Can I paint some furniture?

[yellowflowers]

I have a cupboard that is really ugly and I need to strip the varnish and paint it and then want to use it for the baby's stuff in its room - not worried about the item being in baby's room because the baby will be in our room for several months, but if I wear a face mask is it okay for me to do the stripping and painting? Am 6 months pregnant.

Painting...I did mine outside, but try to persuade DH instead?! The strippers are nasty aren't they?

I am in the process of doing up my lounge and touch up painting elsewhere. Am using low VOC paint (I've always used this anyway) and you can buy minimal VOC paint stripper now. Found it the other day, comes as a paste in a tub (called something like Home Strip, Tough Not Toxic), looks like it won't work at all but does. Leave it on for quite a while though and scrape off with wall paper scraper. Am 34 weeks preggers and am still enjoying the DIY!

I just used the normal (cheapo) paint and wore a mask. Don't know if that was right or wrong though!

The paint would probably be fine, but the stripper might be a bit harsh. Could you get someone else to do that bit for you?

Could I ask if anyone knows what the drill is with painting when baby is born? We are moving next week and we might not get everything done before baby arrives. Our move was delayed. Is it safe to use low VOC paint while baby is so small or should it be left for a while?

brilliant excuse just to paint over the varnish! Thank you

Hi, it doesn't cost that much to get an item dip-stripped for you. They might even come and collect / return it from your house.

I varnished skirting board and door surrounds and stuff when I was pregnant - did it mostly outside but when wet was in the garage with doors open. No ill effects here :)

I am doing the same with a rather revolting orangey pine welsh dresser... I was going to sand it the paint it outside. If I paint over the varnish without sanding will it look rubbish?