Last Updated on June 24, 2024 by lindseymahoney
Transforming tired, old furniture into beautiful, refreshed pieces is easier than you think! I have tackled many painted furniture makeovers in my day and they are a creative and cost-effective way to breathe new life into your home decor.
Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a beginner looking to try your hand at a fun project, these painted furniture ideas will inspire you with tips and techniques for beautiful painted furniture makeovers. Get ready to roll up your sleeves, unleash your creativity, and turn your worn-out furniture into fabulous, one-of-a-kind treasures!
Table of Contents
- 7 Painted Furniture Makeovers on a Budget | Before and After
- Vintage Wood Desk Makeover
- Black Painted Buffet
- IKEA Hemnes Dresser Hack
- Garage Sale Music Sheet Cabinet
- Upcycled Plant Stand
- Sewing Table Turned Nightstand
- Painted Bookshelf
- More Content You Will Love
7 Painted Furniture Makeovers on a Budget | Before and After
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Vintage Wood Desk Makeover
My daughter needed a desk in her bedroom and my mother-in-law offered us an old wooden desk from their storage unit. The vanity was my mother-in-law’s from when she was a teen and I loved the idea of reusing this old furniture piece in her granddaughters’ bedroom.
The walls in her bedroom are painted a dusty pink called Likeable Sand by Sherwin Williams. To incorporate a cooler color into the bedroom design, I decided to paint the desk a muddy blue color. My preferred furniture paint from Sherwin Williams is the Emerald Urethane Enamel because of its durability and I had it tinted a gray-blue color called Meditative.
I removed the drawer fronts and began painting the desk. One coat of Extreme Bond Primer and two coats of Meditative Blue and this old desk has a fresh look! The old hardware was replaced with wooden knobs painted the same blue color that aligned with the early American style of her bedroom.
The chair for her desk is another thrift store find. I updated the seat with new fabric for a whole new look.
Black Painted Buffet
Before, the old buffet had an original finish with a reddish tint that made it feel dated and stale. With a quick furniture makeover, I knew I could give this dining room buffet a modern and sophisticated look.
For this project, I used a Rust-Oleum Furniture Transformations kit to paint the piece black. One benefit of this paint kit is that you can skip sanding the surfaces. In a few hours, the old buffet looked completely different! I used Brasso to clean the original hardware and reinstalled them on the doors and drawers.
IKEA Hemnes Dresser Hack
One of my favorite pieces of furniture is the IKEA Hemnes dresser. It is affordable, sturdy and offers plenty of storage with its deep drawers. With our master bedroom makeover, we opted to keep our Hemnes dresser, but give it a little update with an IKEA hack.
First, I wanted to add some detail to the entire piece by attaching a trim border around each drawer pull. The trim piece is small so the effect is subtle but definitely elevates the look of the IKEA dresser. The trim detail was easily added to each drawer front using glue and wood filler and was ready for paint!
We painted our bedroom walls a dark blue (Outerspace by Sherwin Williams) and I did not want a white dresser for fear that it would look a bit too nautical.
Once the trim was attached, I used another Rust-Oleum Furniture Transformations kit to paint the old dresser a light gray. If you don’t like a lot of prep work to paint furniture, these kits are the best paint option for you!
*For a detailed step-by-step tutorial on this IKEA hack, check out the blog post to add trim around each dresser drawer front!
Garage Sale Music Sheet Cabinet
While working on our living room makeover, I came across an old wood cabinet at a garage sale. This old piece of furniture had seen better days and was in dire need of a paint job. Honestly, I think most people would have tossed this old cabinet in the garbage but I am so happy I saved it and gave it a new life.
First, I lightly sanded the entire surface to remove any bits of debris. Using a damp cloth, I wiped down the entire cabinet and placed it on a dropcloth to be painted. Using Sherwin Williams Extreme Bond Primer, I applied two coats to the wood surfaces to create a clean surface for the green paint to adhere.
For the green paint color, I chose Oakmoss by Sherwin Williams. The type of paint I used for this furniture project is Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, which is more durable than a standard water-based paint you use on walls. Using this type of paint, I did not need to add a clear top coat for added protection.
For $10 at a garage sale, this music sheet cabinet looks like new with its budget-friendly painted furniture makeover!
Upcycled Plant Stand
I had been searching for a wooden plant table for a few months and finally found a sturdy piece of furniture at a local estate sale. For $30 I brought this beauty home and planned to incorporate it into the guest bedroom makeover as a bedside table.
The wood coloring did not align with the design of the bedroom and I planned to paint it a fresh coat of white. First, I applied two coats of Kilz primer and then two coats of white latex paint. Yellowish stains bled through the primer and paint so I had to revise my plan.
I purchased Zinnser oil-based primer which prevented the stains from bleeding through. Another two coats of white paint and a clear matte top coat finished this nightstand makeover!
Sewing Table Turned Nightstand
On the other side of the guest bedroom bed, I used an old sewing table that I had in storage for the nightstand. The small budget that I had for our guest bedroom had dwindled to where I did not have any funds to purchase two brand new nightstands.
Luckily, this is where I thrive and I came up with a solution to use different pieces of wood furniture and apply fresh white paint. The two tables were similar in size and height, so applying fresh white paint to match each other created the cohesive look I wanted.
Painted Bookshelf
In our guest room/office, almost all of the furniture in the room were items that we already owned or secondhand purchases. After painting the two nightstands white, I was concerned that painting the bookshelf white would make the space feel a little too “farmhouse”.
To avoid another piece of white furniture in the room, I decided to paint our old bookshelf the same paint color as the walls.
Once the bookshelf had a good cleaning and was dust free, I applied two coats of primer to create a strong base for the latex paint. The walls are painted a light blue called Skylight by Farrow and Ball. Using a paint brush I applied two coats of paint to match the light blue walls.
When the paint dried I applied a matte clear top coat to protect the new paint finish from chips and scrapes.
The bookshelf adds function to the room and has a modern makeover with a fresh coat of paint.
Brands to Consider When Painting Furniture
- Rust-Oleum Furniture Transformations
- Emerald Urethane Enamel Paint Sherwin Williams (other paint brands have similar options)
- Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
- Latex Interior Paint (usually requires primer and a clear polyurethane topcoat)
- Fusion Mineral Paint
- Dixie Bell Furniture Paint
If a piece of furniture can be reused and upcycled in some way, I am always a fan of this option. Not only is painting furniture a budget-friendly way to decorate your home, it is the sustainable way to keep perfectly good furniture out of a landfill.
When you reuse an older piece of furniture and customize it with paint, it is a great way to create a home that is unique to you and your family. I much prefer to see furniture like this than the same exact table that everyone is buying from Target.
Paint is so transformative and is a great way to revive old pieces of furniture left for dead in storage. I hope these painted furniture makeovers have gotten your wheels turning on what furniture piece you can paint next!