Whether restoring an antique to glory or working with a new, unfinished piece, painting the kitchen table can bring a whole new life to the kitchen. Amateurs working correctly and with patience and care can achieve the same professional results admired in showrooms. And doing it yourself gives you the freedom to do exactly what you want in creating the perfect kitchen table.
Preparation
Unless the kitchen table is a new, unfinished piece of wood, it will need to be prepared before painting. Newly purchased unfinished wood furniture is usually ready for painting, so you can skip the sanding part and start with primer application.
Otherwise, Step 1 is to sand the table to remove any old finishes and paint. This is a big job, so it is advisable to use a rotary sander instead of attempting to sand the entire table by hand. Start with 100 grit sandpaper to remove old paint from wooden furniture. After sanding, wipe with a damp cloth, allow to dry, and sand again with finer grit paper, up to 220. Last, be sure to wipe down the table with a soft, clean cloth to remove all sawdust, dust or dirt.
Step 2 is to apply one coat of primer in long, even strokes. Primer does not require any tint or color added, but if the kitchen table will be a dark color, primer can be tinted gray. Just like paint, primer is available in both water-based and oil-based varieties. Different professional and amateur painters prefer oil or water for different reasons.
Oil- Vs. Water-Based Primer and Paint
A kitchen table gets a lot of use and must be durable. For this reason, many painters would recommend an oil-based primer. Oil-based primers and paints take more wear and tear than water-based.
Oil-based paints, however, are more difficult to use than water-based paints because they do not clean up with soap and water. Expect to clean brushes with a little turpentine or other solvent.
Oil-based paints have a longer cure time. Allow at least a week after painting before using the table as usual.
On the other hand, some experts recommend using a water-based enamel primer on wood furniture. Enamel gives a more durable finish than other water-based primers.
If you greatly prefer water-based paints, you can still use an oil-based primer. No matter what, allow primer to dry thoroughly before applying paint.
Apply at least two coats of paint, three if the color is especially dark. Allow paint to dry between coats or you will have bubbles form in the paint surface.
For a kitchen table, apply two topcoats of polyurethane finish after painting. This gives the table extra protection and durability. Again, always let it dry between coats.
Color
Think carefully about color before painting the kitchen table. White will always make a room look bigger and brighter, but other colors can set a good and appropriate mood in the kitchen.
For example, red is said to increase appetite. Soft yellow is thought to make people feel happy, and bright yellow accents make a kitchen feel bigger.
Consider carefully the color scheme in your kitchen. Try a very light or pastel color for basic surfaces, and trim with a darker tint of the same shade.
A kitchen table is the focal point of the kitchen; it is where people meet and enjoy dining together. The color of a painted kitchen table should be bright and inviting.
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