last step is to seal it for long lasting protection. You can choose among polyurethane, wax, and polycrylic options – they not only protect your refinished veneer furniture but also enhance its appearance. Our post on topcoats for painting furniture can help you choose the best sealant for your project.
Apply your chosen sealant with long, smooth strokes still in the direction of the wood grain. Two or three coats should give your furniture maximum protection, and you can also sand between coats for a smoother finish. Learn all about refinishing painted furniture in this post.
So you can see that refinishing veneer furniture is possible and very easy to do! Just make sure to be gentle with the delicate veneer and choose a new finish that you love. With these steps, you can transform your old veneer piece into something new and fresh.
More Refinishing Furniture Tips
- Sanded Through Veneer to Particle Board
- How to Repair (and Stain) Chipped Veneer Furniture
- How to Remove Veneer
- How to Refinish Wood Furniture Without Stripping
- Can You Refinish Particle Board Furniture
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