How to Paint Over a Stained Wood Table

Painting furniture is a time-honored method of altering the piece's appearance to fit in more suitably with a particular decorating scheme. Wood tables are no exception to this practice, although if the table has been stained there will be a couple extra steps you need to take in order to prepare for the paint job. You should use enamel paint, rather than latex or acrylic paint. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Sand down any rough patches on the table to smooth it out in preparation for the primer.

2

Clean the sanding dust off the table. Give it a thorough scrubbing to remove any dirt or food stains from the surface.

3

Lay down plastic sheeting under the table to prevent the primer or the paint from spilling or dripping on the floor.

4

Apply a coat of primer to every part of the table you intend to paint. You have to use lacquer-based primer, as standard paint will not bond to a stained wood surface.

5

Wait several hours for the primer to dry.

6

Apply the first coat of paint to the table. Use a water- or oil-based enamel paint for the best results. Do not use latex or acrylic, as they will not bond properly to the lacquer-based primer.

7

Wait for the first coat of paint to dry. Add more coats as needed to achieve a uniform appearance.