Tips on how to repaint furniture?

[puffkin]

We have several pieces of furniture that we would like to paint for our nursery. All the pieces are a dark cherry finish and they have that very glossy shine to them. I don't think any of the pieces are real wood, more of a MDF type wood with a veneer over them so we can't strip them (think Sauder furniture but much better quality).

We want to repaint them a navy blue color with a slight gloss (not flat but not a high sheen). I am concerned about the paint not sticking due to the finish. Does anyone have any tips on how to accomplish this. Mainly looking at how to prime, what type of paint, brushes or rollers to use and what type of finish.

 

[golfgal]

You can sand the pieces and the paint will stick, you don't have to do a high powered sanding job, just rough up the surface and dull the shine. There is also a product called Liquid Sand that you paint on the surface and then it makes it tacky so you can apply paint over that. It is smelly so if you are pregnant, best have someone else do it but it is less messy then sanding.

 

[SC Minnie]

Scuff up the veneer a little. Use a good primer and paint. I painted a credenza in our bonus room that was like what you described. I used a low nap roller (they make small ones that are only about 6 in long that work well for furniture)

The finish depends on what you like.

The co I work for makes MDF and we Sauder is one of our customers (but I won't buy any of their products)

 

[L107ANGEL]

I understand from a good source that Walmart sells an excellent paint for this type of project.