We already know that with a few coats of paint we can completely change the appearance of our furniture, however, we must not only focus on the final result, but we must also ensure that it is durable. If you are thinking of painting a table, do not miss these 11 mistakes that you should avoid to obtain a good result that also resists the passage of time and daily use.
1.- Not taking into account the different parts of the table. Normally, when we want to paint a table, we conceive it as a whole, but we must bear in mind that it is basically made up of a top and a base, both parts are subject to different levels of wear, and it is even more likely that they are made with different materials. For this reason We must not make the mistake of preparing the surface or giving the same finish to the entire table.
If you want to paint the table in a single color, you will have to study what type of paint has better adhesion on its different parts. On the other hand, in case of using different types of paint, it will have to be taken into account if they are synthetic or acrylic since the previous primer will depend on it.
two.- Do not sand the table top. The top of the table is the one that is going to have the most wear, it does not matter if you try to protect it with a tablecloth because sooner or later it will end up getting wet or staining. In addition, it must be prepared to withstand the continuous friction of crockery and cutlery, as well as the different changes in temperature when placing hot or cold containers on it. For all these reasons it is very important that we make sure that the paint will have a good grip and for this it is necessary that we sand it before giving it the primer (in this link you can see my recommendations on when to sand a piece of furniture according to its composition).
3.- Not repairing imperfections. If the table has scratches or damage, either on the top or on the legs, it is very important that we repair them and let’s not trust that they will hide with the paint because this is not usually the case, especially in the case of gloss paints.
4.- Not cleaning the table before starting to paint. Once we have sanded and repaired the imperfections, we must thoroughly clean the table (all of it) to leave it free of dust and wax-based cleaning products that could make it difficult for the paint to adhere.
Personally, what I usually do is pass a damp cloth to remove the dust and then I use methylated spirits to clean the entire surface.
5.- Do not use primer on the tabletop. There are paints with very good adherence to all types of surfaces (for example, blackboard paint), but in this specific case, prevention is better than cure, so if you want a table that is family reunion-proof, I advise you to do not skip the pre-priming step.
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Remember that the primer must have the same base as the paint you are going to use, for example if you are going to paint with a water-based paint, the primer must also be water-based and if it is a synthetic enamel the primer will be oil-based or synthetic.
6.- Not applying enough layers of paint. The number of layers of paint not only depends on its covering power, but also on the wear and tear to which the furniture will be subjected. The top of the table is going to have more wear than the legs or the base, so I advise giving three coats of paint to the top.
7.- Not respecting the drying times between coats of paint. Water-based paints dry from the outside in, this means that although it may seem dry to the touch, the adhesion to the surface may not be 100%, so repainting without respecting the drying time could skip paint.
On the other hand, synthetic paints dry from the inside out, so don’t do the finger-tapping test to see if it dries before the allotted time, as it will most likely leave a nice fingerprint on your table. for posterity (can you tell that has ever happened to me?). For the same reason, if you paint over a synthetic paint without having respected the drying time, you may drag paint from the surface, thus tarnishing the result.
8.- Do not sand between coats. Do you want everyone to gasp when you show them your freshly painted table and say “Well, it doesn’t look painted”? So don’t skip the step of sanding between layers, you’ll see how you get a professional finish (or almost).
9.- Not using quality materials. When it comes to painting a table (and a piece of furniture in general), the technique is as important as the quality of the material, in fact they complement each other. It is of little use to follow all the steps to the letter if the brush you are painting with leaves hair all over the surface, or if the paint is of poor quality.
10.- not protect the paint. Once you have finished painting, always apply several coats of varnish on the tabletop (you can also apply wax on chalkboard paint). The polyurethane varnishes they are quite resistant to shocks and also protect from moisture, use a clear and matt varnish if you do not want to alter the tone of the paint.
Another option is to place a glass or a tablecloth but personally I think they tarnish the result, the beauty of painting a table is that it can be shown as it has been.
eleven.- Not choosing the color well. They say that for tastes there are colors but since you have taken the trouble to follow all the steps to the letter to paint your table and leave it as new, do not make the mistake of choose a color you’re going to get tired of at four days.
Think that a table is a voluminous piece of furniture that you are going to see and use every day, take your time to choose the most appropriate color regardless of fashions and trends, you can always use decorative accessories to give your table that note of color that stands out every season .
Have you made any of these mistakes? paint a table? I can assure you that yes (and several!) but as we already know that mistakes are learned, it is better to record them to avoid them the next time we go to paint a table.
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