Paint fake wood?

Question

My dresser and armoire(sp?) are both cheap pieces from Wal-mart that look like oak...I don't want to buy new ones I just want to paint them...what paint should I use? Also, my bedroom is dk red, sage green, beige, dk brown...what color should I paint them?

Answer 1

I've had good luck painting inexpensive book cases; here's what we did:

1. Absolutely sand; get an electric sander; it's worth it for the size pieces you indicate. There's a few small ones.
Sand twice; once w/ rough; once w/ a finer grade, but only so that the surface is satin-smooth.

2. I highly recommend enamel paint, or high-gloss poly. to coat. If you use a matte, satin, or egg-shell finish, your furniture is going to look even more like cheap pieces from Wal-Mart. The high-gloss will make them look more like modern pieces.

You will need more than one coat, maybe more than two. LET EACH COAT DRY FOR 24 HOURS. (long story behind that hard-earned experience!)

3. OH--after sanding, be sure to use wood-filler to smooth out any obvious imperfections; they will show up like crazy w/ a glossy finish.

4. Color: Consider these the "cabinets" in your BR, then go to cabinet websites or HGTV or DIY and look at the color combos of cabinets and counter-tops. Consider a caramel, black, espresso, or chocolate top for the dresser and armoire doors to pair w/ a different base color. Any of those shades would also work well with your jewel-tone room. Do not duplicate any of the dominant colors on the walls, though. You want to have the furniture look separate, not built-in!

Another consideration: since you're painting, you can also change the hardware on both, or just the knobs on the armoire.
Fill in existing holes before sanding, if what you want doesn't fit existing space. Drill for new holes after first couple of coats of paint, but before your last one!

Have fun, and be patient.
~Kimber, in Dallas, Tx

Answer 2

You'll have to lightly sand them to rough up the shiny coat, otherwise the paint will tend to flake off. Clean it up with a tack cloth afterward to catch all the grit.

Back in my "youth" we used to antique furniture by putting on a base color and after it dried paint on another and wipe most, but not all off. Then we'd apply a urethane coat for protection. It's up to you how shiny you want to go. I imagine a latex would work, don't know if you need to go with enamel. Ask the paint guy or gal at the store.

Color? I'm liking the sage green.

Answer 3

Take it from me, the reason that stuff is cheap and the rest is not is because of one thing. . .Lasting Durability. Painting over cheap stuff believe it or not will make it deteriorate faster,

Want my advice?

Fill the dumpster and buy REAL wood. When you measure the cost between 10 cheap purchases that you need to keep upgrading, and up-keeping, versus one Solid purchase that you NEVER have to replace and can leave to your kids the Seemingly more expensive piece costs less over time.

I hope that helps, do the math.

Answer 4

Don't forget to PRIME your pieces with Kilz (primer) after the light sanding. It will help the paint adhere.

I would use a semi-gloss paint.

Answer 5

Why don't you go and speak to someone at a Home Depot, or lowe's . They will show you samples and direct you in the right way.