How to get a high gloss finish on your painted furniture

After posting my campaign dresser project, I promised you I'd share my secret to getting a super high gloss finish to painted furniture.  It's not really secret and I certainly don't claim to be a pro at this, but this is what works for me and what I've learned through much trial and error.  

It's 5 easy steps that involve a lot of prep, sanding and waiting while coats dry.  Sanding to get a high gloss finish?  Sounds totally counter-intuitive, I know. But if you're looking to recreate the look of lacquer, creating and keeping a totally smooth surface throughout the project is essential.

Whether you use a rotary sander or just good old fashioned paper and elbow grease largely depends on the condition of your piece when you're getting started.  All that matters is that you're starting with a surface free of dings and scratches.  Anything too deep to be sanded should be filled with wood filler.  Once that's dry, sand and wipe clean.  Put down your primer coat (2 coats if you're transforming a dark wood piece to a light color).  I know all this prep work can seem tedious and so not fun but this is arguably the most important step to getting that mirror-like finish in your final product.  Skimp here and you'll be kicking yourself in the end...believe me, I've been there!

Now that you've got a clean, smooth surface, it's time to paint!  I swear by Home Depot's Behr paints and have pretty much every color I want color-matched by them in this paint.   More important than the brand of paint you pick though is the finish.  You want FLAT paint.  Flat!  Not high-gloss.  Flat paint provides the maximum adhesion for your high gloss finishing layer.  Flat, flat, flat!  Use a mini foam roller and a light touch - multiple thin coats are better than one very heavy coat.

Between layers of your flat paint and certainly when you're happy with the color and coverage, go over the entire piece with some super fine sand paper.  400 grit is just right.  Get out any brush strokes, rogue brush bristles...anything that is keeping your piece from having a totally flat, smooth surface.  You might find you sand right through the paint in some spots in pursuit of this smoothness.  If that happens just touch-up those spots, wait for it to dry then sand around it.  Give your piece a thorough wipe down with a damp cloth.  You might even want to get out the vacuum depending on how many nooks and crannies you're working with.  

Now that you've finished painting, it's time to seal and protect all your hard work! Kate at Centsational Girl has some of the most thorough information I've found on this topic including everything you need to know about poly sealers here.  Generally speaking, most people stop after this step.  Oil based poly will give you a great shine BUT it will turn an amber color over time.  So I stay away from it if I'm painting something a light color.  Water based poly (pictured above) is much easier to work with, dries quickly and is much less toxic.  But the fact is, I have never been able to get the high gloss finish I want using water based poly.  So in this step you want to put down at least 2 thin layers of your polycrylic and yes, sand all over between coats.  Again, counter intuitive to stand poly but you're trying to maintain that smooth, perfect surface. 

Your final step!  You've filled, sanded, primed, painted and sealed but you still don't have that lacquer look you're going for.  But that's all about to change!  Arm yourself with several cans of Rustoleum's Crystal Clear Enamel spray in a gloss finish.  Use this in a well ventilated space.  You'll feel like you're working inside a clear nail polish bottle!  But this is the secret to getting a hard, crystal clear look to your project.  I used 4 cans on my campaign dresser. Don't skimp and you'll be happy with the results.

Now go forth and make shiny things!  I hope this little 5 step plan helps!