Understanding Lacquer: The Most Common Modern Furniture Finish
When it comes to restoring or maintaining wood furniture, choosing the right finish is key.
One of the most popular and durable choices for modern and mid-century furniture is lacquer.
In this article, we’ll break down what lacquer is, how it’s applied to wood furniture, how to care for it, and when to seek help from
professional furniture refinishers like Mumford Restoration.
Whether you're dealing with water rings, scratches, or a worn finish, this guide will help you keep your lacquered furniture looking beautiful for years.
Trust Raleigh’s Experts on Furniture Restoration and Repair
As the leading furniture refinishing experts in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mumford Restoration brings over 40 years of experience to every project, from antique restoration to modern refinishing.
We wanted to share our experience with furniture lacquer: from its history, to its application, to its maintenance and repair.
We’ve put together this two-part blog series on antique wooden furniture finishes and their modern counterparts so you’ll have a better idea of how to protect and maintain your favorite pieces of furniture!
By the end, we hope you'll have insight into how professional furniture restorers
Lacquer Furniture Finish: A Modern Guide to Restoration and Care
What Is Lacquer?
Today’s most common lacquer finish for furniture is a spray lacquer composed of nitrocellulose, plasticizers, resins, and lacquer thinner (a solvent that helps apply the finish smoothly and evenly).
This combination of materials produces a very smooth, crystal-clear finish that is comparatively flexible.
How Is Lacquer Applied to Furniture?
Most furniture refinishers catalyze their lacquer.
This means that they add an acid that interacts with the lacquer to help it cure quickly and resist heat, water, and wear.
They then add the lacquer to a lacquer gun and use compressed air to apply it to furniture in even layers.
As with any finish, the temperature and humidity matter!
Hot humid weather can make it more challenging to get a perfectly clear finish; the finish can appear cloudy or milky.
On the other hand, cold weather means that lacquer takes longer to dry, which gives dust a greater chance of ruining the smooth, glossy finish.
At Mumford Restoration, our experts account for these factors to ensure your lacquered furniture finish dries crystal clear.
Lacquer Furniture Finish: From Guitars to Dining Tables
Lacquer first gained popularity in the 1920s–1950s in automotive and guitar manufacturing due to its quick-drying spray application.
Unlike earlier wood finishes (like varnish) which were applied by brush and prone to yellowing, modern nitrocellulose lacquer is sprayed on and uses a modern formula.
These two key differences make modern lacquer smooth, clear, durable, and built to last.
You can expect a professionally applied lacquer finish to remain beautiful and clear with little to no maintenance..
How to Clean Lacquered Furniture Without Damaging the Finish
Cleaning lacquered wood furniture the right way protects your finish and keeps it looking new for decades.
Modern lacquer is comparatively strong and does not need much intervention.
You can simply wipe it down with a slightly damp rag and then immediately dry it with a clean, dry cloth.
Professional Lacquer Removal: Fast and Effective
Professional furniture refinishers use methylene chloride as a finish remover. Its small molecular size passes through the lacquer layers and helps “detach” the old lacquer from the wood.
Methylene chloride is incredibly fast, thorough, and effective.
However, methylene chloride requires very careful handling and is extremely caustic, so it is highly regulated and only available to licensed professionals.
Learn why Mumford gently strips finishes by hand instead of employing the harsh (and ultimately harmful) process of "dip-stripping."
DIY Lacquer Removal: A Messy Headache
Finish removers are available at home improvement stores, but they’re often messy, slow, and less effective than professional-grade solutions like methylene chloride.
Many DIYers get frustrated with the mess, fumes, and disappointing results.
They ultimately give up and turn to professionals like Mumford Restoration to restore their furniture for them.
Can You Repair a Lacquer Finish on Wood Furniture?
Spot repairs on lacquer rarely look seamless.
Because lacquer is applied in even, uninterrupted layers when the furniture is first produced, patching creates visible differences in finish thickness.
In most cases, refinishing the entire surface is the best way to restore a flawless appearance.
How to Remove Water Rings and Stains from Lacquered Furniture
Water rings on lacquer furniture are common but treatable, especially when handled by a professional.
Often, we can at least reduce the appearance of a water stain by using a special solvent that will help the trapped water evaporate out of the finish.
If water sat too long, the moisture may have soaked through the lacquer and into the wood, causing deeper stains.
In those cases, reactivating the finish may not work, so full refinishing could be the best option.
How to Choose the Right Furniture Finish for Restoration
Feeling overwhelmed by all the finish types—lacquer, shellac, varnish, wax? Don’t worry.
You can trust Mumford Restoration to bring your antiques and fine furniture back with a stunning finish that will last for many years to come.
Why Choose Mumford Restoration:
Raleigh's Most Trusted Furniture Refinishers
Mumford Restoration has been restoring and refinishing antique and vintage furniture since 1982.
We are among the most respected and trusted refinishers in North Carolina.
Our clients know they can always rely on our integrity, attention to detail, and decades of experience.
We understand your heirloom’s history, design, and
style and how to bring out the original beauty of its finish.
That's the Mumford Difference.
Whether you’re restoring a Victorian-era dining table or a beloved modern heirloom, our furniture restoration experts can guide you through every finish option.
Let us help you protect your family's treasures with the right finish.
Call 919-510-6310 to speak with a restoration specialist.
Or submit photos via our online form, and we’ll follow up with a personalized plan!