It’s almost fall again! Fall is my favorite time to re-start furniture flipping. Because I live where there are such extreme temperatures, I have to take advantage of the mild weather of spring and fall. I was able to get a few projects done in the spring, including my French grain sack stripe coffee table, but then took a long break during the scorching summer.

While it’s still hot here at the moment, I know it’ll be cooling down shortly–I already felt a refreshingly cool breeze this morning while sanding the leaf of my dining room table outside in my backyard. Fall is one of the two best times to start furniture flipping, unless you have a large insulated indoor area to work, but I like to do my furniture flipping out of my garage or in my backyard.

If you’re new to furniture flipping, or it’s something you’d like to try, but just don’t know where to start, today I’m sharing 10 furniture flipping essentials that I think you need to start any basic furniture flip. Whether you plan on flipping furniture for profit, or just for fun–I do both, these are products you will undoubtedly need to start.

First, I’ll answer some questions you may have about this list:

Why These Products For Furniture Flipping?

You may be wondering why you need certain products to start your new hobby of flipping furniture. The reason is, if you don’t have the basic essentials when you start a furniture project, you will eventually hit a dead end and may not have the motivation to even finish the project. I find that if I have everything I need when I start, I don’t have to take a break to run to the hardware store where I may just get distracted and then bored of my project, which will end up sitting in my garage for months (or years)<—true story.

Can I Use Similar Items I Have At Home?

Yes, you can definitely use products of similar type and quality that you may already have in your home. The products I list in this article are the ones I use when furniture flipping, but the ones you use don’t have to be the exact same. If you have something similar, or you prefer a certain brand, feel free to use what you already have or like.

Do I Need All Of These Products To Start Flipping Furniture?

You may not need every one of these products for every single furniture flip–it depends on the type of piece you’re working on. For instance, you may not need a sander if your piece of furniture is in good condition and you plan on chalk painting it, because chalk pain requires no sanding or priming. This list is just an overall picture of the products you will need if you want to start most types of furniture projects.

 

 

1. Furniture Spray Cleaner-

No matter what piece of furniture you choose as your first flip, it will undoubtedly need to be cleaned. This is especially true of thrift store furniture or pieces that have been sitting and collecting dust and grime. While you can use basic soap and water to wash your furniture, I like to use use Simple Green to really degrease the piece. If your piece of furniture is really filthy, I would recommend a TSP (trisodium phosphate)  or something (like Krud Kutter) to remove all the gunk. Whatever you choose, make sure to wipe your piece of furniture down with a damp rag afterwards. In order for your paint to properly adhere to the surface of your piece of furniture, there should be no dust, dirt, or residue.

2. Drop Cloth-

At some point (probably the beginning) in your furniture flipping adventure, you will need a drop cloth or something similar (tarp?) to protect the ground underneath where you will be working. No matter how careful you are, paint will drip, stain will splatter, and products will make a mess of your floor. Drop cloths are inexpensive and come in many different sizes.

3. Gloves-

Gloves are necessary to protect your hands while working on furniture. Whether you’re sanding, staining, or painting, you want to take care of your hands–even chalk paint is hard to wash off skin. There are many different types of gloves you can use. If you have garden gloves lying around your garage, use those. Or check the paint aisle in your local hardware store. I usually use durable latex gloves if it’s a heavy-duty project. For simpler projects, thin disposable glove are fine. There are many options available.

4. Wood Filler-

No matter what kind of furniture flipping you want to do, you’ll surely come across pieces of furniture with holes, dents, or other gaps (including missing veneer) that need filling. Wood filler is my go-to for these types of projects. You can easily fill in your hole, leave to dry, then sand it down and no one will ever know a chunk of your furniture was previously missing. This trick works especially well if you’re painting your piece, but depending on the wood filler you use, it will dry looking like real wood and can also be stained to match the color you want your piece to be.

5. Tape-

Painter’s tape is another must-have item that should be on your furniture flipping essentials list. Whether you plan on painting or staining, it’s important to stay within the lines. The best way to do this is with painter’s tape. I use this tape on nearly every project, whether painting one color or creating stripes or intricate designs. Painter’s tape comes in all sizes and is a must-have.

6. Sander-

A lot (but not all) of furniture projects will require a sander. When you want a sleek, clean finish, when you plan on staining, and when you’re using certain kinds of paint, you’ll need to sand your piece of furniture–after you clean it, but before you do anything else. A reliable sander is a necessity, and using one is really not as scary as it may seem. I use a Rigid sheet sander but orbital sanders are also popular.

7. Painter’s Tripods-

In order to paint or stain furniture legs, you’ll need something to place under the legs to lift the piece. Lots of items will work for this. I’ve seen people use blocks of wood, old books, and even soup cans, but I like to use painter’s tripods. They’re reusable, compact, and give your piece of furniture just a little lift.

8. Paint-

If you’re interesting in learning to flip furniture, you’re probably wanting to paint because that’s the popular choice right now. Chalk paint is one of my favorite ways to get a matte, chalky, rustic, or shabby chic farmhouse finish–and it doesn’t require any priming beforehand. I like to use Annie Sloan chalk paint as I believe it’s the best. But this paint can only be found in specialty shops. Find out where you can get it HERE. Alternatively, there are many other brands that now make chalk paint too, including Rustoleum and Behr. Milk paint, which has similar qualities to chalk paint is widely available and also a popular choice–I recommend General Finishes milk paint. If you’re not into the chalk paint/milk paint fad, and you want something glossier, try a classic latex paint. But do know that unlike chalk paint which requires no primer, with latex paint you will need to prime your piece before painting. I like to paint my furniture with a brush but spray painting is also an option. I love the KRYLON chalky finish spray paints for indoor furniture.

9. Stain-

Another popular choice when furniture flipping is using stain. After sanding your piece, you may want to stain it instead of paint. Popular stain colors are weathered gray, early American, and dark walnut. Alternatively, you may wish to do a two-tone design on your piece of furniture in which you paint parts of it (like the drawers) and stain the rest. This kind of design is chic and very on-trend at the moment.

10. Top Coat-

No matter how you makeover your piece of furniture, you will want to apply a top coat sealant at the end of your project to protect it against the normal wear of daily use. This is especially true if your piece is going to be in high-traffic areas of your home. In general, all furniture should be sealed, but the ones that really need protection are things like dining tables, dressers, and desks. Top coats come in all types of sheens including matte, glossy, or satin. For a rustic, farmhouse look, I always use a flat or matte top coat and if I’m doing something I want to shine, I use a glossy top coat.  For more durability, I typically recommend a top coat that is brushed on, but there are also spray options if you’re spray painting your piece. Chalk paint should be sealed with a polycrylic (water-based) sealant or a furniture wax because using an oil-based polyurethane can yellow your furniture over time.

 

 

Those are my 10 furniture flipping essentials I recommend if you want to start flipping furniture. If you have any questions feel free to reach out or leave me a comment. Happy furniture flipping!