How To Paint or Stain Home Furniture Using a Paint Sprayer

Whether it’s a garage sale find or a chair or dresser you already own, a fresh coat of paint can give new life to outdated or tired-looking furniture in your home.

WATCH: How to Spray Furniture (1:00)

• Graco, Magnum, or TrueCoat Paint Sprayer (visit Paint Sprayer category page to compare models)
• Paint/Stain
• Spray tips- a wider spray pattern for large surfaces and narrow size for smaller surface (see tip selector)
• Empty buckets for priming sprayer and clean up (two needed)
• Stirring sticks
• Sandpaper- 100-300 grit
• Tack cloth
• Paint strainer bag – helps prevent tip plugs and provides a better finish
• Tarps, drop cloths, or plastic sheeting
• Masking tape
• Paint brush for touch-ups
• Pump Armor storage fluid (see pump protectant product details)
• Cleaning rags
• Stiff nylon brushes for clean up
• Safety and protection equipment- safety glasses/goggles, dust mask/respirator, spray sock or hat to cover head

1. Establish a work area away from other surfaces on which overspray could land, and cover the grass or pavement of that area with tarps or drop cloths.
2. Set the furniture on the drop cloth. Remove any drawers, and use screwdrivers (not a drill/driver) to remove any handles or other hardware. (Powered drill/drivers can strip the heads of metal screws used in furniture construction.)
3. Thoroughly clean the furniture using a rag and mild cleaning agent.

1. Select the spray tip that’s best suited for the paint you’re using. In general, a tip with a narrower 20 cm wide pattern and a .013 hole size will give you the best control. Be sure the tip’s hole size does not exceed the maximum capacity of your sprayer (see spray tip info).
2. If you’re using paint from multiple containers, mix it together in an empty 20 litre container to ensure consistent colour even if small colour differences exist between individual paint cans. When spraying lighter materials, select the lowest pressure setting that enables you to maintain a good spray pattern. Lower pressure settings will give you better control and a finer finish.
3. Work from the top down, spraying in long, even strokes and going with the grain of the wood. Keep the spray tip about 30 cm from the surface you’re spraying. Pay particular attention to spray into intricate areas such as trim or detailed carvings and overlap each successive spray pass by approximately 50%.
4. Spray the drawer faces (if any) separately. Place the drawers with their faces facing up on the tarp, and use masking tape and plastic drop cloths to protect all inner drawer surfaces. The goal is to only paint the drawer face and not the drawer box itself.

1. Allow significant time for the paint to dry; then remove all protective plastic and masking tape.
2. Use screwdrivers (again, not a powered drill/driver) to replace any hardware that you’ve removed.
3. Replace any lighting fixtures that you removed and move furniture or other items back into place.
4. Clean your airless paint sprayer after each use. Follow the directions in your user’s manual for Power Flush cleaning with water based materials or use the bucket method of cleaning if applicable. For more information, see Power Flush Video or refer to your Sprayer Operation Manual.