How to Re-Paint Your Wood Vanity with Lacquer

Any wooden furniture, including your bathroom vanity or vanity table, is bound to wear down over time and with constant use. Wood can become scratched pretty easily, and the lacquer can wear out due to rubbing – and when you toss bathroom moisture into the mix, lacquer damage becomes even more common. Children and pets can also add to the wearing down of the lacquer on the vanity.

You should take the time to add lacquer to your furniture in order to restore it to its former glory – redefine that old luster, that finish that really made your vanity pop. Here are some of the steps that you should take when painting a vanity table, to help you restore your furniture to its good-as-new look:

• Start off by placing paper underneath the table. You do not want any spillage of lacquer which will dry up and form stains on the floor. Similarly, you do not want any of the sawdust that will come off the table to fall on the bare floor. Using papers will make it easy to clean up after you are through.
• Pull out all the drawers of the vanity and set them, aside. If you leave the drawers in, the lacquer might seal them shut.
• Use paint stripper to remove all the paint on the surfaces that you want to re-paint. The stripper bottle will have instructions on how long the stripper should be left to set.
• Obtain 180 grit sandpaper (from any home DIY store) and sand the area that has been stripped of paint. After this you can vacuum the surface or clean it with a cloth to remove all traces.
• Use some primer on the surface of the wood. If the wood had an oil-based paint, then you should use an oil-based primer. However, you may also use a standard primer if you do not want to use the oil-based primer.
• Allow the primer to dry completely and then apply another coating. Then let the second coating also dry out.
• You can now proceed to paint the vanity. It is advisable to use two coats of lacquer so as to protect the wood beneath. Let each coat dry properly, before putting a fresh one.
• You should then apply a coat of varnish in order to protect the lacquer below.

A Custom Finish

As you are performing these tasks, you should ensure that you use the best tools possible. For a clean smooth look, you should use a small paint roller, rather than a bush. Preserve all wooden furniture by adding a good covering of lacquer. You can also paint designs on the top of the vanity in order to make this piece even more unique while allowing it to personify your taste and personality.