Painting Baby Safe Furniture

There are a couple of things you should know before starting a baby furniture painting project.  Here are the steps to take to creating professional-looking pieces, as well as vital information about painting baby safe furniture.

Safety Issues
Test for lead. Since 1978, it's been banned from the paint. Therefore, if you're repainting something that very new, you don't have to worry. Also, if you live in a house constructed before 1978, test the painted window sills, door jambs, and walls. You can pick up a test kit from any hardware store.

Shake your furniture piece a little. If it wiggles or rattles too much, you might want to tighten it a little or buy a more durable piece of furniture. It’s important to note you shouldn’t use a crib that is over ten years old.

When you have your safe, solid furniture piece, here’s how to safely paint baby furniture:

#1: Prep your area with drop cloths on the ground outside or the garage floor.

#2: Clean every surface to remove grime and dust. For a dresser or chest, you need to vacuum out the drawers.

#3: Take apart the furniture piece and gently sand all the surfaces you'll be painting. For cribs, you might want to take the whole thing apart. However, you need to remove the drawers for dressers.

Cover your mouth with a mask. You don’t want to inhale any dust. Next, when you sand, you want to scratch it up slightly, so the new coat of paint sticks accurately. If there are any scratches, you might want to use some wood putty to even out the surface. Per the instructions, wait the recommended amount of time before you start painting.

#4: Wipe the furniture piece down with a damp rag or tack cloth, letting it completely dry.

#5: Using a roller or brush, apply a coat of non-toxic paint. Pick one manufactured explicitly as a trim paint since they have more hardeners and are more efficient for furniture applications. For puttied surfaces or bare wood, you have to prime first.

To customize your baby furniture, you can paint polka dots, baby animals, or your child’s name. Let the piece dry overnight between coats. After two days, re-assemble the piece.

​For a more distinct and unique piece of furniture, ask a painter contractor in Rochester, NY to handle the project for you.

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