How to Refinish a Country Table & Chairs Set

The rustic charm and character of a country table and chairs set makes a beautiful addition to a kitchen or dining room. Country furniture typically is made to show imperfections in the wood and have a distressed, or "peeling" finish. When refinishing a country table and chairs set, it's important to do so in a manner that maintains the furniture's rustic look. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Gently sand the table and chairs with a light grade sandpaper just enough to allow the paint to adhere. Do not sand too hard---you don't want to remove dents and imperfections in the wood as they are part of the country furniture's warmth and character. Wipe the furniture clean of dust.

2

Apply two coats of primer if you are using white paint to refinish the dining set. Allow the primer to dry approximately an hour between coats.

3

Paint the bottom of the chairs first by flipping them over and applying two coats of paint, allowing one to two hours of drying time between coats. Apply the paint in the direction of the wood's grain. Use long strokes, making sure that the paint doesn't create drip marks. Flip the table and chairs over and repeat for the top side.

4

Lightly sand the edges of the table and chairs in random places to sand away some of the paint and expose the underneath stain to maintain the country, rustic charm of the furniture. Dust off sanding residue with a damp towel.

5

Apply a top finishing coat. Some options are polyurethane, oils, waxes, shellac and lacquer. While the selected finish is a personal preference, a lacquer product can be sprayed or brushed onto the furniture and will provide a long-lasting finish. Whatever the finishing choice, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to apply it to the furniture. See the Resources section below for more information on finishing products.