1. Skipping Proper Preparation
Preparation is everything. I know it’s tempting to dive straight into painting, but failing to clean, sand, and prep your furniture is one of the fastest ways to ruin your finish.
Dust, grease, or old wax act like a barrier between your furniture and your paint. Without a clean surface, even the best furniture paint won’t adhere properly.
👉 Quick prep checklist:
- Wash with sugar soap or mild detergent.
- Lightly sand with 180-grit for a smooth key.
- Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Small & Co Paints are designed for superior adhesion with minimal prep, but a little effort here guarantees professional results.
2. Painting Furniture with Coats That Are Too Thick
This is a classic DIY mistake: loading up the brush and slapping on a heavy coat. Thick coats lead to streaks, drips, and long drying times — and worse, peeling later on.
The secret? Thin, even layers.
- Apply 2–3 light coats instead of 1 heavy one.
- Let each coat dry fully before recoating (about 1–2 hours).
- Work in the direction of the wood grain for a smooth finish.
Our paints dry to the touch in 30 minutes, so there’s no excuse for rushing. Thin layers always win.
3. Forgetting to Deal with Knots and Stains
Wood is unpredictable. Pine knots, tannins in mahogany, or old stains can bleed through your paint, leaving ugly marks.
If you’re painting a pale shade like Windsor Swan or Suffolk Shell, the problem becomes really noticeable.
How to avoid it:
- Use a knotting solution on pine knots.
- Apply a stain-blocking primer for woods prone to bleed.
- Always test patch if you’re unsure.
It’s a small step that saves huge disappointment later.
4. Using the Wrong Brushes and Rollers for Furniture Paint
Your finish is only as good as the tools you use. Even with the best furniture paint, the wrong brush or roller can leave you with streaks, drag marks, or patchy coverage.
- Brushes: A good brush holds paint without dripping, releases it evenly, and doesn’t shed bristles into your work. Synthetic bristle brushes are excellent for smooth, modern finishes, while natural bristle brushes can give great results for textured effects or when blending paints. Look for brushes with tapered bristles and a comfortable handle — they’ll give you far more control.
- Rollers: For large, flat surfaces like tabletops, cupboard doors, or wardrobes, choose a short-pile microfibre roller. Short pile ensures you don’t overload paint, keeping coats thin and even. Microfibre holds paint beautifully and helps avoid patchiness, leaving a consistent finish with fewer visible marks.
- Spray Guns: If you’ve got the setup, Small & Co paints can be used in a spray gun for a flawless, factory-smooth look. Just remember: preparation and technique matter even more when spraying.
👉 The golden rule, whichever tool you choose, is simple: apply thin, even coats and let each one dry before adding the next. That’s how you get a smooth, professional result that lasts.
5. Rushing the Curing Process
Here’s one of the most overlooked furniture painting mistakes: confusing drying time with curing time.
Your freshly painted piece might feel dry to the touch in as little as 30 minutes, and ready for a second coat within 1–2 hours. But “touch-dry” doesn’t mean the paint is fully hardened.
Paint goes through two key stages:
- Drying: This is when the water in the paint evaporates, leaving a surface that feels dry. It happens quickly — which is why our paints are such a joy to work with.
- Curing: This is the chemical process that gives paint its ultimate strength and durability. For <a href="/collections/furniture-paint">Small & Co paints</a>, full curing takes around 14 days. During this time, the paint film is still soft and vulnerable.
👉 Why does this matter?
If you stack books on a freshly painted shelf, place a lamp on a newly painted side table, or drag chairs across a painted dining table before the paint is cured, you risk dents, scratches, or sticky patches that never quite recover.
How to Avoid Problems While Paint Cures
- Use the piece gently in the first 2 weeks.
- Avoid heavy objects, stacking, or dragging items across the surface.
- Don’t cover freshly painted furniture with cloths, cushions, or tableware — these can trap moisture and stick.
- Keep the piece in a well-ventilated, room-temperature space to help the curing process along.
Think of curing as the “hardening” stage — the moment when your project goes from looking good to being tough enough for everyday use. If you give your paint the full curing time it needs, you’ll enjoy a professional, durable finish that resists scratches, stains, and scuffs for years to come.
Patience really does pay off in furniture painting.