the secret to a flawless furniture finish

*Thanks to HomeRight for partnering with me on this post. This post contains affiliate links*

If you’ve ever painted furniture and were less than happy with the results, then maybe I can help. I’ve confessed before about my secret weapon to painting almost anything. If you want the convenience of  spray paint, but want to save money (plus the planet) then you can also check out why I prefer using a paint sprayer. The more furniture I paint, the more tricks I seem to find, and we can never have enough, right? So today I’m sharing what I know about getting a flawless furniture finish.

The main secret is to pay attention to the details. What do I mean by that? Well there’s a few things… because there’s not just one tiny secret 🙂

First, make sure you sand the piece well – especially the areas with an imperfect finish. Bad base coat = bad top coat. I like to use a sanding sponge, a coarse one to remove the damage then a fine one on the entire piece to give it a smooth finish that will hold primer.

Now it’s time to put the FinishMax to good use. I’ve used mine so many times that I’m almost ashamed to show it. If you want to eliminate brush strokes, this baby is the way to go. Throughout the years of using it, I’ve learned a few extra tricks.

1. Strain your paint… these disposable strainers are what I use, and they’re perfect for making sure your paint is super, duper smooth. If you have particles in your paint (even brand new paint can have it), those particles can cause bumps and imperfections in your finish. For less than a quarter each, it’s a great investment.
2. Thin is in… for paint sprayers, I mean. When you buy a FinishMax, there is a little tool called a viscosity cup. Don’t ignore it – USE IT! It will tell you if you have the paint thin enough. I start by thinning the paint to about the consistency of buttermilk. If it spurts and splatters, then the paint is too thick. But if you use the viscosity cup, you won’t have to “think” you have it right. You’ll know before you make a mistake.
3. Use a scrap for a tester. Even if you strain the paint and use the viscosity cup, you’ll also need to adjust the flow of the spray. Always, always test first.

Now that you know a few more secrets to the sprayer, use it to spray on a good quality primer. After the primer is dry, check to see if there are any rough spots that need to be sanded before painting.

After the primer has dried 48 hours (or as recommended by the brand), then you can use a few coats of a good quality paint for the finish. Remember to do light coats, more coats is much better than runny paint from spraying to heavily.

Painting furniture with a sprayer is so much faster than by hand – but getting a smoother furniture finish makes it even better.

*HomeRight is a brand partner of The Shabby Creek Cottage. I was compensated for this post.*