One of my favorite elements of design is color and achieving it with paint! I love painted wood, trim, moulding, doors and cabinets. I guess it’s my thing! My current house has cream woodwork and cabinets. Taking it a step further, I love painted furniture. It can make such a difference by creating a statement piece or just bringing an old piece of furniture to life.
My First Experience with Painting Furniture
I had an old antique dressing table and bench that was a very dark and dull color. I had it painted the same cream color as my woodwork in the spare bedroom.
Painting Furniture that You Inherit
Years ago my friend Ruthie gave me her dining room buffet. It was a gorgeous piece of furniture that she didn’t want to take with her when she moved. It is very large and heavy! It was a pickled wood finish. I loved the piece but the pickled wood didn’t go with my decor. I decided to paint it black. It’s been in my dining room ever since!
Painted Furniture Inspiration
Do you have some pieces of furniture that don’t go with your decor? Any that are just dull or drab? Consider painting them to make them a statement piece in your room.
I’ve scoured the internet for some great examples of how painted furniture can make a difference. You can imagine the before photos of each piece. I love the results.
One of my favorite examples of how a piece of painted furniture can make a statement is this armoire. The teal makes this piece pop. The brass hardware stands out and beautifully accents the piece.
This dresser looks pretty in a muted gray.
If you want to go big with your paint color, go bold!
Or you can keep it neutral like this dainty desk in a soft neutral tone.
If you do go bold, consider accenting your bright colors with a painted trim.
You can partially add color like this coffee table by just painting the legs and trim.
Gold paint accents the details of this dresser.
The following three photos offer great examples of what you can do with a dark dining room set. You can lighten up the chairs and/or table with by painting them.
Remember, it’s okay to mix and match. I love the natural wood table with the cream chairs.
When people move south to warmer weather, sometimes their furniture from up north is just too dark and heavy. If you don’t want to start over with buying furniture, lightening it up with paint is the ideal solution like this dining room set found on House Beautiful.
How about you? Are you ready to paint some of your furniture?
All these painted pieces are absolutely gorgeous and I’m going to scour my house for my first painted furniture piece. Can you recommend the type of paint I should use? Enamel? High gloss? Thanks for this wonderful blog. Looking forward to more from you.
Kay – Thank you for your sweet comments. As far as the paint goes, it all depends on your piece and the look you are going for. I’d go to a paint store and ask for assistance. Good luck and send me pics of what you paint!
I love painted furniture! Have a great piece in my bedroom that’s late 1800s, Texas Hill Country, painted by the early German settlers. Am looking for a piece to make into my new master bath sink console. I’m looking for the size and shape more than anything. Planning to go to Round Top/Marburger Farm Antique Fair next week and/or the week after. One of the best in the country. I haven’t been in 10 years, so I’m really looking forward to going. Will get up super early and take James’s truck in case I find anything. Probably won’t get back until midnight, so it will be a long day. xoxo, Brenda
Thank you for sharing my dresser. Great post with gorgeous pieces!
Thanks Suzanne! I just loved what you did to your dresser! I have a great eye for finding beautiful pieces but unfortunately I have not mastered the talent of painting it myself!
Hi there I really like the look of what you have achieved…I have a chest of draws and a dressing table with a large mirror and it has a vinyl covering over it in a uky brown…what can I do to change this??
Can it be painted or what???
Any advice would be helpful to me
Many kts Pam
I love the whole moving south idea…my furniture is somewhat dark but very nice and classy…I would have a very hard time painting it…I love love love your chair with the ticking fabric…I guess I have a little french in me…working on a current painting with that french flair…may use your chair for inspiration…I have a good eye for beautiful and tasteful work…thanks for sharing.