How to Repaint a Desk

Desks get a lot of wear and tear, especially those used by students. Whether the paint has chipped, or there are a couple of years of graffiti to cover up, a coat of paint can restore the desk to just like new. It's best to remove the desk to a suitable painting location, such as the garage or a work shed if possible, otherwise cover the floor and surrounding furnishing with a drop cloth prior to beginning work.

Screwdriver
Deglosser
Nylon scourer
Rubber gloves
Lint-free cloth
Wood putty
Putty scraper
150-grit sandpaper
Primer
220-grit sandpaper
Paintbrush or paint roller
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Remove any drawers and any hardware from the desk with a screwdriver if necessary.
- 2
  Clean the desk thoroughly with deglosser and a nylon scourer while wearing rubber gloves. Follow the instructions on the deglosser package and keep the area well ventilated.
- 3
  Wipe the desk with the lint-free cloth.
- 4
  Apply wood putty to any scratches or dents in the desk and use the putty scraper to scrape the putty to the desk's level. Leave the putty to dry for the amount of time stipulated on the putty package instructions.
- 5
  Sand the desk with 150-grit sandpaper to roughen the surface. Wipe with a lint-free cloth.
- 6
  Apply a coat of paint primer to the desk with a paintbrush or a roller. If using a roller, don't press it down too hard as this can make bubbles appear in the primer. Use a smaller brush for cutting in hard-to-reach places like the desk legs or drawer corners.
- 7
  Leave the primer to dry for the amount of time indicated on the primer can label then lightly sand the desk with 220-grit sandpaper.
- 8
  Apply a coat of paint to the desk in the same way you did the primer. Leave the paint to dry, then sand again with 220-grit sandpaper and apply a final coat of paint.
- 9
  Leave the paint to dry for three days before reattaching any hardware and inserting any drawers.

How to Polyurethane a Desk

Kinds of Desks

Desks