How to Paint Lacquered Furniture?

Hello Tanisha. I know how to paint lacquered furniture. We have a dressing table which started losing its appearance. As a solution, I decided to lacquer paint it. I first prepared the surface by cleaning with clean slate, applied primer and then sanded. Last came the top coat with a couple of coats. I will share the complete steps with you below.

How to Lacquer Paint Furniture?

Here is how you can paint lacquered furniture:

1. Start by cleaning the surface with clean slate. Use a lint free rag or an old t-shirt to rub the cleaner all over the furniture.

2. Use a lacquer primer and shake the can for 2-3 minutes. Spray the primer over the furniture while maintaining a 4-6 inches distance from the piece. 

3. To spray, begin your pass inward and spray away from you to prevent overspray. This is needed to get a good outcome.

4. Ensure to start each pass away and move inward towards yourself. Spray in this motion for the whole furniture, ensuring you apply even coverage.

5. The passes must be quick enough to not linger or create drips, but slow enough that you get good coverage. 

6. After you finish with the first coat, give a drying time of about 45 minutes.

7. Use 320 to 400 grit sandpaper and sand lightly. Don’t apply too much pressure.

8. After sanding, use a lint-free rag to dust off the surface. Apply the second coat of lacquer like you applied the first one. Let dry and sand lightly afterwards.

9. Take the top coat and shake the can well for 3 minutes. Use the same method to apply the coat, ensuring a distance of 4-6 inches from the furniture. 

10. Once the furniture fries, apply another coat of the top coat. Let it dry.

This is how to repaint lacquer furniture. I hope it helps.

Last summer, my sister and I found an old dresser at Crawford market. It had a glossy lacquered finish that seemed outdated, but I could see it fitting perfectly in our guest room with some fresh paint. Since a family get-together was planned for the next week, we had to quickly figure out a way on how to paint lacquered furniture. Then, my brother in law gave us a few tips on how we can easily do it. I am sharing the same below for your reference.

How to Repaint Lacquer Furniture?

Prepare the Surface

Start by cleaning the surface with a mild detergent to remove any grease or dirt. After it is dry, use a light-grit sandpaper to sand the lacquered surface. This is to help the paint adhere better. Make sure you wear protective goggles during the sanding to protect yourself from dust particles. Then, apply a lacquer-based primer that is also suitable for the type of paint you plan to use.

Choose the Right Paint

It is important to choose the appropriate paint over lacquer to get the desirable finish. You can consider three options,

• acrylic paint

• oil-based paint

• chalk paint. 

Acrylic paints provide good adhesion and dry quickly, whereas oil-based paints take longer to dry and also have a stronger odour. Chalk paints, on the other hand, have a unique matte finish that people find attractive. They are the most popular choice for furniture makeover. 

Apply Paint

Depending on the type of surface, you can use either a brush or a roller. Apply multiple thin coats to get better results as thin coats dry more quickly and evenly than a single thick coat. Allow for the paint to dry between the coats, according to recommendation on the paint’s label. This will ensure proper adhesion and prevent any cracks later.

Hope this helps you understand how to lacquer furniture high gloss.