MegMade started this whole adventure with DIY painting! At this point, we've got our routine down pat. That's why the paint collection we came out with is such a dream. It makes it so easy to transform a piece in your own home! We always say our overall goal is to give our customers a home like no other, and DIY painting can get you one step closer! Our chalk-based paint requires no primer, which really simplifies the painting process. Click HERE to download our free step by step tutorial and checklist to paint your piece! Paint along with us and follow our tutorial to learn how I paint furniture using our MegMade DIY furniture paint: Step One: Remove The Hardware The first step is to remove all the hardware off your doors and drawers. I cannot even count the amount of times I have lost a tiny screw during this process!! Be sure to store all hardware pieces in a ziplock bag or bucket so you don't misplace them! This piece came with some really cool hardware, so we decided to stick with it. I love keeping the original look of the piece as much as possible. It preserves the history of the piece, even though the new coat of paint transforms it to fit your new style! At the same time, if the knobs or pulls don't fit the look you're going for, you can always change them out. Changing out hardware is a super easy way to transform the look of an overall piece and really make it your own. Step Two: Disassemble Any Doors And Drawers This might be our least favorite step - its so tedious - but extremely important. Disassemble your furniture by taking out all drawers and doors. The easiest way we've found is to work in sequential order and label them to make it easier during re-installment. (Think: like an assembly line!) I like adding little smileys or numbers to not mix up the order and side the drawers go in. Although taking it all apart can seem annoying, it's important for the overall finish of the look to make sure you don't skip painting any crevices or corners! Step Three: Clean Your Piece Whatever you do, do NOT skip this step y'all. Getting the grease and grime off your piece will be super important to the overall finish and makes the process go smoother in the end. We now offer wood cleaner here at MegMade called Clean Slate that we love! (Think: this step gives you a CLEAN SLATE for the paint you're getting ready to put on.) If you're not going with a MegMade cleaner, steer clear of any product with a wax derivative to prevent your paint from chipping. Step Four: Use Bondo To Fix Imperfections & Fill Holes If you're looking to patch up any cracks or chips, or if you're choosing to replace the hardware on your drawers and doors with a different size, you'll need this step. If not, skip it! For this step, we recommend using Bondo because it dries really fast and hard, but any wood filler will do. Bondo is an all-purpose putty that mixes with hardener and dries super fast, so you have to make sure you're working fast as you put it on! We recommend over applying and sanding off excess just to be safe. Make sure you get all the sand off of your wood to make sure the paint goes on smoothly! Step Five: Get Ready To Paint! You're ready to paint! For this buffet, we went with our in-house color High Tide to add a pop of color to the space! I usually prime my paint by putting it into a blender to give it a smooth, easy-on consistency. (Don't worry! It washes right out.) Add a little bit of water to the paint in the blender and DON'T over blend. You're making the paint smoother, not a milkshake (lol). I find is easiest to use a strainer if you're putting your paint into a paint gun. We recommend painting in a well-ventilated area and wearing a protective mask, gloves, and protective eyewear. Trust me, we've had to paint in some funky situations, so paint where it works for you. Paint one side at a time and make sure it's dry before you flip it over. I recommend putting down some sort of tarp before painting to give you a safe space to paint freely! Shop the entire paint line HERE! Step Six: Use a Finish to Seal The Wood Once your paint is dry, be sure to add a finish to seal the deal. We used a clear finish here, but using different finishes can change up the look of the paint. Glossy is one of my favorite go-tos for a more dramatic look. This step is crucial to giving your paint a nice, finished feel. Step Seven: Clean Your Hardware Before you re-install your hardware back on to your doors and drawers, give your hardware a good clean! Especially with vintage furniture, taking this step will make a world of a difference. I use Brasso Metal Polish, it works great! This can be a great alternative to respraying your hardware if you feel like it needs a revamp. Step Eight: Re-Install Your Doors and Drawers This step will be easy if you kept your pieces organized! Joe and I like to re-install in the same order we removed each piece. Be sure to re-install your hardware before putting your doors and drawers back on, it's so much easier! Once you're done, enjoy your brand-new piece! We'd love to see how your home project turned out! Tag us on Instagram or Facebook @megmade. Subscribe to our Youtube channel @MegMade for more tutorials, competition videos and more! Like this blog? Check out our other blogs like HOW TO MEASURE OUT YOUR SPACE FOR A DESIGN. Click HERE to read!