How To Apply A Topcoat To Painted Furniture (2024)

Learn how to apply a topcoat to painted furniture after you have decided which topcoat to use on your finished piece.

I get a lot of questions about flipping furniture. One of the topics I get asked about most often is topcoats.

Should I use a topcoat?

What topcoat do you recommend?

When do I use a topcoat?

How do I apply a topcoat to painted furniture?

Today, I am going to answer the last question.

How To Apply A Topcoat To Painted Furniture

The application of a topcoat has everything to do with the topcoat you choose for your painted piece of furniture. If you aren’t sure which topcoat to add to your piece, I would recommend checking out my post all about the Best Topcoat for Painted Furniture. In that post, I talk all about the different options you have for topcoats and which ones I choose for different pieces.

Once you have read that post and have a better understanding of the different topcoat options, you should be able to choose the best topcoat option for your particular painted piece of furniture. Every piece will be different and I choose a topcoat based on the piece I am working on. Each topcoat is used for different reasons and having a better understanding of what they do will ensure you choose the right option for each piece.

Now, let’s talk about how to apply that topcoat.

Application Tips For Different Topcoats

Application For A Clear Coat Topcoat:

If you are applying a clear coat to your piece of painted furniture, you can use a paintbrush, paint roller, or a paint sprayer. Once you work with clear coats and get more and more practice with them, you will find what works best for you when applying it. A lot of people worry they will get brush strokes in the topcoat with a paintbrush.

Most clear-coat topcoats are very thin. They aren’t the consistency of paint at all. The thinner consistency lessons brush strokes. If you are still worried about it, I would recommend trying a paint roller. You won’t get brush strokes with a roller. You can also apply a clear topcoat with this $3 sponge. It makes the application very easy and doesn’t leave any brush strokes. If you are comfortable with a paint sprayer, that is your best bet for a smooth finish with a clear coat.

My favorite clear topcoats are these and these.

Glazes:

Usually, when I use a glaze, I am looking to deepen the paint color or add some more character to the look of the piece. Like topcoats, glazes are thinner than paint. When I apply a glaze, I use a mix of a paintbrush (for hard-to-reach areas) and lint-free rags. Glazes are usually forgiving and you can work with them as you are applying them. A lint-free rag makes it easy to rub the glaze in all the places you want it.

My favorite glaze right now is this one.

Waxes:

Waxes are another option for a topcoat. They are a lot different than a clear coat or a glaze. A wax topcoat is similar to a glaze in that it will deepen a paint color and add more character, but you apply it a lot differently. I like to use this brush for applying wax. Since wax isn’t “liquid”, you need a good stable brush to push it around to where you need it to go. You could also use a lint-free rag, but I think you will find that you will like the brush a lot better.

Salve:

This is a new one to me, but I am loving it so far. I have been using this salve on SO MANY projects. Not only am I using it on furniture projects, but I am using it in my car and other areas around our home. To apply the salve, I like using a clean and dry $3 sponge or a lint-free rag. You can also use the same brush as I recommend for the wax application.

Applying a topcoat to your painted furniture will extend the life of the paint on the furniture. It will help protect against scratches, dings, and overall wear of the paint on the piece of furniture. Making sure you clean and prep the piece correctly is also extremely important in the longevity of the painted piece.

All of the topcoat options I talked about today are great choices for your painted furniture. They all “function” a little differently and definitely have a “best way” to apply them. I have been flipping furniture for more than 20 years and have learned so much along the way. I hope these tips are helpful with your next flip.

Do You Want To Make Money Flipping Furniture?

After twenty years of doing this, I am still picking up pieces when I can find them, but I am spending most of my time coaching other furniture flippers on how to make more money in their business. If you are someone who is looking to start and/or grow a furniture flipping business, I would love to help you. There are ways to make money in your business that don’t even include painting a piece of furniture. Once I learned that my business flourished. Don’t waste your time trying to figure it out on your own.

I have created a furniture flipping course. This course goes over everything from finding the right pieces, to the makeover process, and selling. I also included the other ways you can make money with your flipping business in the course. I included everything I wish a course had when I was starting out and trying to grow. You can find more information about the course HERE.

I also have a community for furniture flippers where I offer one-on-one monthly coaching for the business. If you are ready to take your business to the next level, that would be a great fit for you. You can find more information about that HERE.

Let’s get your business started and/or moving in the right direction. If your business is stagnant, there is a reason for that. Let me help you grow it into a flipping career that is profitable and fits the lifestyle you want to live.

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If you liked this “How To Apply A Topcoat To Painted Furniture” post, you will also love these tips:

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I am an experienced furniture flipper with over two decades of expertise in the field. My knowledge is not just theoretical; I have hands-on experience in selecting, painting, and finishing various pieces of furniture. Over the years, I have encountered numerous questions about the process, and one of the recurring topics is applying topcoats. I've not only used different topcoats extensively but have also experimented with various application techniques to achieve the best results.

When it comes to topcoats, the key lies in choosing the right one for your painted furniture. In a dedicated post on the Best Topcoat for Painted Furniture, I provide a comprehensive overview of the available options, discussing their properties and recommending specific topcoats for different scenarios. This knowledge is derived from practical experience, where I've observed how each topcoat performs on various types of furniture.

Now, let's delve into the application process. Applying a topcoat involves different techniques depending on the type of topcoat chosen. Here's a breakdown:

Clear Coat Topcoat:
- Tools: Paintbrush, paint roller, or paint sprayer.
- Tips: Clear coat topcoats are thin, minimizing the risk of brush strokes. However, using a paint roller or a paint sprayer can provide an even smoother finish. I recommend specific clear topcoats based on my positive experiences.
Glazes:
- Tools: Paintbrush for intricate areas and lint-free rags.
- Tips: Glazes, thinner than paint, are forgiving during application. I share my preferred glaze and suggest using lint-free rags to ensure an even distribution.
Waxes:
- Tools: Sturdy brush or lint-free rag.
- Tips: Waxes, distinct from clear coats and glazes, require a stable brush for effective application. I recommend a particular brush based on my successful use.
Salve:
- Tools: Clean and dry $3 sponge or lint-free rag.
- Tips: Salve, a relatively new option, is versatile and can be applied with a sponge or a brush. I share my preferred method and tools for salve application.

The article emphasizes the importance of applying a topcoat to painted furniture for extending paint life and protecting against wear. Additionally, I stress the significance of proper cleaning and preparation of furniture before applying a topcoat.

Having flipped furniture for more than 20 years, I offer insights that go beyond the application process. The post also introduces the idea of making money by flipping furniture and highlights my furniture flipping course, which covers everything from finding pieces to selling them and includes alternative income streams in the furniture flipping business. My expertise aims to guide both beginners and experienced flippers toward success in the furniture flipping industry.