Repaint a thrifted vintage piece
The method for a professional finish, from stripping to topcoat
A 1950s sideboard picked up for £80 can become a £150 signature piece with the right method.
A piece picked up for £80-150 at Selency Selency, Le Bon Coin Le Bon Coin or Emmaüs Emmaüs can become a signature with two days of work. The method for not getting it wrong.
What you'll need (£60-100)
- Sandpaper grit 80 and 180 (£10) at Castorama Castorama - Universal undercoat 1 L (£15) acrylic matt type - Acrylic matt or satin paint 1 L (£25-60) from Farrow & Ball Farrow & Ball, Argile Argile or Tollens Tollens - 10 cm gloss-paint roller plus 50 mm flat brush (£8) - Dust sheet plus masking tape (£5)
Step 1, light stripping
No need to strip completely. Sand with grit 80 to remove the varnish and key the surface. 1 to 2 hours depending on the piece. Vacuum the dust, wipe down with a damp cloth.
Step 2, the undercoat
This step is non-negotiable. Without undercoat, the topcoat will not hold, or the tannins in the wood will bleed through. Apply in a thin coat, leave to dry 4-6 h, sand lightly with grit 180.
Step 3, the paint
Two to three coats depending on the shade (dark covers in two coats, light needs three). Between each coat, wait 4 h and sand very lightly with grit 180. Apply with a gloss-paint roller (not a brush, which leaves marks) except on edges and corners.
Step 4, the handles
Take advantage of the project to replace the original handles (often ugly). Budget £5-15 per handle at Maisons du Monde Maisons du Monde, Etsy or Castorama Castorama. Existing holes to fill if you change the spacing.
The shades that work
- Sage green or forest green. Elegant and timeless. - Midnight blue or teal. Sophisticated. - Saturated terracotta. Warm and distinctive. - Deep matt black. Very contemporary. - Warm off-white. To soften a heavy piece.
Common mistakes
Skipping the undercoat. Guaranteed failure within 6 months.
Painting directly onto a melamine piece. Requires a specific melamine primer.
Choosing a gloss paint. Gloss shows every flaw in the wood. Matt or satin maximum (see rule 01.7).
## Key takeaways
A thrifted and repainted piece costs £150-200 in total and brings more character than a £600 new piece. The rule, never skip the undercoat, take your time on the sanding, and invest in paint quality (Farrow & Ball, Argile).