Prep Work — Is It Really Necessary?

It's the question I get asked more than almost any other: "Do I really have to do all that prep work?"

I get it. You've found a gorgeous piece at the op shop, you've got a tin of Annie Sloan chalk paint in the perfect colour, and you just want to paint the thing. The prep feels like the boring bit standing between you and the magic.

So let me be honest with you: yes, prep matters. But probably not in the way you think.

What Prep Actually Does

Good prep isn't about following rules for the sake of it. It's about giving your paint the best possible surface to bond with — and giving yourself the best possible chance of a finish you'll love for years, not just weeks.

Chalk paint is incredibly forgiving. It will stick to almost anything without priming or sanding. But "almost anything" isn't "absolutely everything," and skipping prep on the wrong piece can mean peeling, patchy coverage, or a finish that just doesn't feel right.

A quick wipe-down to remove dust, grease, and grime is the one step I never skip. Beyond that, it really comes down to the piece in front of you — its condition, its surface, and what it needs to hold paint well.

The Pieces That Need More Love

In my little 3x3 studio, I've learned to read a piece before I pick up a brush. Some furniture practically begs you to just paint it. Others need a conversation first — a bit of time sitting quietly while you figure out what they need.

Pieces with a heavy wax or varnish finish, or anything that feels slippery to the touch, will benefit from a light sand to give the paint something to grip. Pieces with repairs, deep scratches, or loose veneer need those sorted before paint goes anywhere near them — because paint doesn't fix structural problems, it just hides them temporarily.

And pieces with real character — the dings, the dents, the evidence of a life lived? Those often need the least prep of all. That roughness is the beauty. Don't be so quick to sand it away.

The Honest Truth About Skipping It

I won't pretend I've never been tempted to skip straight to the fun part. But every time I've rushed the prep, I've paid for it later — usually halfway through the second coat when something isn't sitting right and I know, deep down, that I should have taken the extra twenty minutes at the start.

Prep isn't the boring bit. It's the part that makes everything else easier......Ok it's a little boring but it's the boring step that gets you the best results.

My Simple Prep Checklist

Here's what I do for most pieces before a single drop of paint touches them:

• Wipe down with a damp cloth to remove dust and surface grime
• Use a degreaser like Krud Kutter on anything that's been in a kitchen or feels greasy
• Check for loose parts, wobbly legs, or lifting veneer — fix these first
• Light sand only if the surface feels very slick or shiny
• Let everything dry completely before painting

That's it. It doesn't have to be complicated.

The Bottom Line

Prep work is the difference between a piece that looks beautiful for a season and one that becomes a treasured part of someone's home for decades. It's not glamorous, but neither is repainting something because you rushed it the first time.

Take the time. Do the prep. Then pick up your brush and enjoy every single stroke — because you'll know the finish is going to last. Now go prep away and then you can start putting your favourite colour on that project you've been waiting to start.

Have a prep question or a piece you're not sure about? Drop it in the comments — I'd love to help.