How To Paint Over Acrylic Painted Furniture

If you’re a home DIY-er, second-hand shopper, or reseller, you know how it feels to stumble upon a perfect unique furniture piece, but that awful color! Repainting an entire furniture piece can feel intimidating, especially if you’re new to home DIYs or crafting. On top of that, repainting furniture can be tricky, especially when working with thick acrylic paint on large items like dressers and tables. However, repainting an acrylic job is easy if you know how to prepare the surface to get a permanent adhesion for your second coat. 

To paint over acrylic painted furniture, you will first need to remove the paint from the furniture piece using fine-grit sandpaper, then clean the piece as thoroughly as possible before repainting or staining.

So, let’s go through all the steps together and repaint your acrylic-painted furniture together. 

How To Paint Over Acrylic Painted Furniture

Prepare the Furniture

To achieve the best results, you’ll need to prepare your piece to be repainted. If you are not repainting the entire item and are just looking to add some pizzazz with painted details, you can skip the repairs and sanding.  

The preparation part of this project can feel tedious, but the final results will look better and last much longer if you follow these steps. So, let’s do it!

Set-Up

Begin by removing all drawers, doors, knobs, and other hardware from your furniture piece. Ensure to unscrew table legs and take off the hinges from doored items. Removing all the parts will make painting each part easier and ensure that you don’t miss any hidden areas.

Make Repairs

This step isn’t required, but it can improve the look of your finished project. Before sanding your piece, check for any chips, cracks, or scrapes to be filled in using wood putty. Common areas for damage include table and chair legs, tabletops, and corners.

Fill in the damaged areas with a wood filler putty, like this Elmer’s Carpenter’s Stainable Wood Filler on Amazon. If you don’t have any wood filler on hand, you can make your own using sawdust and some wood glue.

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Using a putty knife, spatula, or similar tool, smooth and blend the putty into the surrounding areas as much as possible. Allow the wood putty to dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Sand

Now, it’s time for the hard part. You will need to sand your piece to remove excess wood putty, even out the texture, and give the furniture’s surface enough tooth for your new paint to grip. You can use an electric sander or fine-grit sandpaper (180 – 220 grit), depending on the size of your piece.

Always use light pressure with the sander or sandpaper and sand in the same direction as the wood grain. Opt for fine-grit sandpaper if the acrylic paint is thin. However, if your fine-grit paper is getting “clogged” by the acrylic, you should move up a grit. 

Using a spray bottle of water or wiping the furniture piece with a wet rag can also help since water will soften the paint. Just be sure that your water is room temperature or warm it up. Cold water will harden the paint and make it more difficult to sand off. 

If you are repainting the furniture, you do not need to sand off all of the acrylic paint, just enough to give the surface some texture. However, If you plan to stain the bare wood beneath the acrylic paint, you’ll need to sand until all the color is gone.

Note that acrylic paint dust can be harmful if inhaled. To avoid inhaling the dust created by sanding, wear a face mask and wet the area before sanding.

Clear the Dust

Once you have sanded your furniture piece (or if you have skipped to this step), you need to remove all of the sanded paint, dust, dirt, and grime before painting.

Begin cleaning your piece by brushing away all the loose dust and dirt. You can use a dustpan and handheld brush for large areas and a toothbrush or microfiber cloth for small spaces. 

Once all of the larger dust and dirt particles are gone, go back into any little nooks or corners where dust may be hiding. Use a damp toothbrush, clean paintbrush, or cotton swab for hard-to-reach areas like woodworking details or scrolls.

Clean

Now that all the loose dirt and dust are off your furniture piece, you’ll need to clean the surfaces again to ensure that it’s ready for paint.

To clean the furniture, mix equal parts water and white vinegar in a container and add a drop of dish soap. Using a soft sponge or cloth, gently wipe the surfaces of the furniture. Allow any residual moisture to dry completely before moving on to painting.

Prime

Using a primer may not be necessary, but you can take this extra step if you’d like to be sure the new paint will stick to the furniture and last as long as possible. If you’re planning to paint with a bright neon or pastel color, using a white primer first may save you some time and paint.

Apply the primer using a paintbrush or craft sponge brush, brushing it in the same direction as the wood grain.

Choose Your Paint

Once your furniture is sanded, prepped, and cleaned, you’re ready to paint. You should carefully choose the paint you use to ensure you get the long-lasting finish you desire.

Consider where you will place your furniture and any elements it might be exposed to when choosing your paint. For example, if you want to place the table on an outdoor patio, you’ll want to select a paint suited for exterior conditions.

You can, of course, repaint the old acrylic with new acrylic paint. Still, it is best to use a dedicated furniture paint such as Heirloom Traditions’ Mediterranean All-in-One Paint (available on Amazon) for the best quality-looking furniture.

Last update on 2024-12-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

If you are not repainting the whole piece and are simply adding more minor details, you can use paint similar to what is already on the furniture piece. Acrylic paint usually sticks well to itself, but be wary of using other craft paints like chalk paint or tempera since these paints don’t stick too well to acrylics.

Paint Your Furniture

Before painting your furniture, move to a well-ventilated area and line the floor with newspaper, cardboard, tarp, or any other material you may have. I like to use old paper grocery bags that I’ve ripped open to protect my tables and floors from painting messes. 

Place your sanded and cleaned furniture piece on the floor cover and pour your paint into a disposable dish or paint tray.

Next, using a quality paintbrush or craft sponge brush, dip into your paint and paint the furniture in solid, thin layers. For tables and desks, you may want to flip the piece upside-down and start with the legs, then paint the top surface last.

Wait for the first paint layer to dry completely before adding a second coat or more coats.

Final Words

With some preparation and inspiration, you can transform any old piece of furniture, even if it’s covered in acrylic paint. Repainting furniture is a great way to reuse old pieces and change up the look of your home without breaking the bank.

Sources

• Just the Woods: How to Prep Painted Furniture the Right Way
• Just the Woods: Repainting Painted Furniture and What You Need to Know First
• eHow: How to Paint Furniture with Acrylic
• Quora: Can you successfully sand your acrylic painting to remove streaks and blotchy textures in the paint?
• The Spruce: How To Make And Use Homemade Wood Filler.