5 Tips for How To Shop for Furniture to Paint

I get a lot of questions about how to find the right pieces for my painting projects, so I thought I’d take you along on a shopping trip. Let’s go thrifting, which will give you a sneak peek into my process for selecting the best pieces of furniture to paint.

On this little adventure, I went to four local thrift stores. First I went to Graceworks, which is also a local ministry non-profit that provides food, clothing, and shelter to in-need residents in my county. Next, I went to Restore, a Habitat for Humanity store, where prices are a little high, but you know that part of your purchase is going to support a great organization. I stopped by Our Thrift Store, which didn’t have much at all, so I rounded out my spree with a stop at the old stand-by—Goodwill. Goodwill is always going to have the best deals, but you have to check them out regularly because the good stuff goes fast because it’s priced so low.

My Top 5 Tips for How To Shop for Furniture to Paint

1. Feel the furniture.

Always start with a touch test. Rub your hand over the piece, and see if you can feel the grain. Is it solid wood or wood overlay? Does it feel “real.” Contrast the way real wood grain feels with the smoothness that’s maybe indicative of a cheap veneer or sticker. That’s not going to paint well! Also, I steer clear of anything with a really glossy finish. Those are going to be really difficult to makeover because they’ll require a lot of prep and stripping.

2. Look for solid construction.

Check out how solid the piece is. Is it sturdy or does it wobble at all? I really like to make sure to check the construction of the drawers. Test that the joints are not separating, not just kind of stapled on there. My favorite kind of construction for drawers is dovetail. You know the piece will hold together well.

3. Start small when trying new techniques.

There are all kinds of fun finds under $10 or $20, maybe chair or a little end table. Goodwill is especially good for finding these fun, cheap, small pieces to start out with. When you’re going to be working with a new paint or a new technique, it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up.

4. Check for labels and markings.

Look on the back, underneath, and inside drawers for any labels or stamps indicating where the piece was made and what type of material it is. Sometimes it will tell you the company and the wood type. I like to Google whatever I find on a piece I like to get more details.

5. Don’t get discouraged.

I didn’t find anything on this particular shopping trip. Don’t give up. I check Goodwill once a week. I did find a couple beautiful pieces at Restore that would be perfect to makeover, but they were a little bit out of my price range. Have fun on the hunt and keep your eyes open for your next treasure.

I loved getting to go thrift store shopping and reporting these, my top tips, to you. With a little patience and legwork, you’ll find something great to makeover. One of my favorite pieces and most popular videos all started with a little table I found at Goodwill. You never know what little discarded piece of furniture from another’s home will turn into your next beautiful project. Happy hunting!