How to Make Dated Furniture Look High-End with Black Paint

Last Updated on November 12, 2023 by lindseymahoney

Painting furniture is my favorite budget-friendly way to breathe new life into a space. Our dining room was in dire need of storage and I found the perfect buffet to paint black.

Paint furniture black for a high-end and expensive look!

Black is a great paint color choice for furniture because it helps to ground the space and it feels high-end. Along with our dining room buffet table, I have used black paint to elevate the look of coffee tables and desks as well!

Better Homes & Gardens One Room Challenge

For those of you who are new to my blog, welcome! This is my first time participating in the Better Homes and Gardens One Room Challenge and I can honestly say that I am having a blast! I have thoroughly enjoyed the community aspect of this challenge and love watching all of the other projects the participants are taking on.

Check out week 1, week 2 and week 3 of this challenge to see everything from my initial dining room design concept to wallpaper removal and paint!

Now that the base layer of the dining room is complete I can start bringing furniture and decor back into the space!

Finding a Dining Room Buffet to Paint

There are so many fun credenzas online, but completely out of my price range. The buffets that I found in my price range were made of particle board and I really wanted one that was solid wood.

I had two options:

Purchase a new cabinet that was my style but may not hold up over the years
Thrift a solid wood piece of furniture & paint it black

I found this buffet at a local consignment shop and quickly purchased it for $300. While it is a beautiful wood buffet, it had a lot of red undertones and I needed that pop of black for this space.

This piece is the perfect size for my dining room and it has similar legs to our dining table. The buffet has great storage and a fun silverware drawer (I was way too excited about this).

When we moved into our new home, I made a promise to bring quality pieces into the house. This includes furniture and artwork I hang on the walls. New home, new me (or something like that)! With this in mind, I decided to go thrift shopping.

How to Paint Furniture Black

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To go with the moody, modern feel of the dining room, I needed to paint the buffet black.

A quick an easy way to paint furniture black (or any color) is by using a furniture paint kit that provides you with all of the materials you need!

I ran to my local Home Depot and picked up Rust-oleum furniture paint. When I saw that this kit required no sanding or primer, I was sold!

Another benefit of this paint kit – it cures in 24 hours! This means I can move it in right away and start putting the space back together.

1 | Remove Buffet Hardware & Apply Deglosser

First I removed all of the hardware and took off the doors and drawers.

Next, I cleaned the buffet and wiped it down as best I could.

I applied the deglossing liquid on every surface of the buffet that would be painted. This allows the paint to adhere to the wood so that we don’t have to pull out a sanding block!

2 | Apply the Base Coat

The refinishing kit was super easy to use and I followed the directions on the box – including the recommended 2″ brush to apply the paint.

Initially, I applied the base coat with an ultra-smooth roller but quickly realized this was not the best tool.

Because the base coat is actually a stain and not paint, the roller created air bubbles. Applying with a brush gave the appropriate finish that I wanted. Two coats of the base coat are needed for complete coverage.

3 | Top Coat Matte Finish

To create a hard protective surface, apply a single coat of the matte top coat finish.

4 | Clean the Brass Hardware

Refinishing a vintage buffet and painting it black | Building Bluebird

The original hardware was dirty and a little dated, but I wanted to make them work. I decided to polish the brass hardware and really make them shine.

I had heard that the acid in ketchup and tomato paste works well for cleaning brass so I gave it a try!

If anything, it was a fun project for the kiddos, but the brass needed something a little stronger to really get them clean. I grabbed some Brasso and it worked like a charm.

The hardware looks better than I could have imagined and I am so happy I kept the antique look!

REVEAL | Black Painted Buffet

Don’t you agree that when you paint furniture black it immediately makes it look high-end and more expensive?! It’s quite sexy and sleek if you ask me. The shiny brass knobs handles look fabulous against the black wood, too.

Who else gets pumped about a silverware drawer?! I have had my china silverware from my wedding in a bag for 10 years, so putting it away in an official spot was really exciting.

[mv_create key=”18″ type=”diy” title=”How to Paint an Old Buffet for a Fresh New Look” thumbnail=”https://buildingbluebird.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/GRANDMAS-BUFFET.png”]

More ORC Week 4 Progress

Window Treatments

One of my favorite designers/bloggers is Jenny Komenda. I used all of her window treatment tips on Instagram in the space.

Unfortunately, I installed the rod incorrectly and am in the process of fixing my mistake! I also only purchased one curtain panel that was the wrong fabric and had to order new curtains. I am hoping to have the window treatments complete by the end of the week.

The curtain length that I need is 85″. Because curtains only come in 84″ and 95″, I purchased 95″ length and will adjust each panel. Jenny recommended iron fabric tape to achieve the desired length and that is exactly what I plan to do! I purchased a french rod and rings to get the look I want – AKA a “Jenny Komenda look” haha!

Two weeks left until the end of the challenge and I am struggling to finalize the artwork! My husband gifted me a beautiful piece of art that I know will be perfect in the dining room. I am thinking about doing a DIY project for the artwork on the back wall. Check in next week to see what I came up with!

If you have a chance, check out the other guest participants in the One Room Challenge and give them some love. A six-week renovation is a huge undertaking and this is the time when participants need a little encouragement to make it to the finish line.