3 Step Furniture Refinish
Don't get rid of that old dresser, buffet table, end table, or any wooden furniture piece that seems so out of style! I learned a few tips to quickly and easily transform an old piece of furniture and make it fit with your current style. While stripping and sanding wooden furniture can give new life to an old piece, that process is not an easy one! If you're looking for a few hour DIY to spruce up your furniture, chalk paint might be the way to go. Chalk paint adheres well to already painted surfaces so there's no need to sand the whole surface or do much prep work besides cleaning. You can buy chalk paint in any color for a range of different prices so it can definitely be an affordable DIY. Even better? You can use chalk paint over chalk paint so if you don't like it the first time, just paint again (I did that here)!
So here it is! An older liquor cabinet from my fiance's parents that they gave to him when they downsized. The cabinet is beautiful, just doesn't necessarily go with the rest of our home. It's the perfect size for the coffee bar that I've been wanting to set up in our kitchen though! After using it as a workbench in the garage for a month or so, it was finally time to give this beauty some new life and a home in our kitchen. I mentioned that you don't have to sand before using chalk paint - that's typically the case! - however, because I was using it as a workbench, I sanded the top very lightly to remove the dried glue and other stuff that had collected on the top. I did not sand the rest of the cabinet and as long as your surface is smooth, you shouldn't need to either.
Materials:
The most important material for this project is your chalk paint! I started with Kilz Chalk Style Paint from Amazon. This is a great budget-friendly option. The paint is good quality and definitely a good purchase for your first time working with chalk paint! I ended up doing a second coat with Country Chic Paint only because I wanted a more true navy color and couldn't find it in a cheaper brand. Country Chic is pricier but they make great paint and are known for their quality! The other materials you'll need are a finishing wax and brushes for both the paint and wax.
The first step is to clean it well to help the paint adhere. I used a soapy cloth but a wet paper towel will work fine too. Make sure to clean any crevices that could be holding dust or dirt. For this project in particular, I also prepped the cabinet by taping off the gold metal accents because I did not want to paint them. I also lightly sanded the glue that had dried on the top of it. Cleaning may be the only prep you need depending on your piece of furniture!
In this case I painted twice because I didn't love the color the first time. I started off using a roller but actually preferred the paint brush so stuck to that after the first coat - use whatever you're more comfortable with. One or two coats should be enough to cover your piece of furniture well. The video shows me using Kilz Chalk Style Paint in Authentic Navy. After this dried I applied two coats of Country Chic Peacoat, which was more the color I was going for.
Once the paint is completely dry (check the product for dry time) the final step is to apply wax and buff if needed (for a more finished look). Finishing wax will give the piece a finished look and protect it's surface to make it more functional. Use a wax brush to apply the wax in a circle motion. Apply in small sections at a time and wipe off the excess. The first picture above shows the side of the cabinet just after I applied the wax. The second picture above shows the side of the cabinet after I had started wiping off the excess wax. You can see the difference between left and right sides.
After:
Happy refinishing!
![Chalk Style Paint - for Furniture, Home Decor, Crafts - Eco-Friendly - All-in-One - No Wax Needed (Peacoat [Navy Blue], Pint (16 oz))](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41O9gk6N7JL._SL75_.jpg?size=80x80&nocrop=1)
Comments
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I would have used a matte poly on the surface rather than wax. I prefer a flat finish when using chalk paint. Nice project.
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Absolutely gorgeous!! Love the colors! I would never have "seen" that - so glad you did, and that you shared it!
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