Once you develop a knack for spray painting, it is one of the fastest ways to give new life to old furniture. Here are some tips:

- Work in a well-ventilated area away from open flames. Wear safety goggles and a mask. Disposable masks made especially for spray painting are available at paint stores.- Protect surrounding surfaces from paint mist with newspaper or dropcloths anchored with masking tape.

- If possible, suspend or prop up a piece so that you can spray it without having to move it.

- To avoid paint misting on the surrounding area, place the item in a large appliance box with the front cut off and then paint.

- For an even finish, keep a spray can the same distance from the surface the entire time you are spraying. How? Tape a stick to the can as a guide. Make the stick about 1 inch shorter than the best distance for spraying the item so you won't scrape it across the paint.

- When spray-painting a flat surface such as a tabletop, begin on the side nearest you and work toward the opposite side. This may seem a little strange, but when you spray a flat surface you hold the can at a slight angle, causing it to send some spray ahead. By starting nearby, you cover up that spray as you progress across the surface. If you did it the opposite way, the first spray would leave a pebbly texture on the areas you had already painted.

View Comments

- It's easier to paint a chair if you turn it upside down and spray the legs and rungs first, spraying their insides before their outsides. Then turn it right side up and spray the back and seat. This works with a small table as well.

- With open-weave material such as caning, you'll get a finer, more even finish if you hold the spray can at about a 45-degree angle above the material. On wicker, spray first from one side at a 45-degree angle, then from the other side, to penetrate the weave as much as possible.

- If you want to leave some parts of a piece of furniture unpainted, use masking tape and newspaper to protect the areas. For a clean line along a tape edge, direct the spray so that it is blowing over the whole tape rather than toward the tape edge.

- Does no paint come out of the spray can when you can still hear it sloshing around inside? The paint pickup tube inside the can may be curved away from the direction you are spraying. Twist the nozzle a half-turn and try again.

Join the Conversation
Looking for comments?
Find comments in their new home! Click the buttons at the top or within the article to view them — or use the button below for quick access.