Finishing Touches of Painting Furniture – Video Series

Painting furniture is more than just slapping on some paint and calling it good. Since chalk paint has a matte porous surface, it has to be sealed with a topcoat. And then how do you update the hardware as well? Here are the finishing touches of painting furniture including how to distress chalk paint, what is the best topcoat for chalk painted furniture, and how to update hardware.

These final steps will upgrade your DIY dresser makeovers and give you that professional, polished and long lasting finish.

We did a 3 part Facebook LIVE video series on how to paint a dresser from start to finish. But if you missed them, we’ve compiled them all right here for you! This is video 3, all about finishing your painted furniture. Scroll down to see part 1 (How to Prep Furniture for Painting) and part 2 (Using a Paint Sprayer to Paint a Dresser).

This one was a quick 8 minute video on how to distress furniture with sandpaper, using a paint sprayer to spray your topcoat, and using Rub n Buff to paint hardware. Make sure to follow these steps to get the best results for your painted furniture.

We share all of my favorite supplies that we use for almost every makeover, including this one! And we also have extra tips and tricks that will make your DIY projects even easier. Now let’s finish this dresser makeover!

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How to Distress Furniture with Sandpaper

Distressing chalk paint with sandpaper is easy peasy and the best way to distress furniture. The sandpaper only takes a little bit of paint away, and it also makes chalk paint more smooth!

To distress chalk paint, just fold the sandpaper in half and then rub it along the raised edges and details of the dresser. You can also rub the sandpaper all over the chalk paint to make it smoother and create distressing all over. Learn more distressing furniture techniques here, aside from using sandpaper.

After distressing, a vacuum with the hose attachment is the perfect tool to suck up all of the dust that has gotten into the corners. Just like we did in video one!

What Grit Sandpaper for Distressing Furniture?

The best sandpaper grit is 220. This is a fine grit sandpaper. It will easily remove paint on details and raised edges, but it doesn’t remove paint on flat surfaces (unless you put a lot of pressure on the sandpaper).

400 grit sandpaper is really nice to distress chalk paint as well! It doesn’t remove as much as 220 grit, but you can also use it to smooth the flat surfaces as well, without getting faint sanding marks in your paint.

If you have really hard paint, you can distress the edges with 150-180 grit sandpaper. Don’t sand the flat surfaces with anything lower than 220, or else you will get scratches in your paint finish. Learn more about the best sandpaper for furniture painting options here!

What Paint is Best for Distressed Look?

Chalk paint is the best paint to use when you want distressed furniture. It has a matte porous surface that sands away easily. So it’s easier to control and it looks more natural when distressed. If you want that shabby chic look, chalk paint is definitely the way to go.

Can you Distress Latex Paint?

You can! But it’s not as easy as chalk paint. Latex paint will ball up and gum up your sandpaper quickly. But it’s still possible to distress latex paint. As you are sanding with one hand, use the other hand to wipe away the paint dust.

Best Topcoat for Chalk Painted Furniture

Chalk paint has to be sealed with a topcoat because it is a porous paint. The topcoat will give it added durability, but it will also make it so you can wipe off the chalk paint if you spill your drink or anything gets onto the chalk painted furniture.

When chalk paint first came out, wax was the preferred topcoat. But wax is hard to apply, (wax on, wax off!) and on dark colors, it usually ends up with streaks and a hazy finish. Instead I use water based polyurethane!

Polyurethane is more durable than wax, it dries faster and you can paint over it if need be (yep, I’ve had to repaint many pieces of furniture and touch up boo boos within a week of painting said furniture.. painting over wax is a major no-no, so using poly is the best way to avoid issues.)

Learn more about topcoats for painting furniture here, including polyurethane and wax. We also have a comparison post on wax vs polyurethane if you want to see how they perform side by side.

Can you Spray Polyurethane with a Paint Sprayer?

Yes! In fact, spraying poly is the very best way to topcoat painted furniture! The sprayer sprays a thin even coat that can dry quickly. It also is super fast to spray poly, compared to brushing it on!

But my favorite reason for using a paint sprayer is that it prevents any streaks and brush marks that come from brushing or wiping on poly. When you spray it on, spray a thinner coat that won’t drip. This Wagner paint sprayer is a great beginning paint sprayer for furniture!

**Wear a respirator mask when using your paint sprayer. I was in a rush and totally forgot to. But I usually wear one.

How to Thin Polyurethane for Spraying

Poly doesn’t have to be thinned out for a paint sprayer, but thinning it out just a bit will help the poly level out and feel smoother.

Put a couple of splashes of water into your container of polyurethane to thin it out just a bit. I know that’s not very specific, but I honestly never measure how much water to polyurethane. You can use your viscosity cup to make sure the poly isn’t too thin! Here’s how to thin paint for paint sprayer with more details on using the viscosity cup for thinning.

How to Paint Furniture Hardware

Last but not least is updating the old hardware! I wanted to keep the old hardware on this dresser, but I wanted to add a little big of glamour to it!

One of my favorite products to add a quick little gold shine to old hardware is Rub N Buff! Simply rub it onto your cleaned hardware! I like to wear a glove on my hand so the rub n buff doesn’t get on my finger. Then I put a little bit of Rub N Buff onto my finger, and rub it onto the hardware.

Does Rub n Buff need to be sealed?

After applying Rub N Buff to your hardware, you may be wondering if you need to seal it. Well, you don’t have to! The product dries and hardens quickly, so you don’t have to worry about any smudging or transfer onto your hands.

If you’re still concerned, you can give the hardware an extra buff once it is completely dry so you can be sure there aren’t any residue or loose pieces. But really, once Rub n Buff has dried, it’s clean to the touch and doesn’t need any extra sealing.

How to clean furniture hardware before painting?

But before painting it, it’s important to clean your furniture hardware first. Your hardware may be dirty or greasy, and if you paint over it without cleaning, the paint might not adhere properly. So here’s how to clean furniture hardware before painting!

Gather all your hardware and put them in a pot of water. It’s best to use an old pan or one you don’t mind getting dirty. Let the hardware boil for about 5 minutes, then remove the pan from heat. You can also add some vinegar to help cut through any tough grime.

Next, take your hardware out of the water using tongs and bring them over to your sink or washing area. Sprinkle Bar Keepers Friend on each piece of hardware and let it sit for about 30 seconds. This product works wonders in removing grime and grease – both powder or liquid version will work just fine.

Then grab a scrubbing sponge or toothbrush and start scrubbing the dirt off your hardware. For tougher spots, you can use fine steel wool. Once everything is clean, rinse off the Bar Keepers Friend and let the hardware dry completely before moving on to painting! Check out our detailed guide on how to clean old furniture hardware here.

If you missed or need a refresher on how to prep furniture for painting or using a paint sprayer to paint a dresser, click on the images below!

More Painting Furniture Resources

• What is the Difference Between Chalk Paint and Regular Paint
• Spray Painted Furniture
• Furniture Painting Tools And Supplies
• Chalk Painting Furniture
• Repainting Furniture

Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture. Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!