paint for untreated wooden shelves

[Menagerie]

Does anyone know about painting wooden furniture? I have some ancient IKEA wooden shelves. They're untreated wood. Can I paint straight not them to brighten up my son's bedroom? And if I do - do they need a primer? Can it be water based paint or does it have to be gloss?

Any help really appreciated.

Thanks

Just asked DP - he says prime it, undercoat it and gloss it - preferrably with oil based gloss. Or two coats of primer then gloss it.

You will need to prime them, yes, or anything you put on will just soak in. You can get combined primer and undercoat, which is water based. You don't have to use gloss, you can use acrylic eggshell.

Thanks. Off to Homebase then...