When searching the internet for pieces of furniture to refurbish, the picture doesn't always tell the whole story. If you get a piece that needs some repairs, are you able to make those repairs or will you need help? Are you willing to invest in the supplies you need to make those improvements? These are some of the questions you have to ask yourself before investing in a large piece of furniture.
Check the drawers. I bought a highboy dresser that I found online that besides a few dents it looked great. I didn't pull out the drawers when I went to pick it up. Big Mistake! While it looked great from the outside, it was falling apart on the inside. The drawer slates we made of wood and they were deteriorating. The new slates would have cost as much as I paid for the dresser so that would have been a hit to my budget. Also the dresser was not real wood and very difficult to drill into. Which brings me to the next tip.
Is it real wood or wood laminate. This next tip can be a little tricky if you are not sure what real wood vs wood laminate looks like. Real wood does not have a distinct pattern in the grain. Wood laminate usually has a repetitive pattern and covers all sides. Laminate is put together using screws or glue. The best way to check a piece of furniture is to take out the drawers and look inside. This way you will be able to see if real wood is throughout. You can still paint a piece of furniture that is wood laminate however it is best to know what your piece of furniture is made out of before you begin the process.
How heavy is the piece. When buying a large dresser or armoire you should consider how difficult it will be to move into the space you use to paint your furniture and do you have the space to store it. Also, if you plan to sell the piece will the buyer be able to get it home or will you deliver it. I painted a large dresser with a mirror that took four people to lift into the truck. Some people will be turned off by the fact that they will have to bring several people to move it and this might decrease your buyer demographic.
Has it been painted before. A piece of furniture that has been previously painted can have its own challenges. However with a little work the new paint should adhere just fine. The first thing you should do is sand down the entire piece, this will help with any drips or chipping paint. Next, consider using a primer before painting. I like to prime the piece, sand with 220 grit and repeat once more to get an even coat. The next step is to pick the new paint color. Now that's the fun part!
Does it smell like smoke. I think most of us will know right away if the furniture has been in a house with smokers. I think with a deep clean using TSP and pulling the drawers out, the smoke smell will decrease. Also, adding primer before the paint can mask the odor. I have had customers do a sniff test so you will want to make sure the piece is completely smoke free or risk the chance of the person passing on it. Sometimes the best thing is to just look for a different piece. Don't worry there is plenty out there!
Happy Painting!
~Becky
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