How to Paint Built In Shelves in a Living Room

If you are fortunate enough to have built-in shelves in your living room, these can be both decorative and functional. In order to fully enjoy this storage space, you should keep the shelves in tip-top condition by painting them from time to time. This can be easy to do if you follow the steps below.

1. Remove all the objects from the shelves and set them aside. If the shelving unit has hardware attached, you should remove these fixtures as well.

2.  Patch any cracks or nail holes with a drywall compound and then allow this material to dry overnight. You may need to sand the area lightly if the edges appear to be uneven after the compound has completely dried.

3. Clean the entire shelving unit from top to bottom by washing it with mild detergent and warm water. Don't forget to clean the back and sides of the unit as well as underneath the shelves.

4.  Tape around the outer perimeter of the shelving unit in order to keep paint from getting onto your living room walls. If you have trim anywhere on the shelves, you should tape this section off as well.

3. Determine if the built-in shelving unit needs a coat of primer. If you have recently removed wallpaper or plan to cover paneling with the paint, you may need to cover the area with an interior latex primer before painting.

4. Paint one section at a time, beginning at the very top. Cover all horizontal surfaces first, and then allow these areas to dry for at least six to eight hours. After the horizontal surfaces are dry, paint the vertical surfaces working from left to right. Allow these to dry completely, and then add a second coat of paint in the same manner if needed.