How to Refinish Furniture (2024)

1

Select a Finish

Finishes protect your furniture from damage and moisture and bring out the wood's beauty. There are several options for wood finishes, such as oil finishes, lacquer and polyurethane. Before you begin, select the wood finish that is right for your piece. To choose, consider:

• How frequently do you use this piece of furniture? What do you use it for? A piece that sees daily use will usually need a more durable finish. The same is true for furniture exposed to heat, liquids, humidity or weather.
• What is the condition of the underlying wood? If the wood shows marks and flaws, a less see-through finish can help hide them
• Do you prefer a dark or light finish? Something glossy or matte? Picture the finished results you desire as you shop for a finish.

2

Clean

3

Check Out the Condition

4

Remove the Old Finish

Removing the old finish is the most time-consuming part of refinishing wood furniture. Remove old paint and varnish by sanding or using chemical strippers. Some jobs may benefit from both.

Chemical strippers are the fastest and easiest method to remove finish from wood furniture. Although it gets most of the varnish off the furniture, expect to still sand a little after use. Chemical stripping products come in liquid, spray or gel form. Choose the best varnish stripper for your needs.

• Use a stiff paint brush to spread the stripper over the surface of the wood in a thick, even layer. Only apply it over one part of the piece of furniture at a time. Limit yourself to an area you can work with before the product dries.
• Allow the chemical stripper to sit for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Be patient and let the chemical stripper do the work for you.
• With a putty knife, scrape away some of the varnish. If it easily cuts through the varnish, it's ready. Remove as much paint or varnish as you can with a putty knife.
• Use medium-grade steel wool soaked in the stripper to help remove stubborn spots. Some finishes may require multiple applications of stripper to remove all the varnish.
• Once you remove the finish, follow the product's directions for cleaning the stripper from the wood. You may need to use turpentine or mineral spirits to clean off the remaining stripper.
• Once the wood surface is clean, let it dry completely. Follow up with sandpaper to smooth the wood's surface, if needed.

Safety Tip: Chemical strippers can irritate your airways, skin and eyes. Work in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves and eye protection.

5

Sand

Use a coarse sandpaper, a sanding block or a power sander to strip residual finish off the surface.

• Once most of the old finish is off, switch to medium-grit sandpaper.
• Continue to remove any patches of finish still sticking to the wood.
• Switch to fine-grit sandpaper to remove whatever's left and smooth rough patches.

6

Seal the Wood

Sealant protects wood furniture and creates a smooth base for stain or paint to stick to.

If your furniture has cracks or holes, use a filler that matches the color and grain of the wood first. Apply a generous coat of sealant all over the furniture. Wipe away any excess with a clean cloth.

Once the sealant is dry, use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the surface. Clean off excess wood dust.

7

Stain or Paint

8

Apply Wood Finish