Do you have an old piano that needs a makeover? If so, this might be the project for you! A friend gave us this wonderful piano and I decided to give it a quick update. My daughter and I completed the entire project in a few hours and it completely changed the look of the piano.
Piano Makeover with Chalk paint-before:
See more furniture makeovers.
And here is the after!
The most tedious part was taping off all of the keys and the foot pedals. But, I would definitely recommend doing this as you certainly don't want to get paint in between the keys.
RELATED: 25+ Painted Furniture Makeovers
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Materials:
-plenty of drop cloths
-Chalk paint of choice (I used Amy Howard One Step Paint in black...This can be purchased at Ace Hardware). Here is a link to a similar paint.
-clear furniture wax (I used Amy Howard Clear Wax)
-paint brush for paint and one for wax (I used basic chip brushes. These are similar to what I used.)
-a few cloths for buffing wax and wiping away any dust particles if you will be distressing (I used some of my husband's old white t-shirts that he is no longer using. These work great because they are free of lint).
-Fine grit sanding block if you plan to distress your piece
RELATED: Kitchen Table Transformation using Chalk Paint and Wood Stain
Steps:
- Wipe any dust from piano. Chalk paint will stick to almost any surface, so no need to prime!
- Tape off keys and foot pedals. Protect your floor surface with appropriate drop cloths.
- Paint one light coat of chalk paint and allow to dry. Dry time is FAST with chalk paint. 30 minutes is sufficient if you use a light coat.
- Paint second coat of chalk paint. With black, two coats are all that was needed. Should you opt to use a lighter color, you will need 3 coats for good coverage.
- Ensuring second coat is dry, lightly sand corners for a "distressed" look. My daughter distressed the bench and I worked on the piano. This is a really easy process that gives it a little more character.
- Wipe away any dust produced by the sanding block with lint-free cloths or an old t-shirt.
- Apply the clear wax, working in small sections. Apply a small amount of wax with the chip brush and buff with lint-free cloth in the direction of the wood grain. Follow the directions on the wax jar for specifics on wax application. The wax gives it a very rich, deep black finish. Some do not like the "look" that wax gives a piece of furniture. I recommend trying this on a smaller, less important piece of furniture first!
That's it! Once again, here is the after:
You'll notice that the dining room paint color changed as well! I'll save that for another post;)
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What do you think? Have you tried chalk paint? I have used it on so many things and love the results. It's forgiving and easy/quick to use.
Let me know your thoughts and thanks for stopping by! If you like it, pin it;-)
Mom-Unit says
Hopefully the INSTRUMENT underneath the new pain was worth all that work! Getting an evaluation by a good piano technician first would tell you if it was in playable condition. Broken strings, worn out hammers or the action, cracked bridges, and a good tuning all cost money. Those smaller spinet pianos are “entrance level” pianos and unles meticulously maintained, can do more to discourage budding pianist than make them want to play piano rather than soccer.
Jane says
It looks great! How is the bench standing up to use? Has the paint or wax rubbed off the bench and onto clothing at all? I have some painted kitchen chairs that scratch a bit from jeans. Thank you for your idea!
[email protected] says
Thanks for commenting, Jane! I admit, I worried about this too, but it was no issue at all with paint or wax getting on clothes. I buffed the wax quite a bit on the bench, so it was pretty smooth. Once it fully cures, it's set!
Jaimee says
Looks so good! Awesome job 🙂 this makes me want to do a DIY project now lol
[email protected] says
Thanks, Jaimee! Weekends are the best time for a good DIY;-)
Dana says
Big projects like this always make me so nervous that I'm going to get myself into something I can't get out of. Way to go!
[email protected] says
Thank you, Dana! It used to make me nervous too, but if it's something you've decided is in need of a change, just go for it. There is always more paint;-)
Eryn says
I would have never thought to repaint a piano but it lookes AMAZING! I seriously am going to have to try this chalk paint you talk about! It sounds so fun to work with!
[email protected] says
Do it, Eryn! You'll start painting everything in sight;-)
Kayley Gravelle says
WoW that turned out great.
[email protected]oveourreallife.com says
Thank you, Kayley!
Judy Eaton says
Great job, it looks beautiful. Can you use this paint on kitchen cabinets?
[email protected] says
Thank you, Judy! Yes, you can use chalk paint on kitchen cabinets. Personally, I wouldn't finish with wax if I used it for kitchen cabinets. I would seal it with several coats of polycrylic. If you give it a try, I'd love to see your photos!
Jenifer Muir says
Looks great! We have a similar piano that could use an update. Thanks!
[email protected] says
Thanks, Jenifer! You can do it;) It truly did completely change the look of the piano.
Stephanie says
Any tips to get a kid to practice the piano more? 🙂
[email protected] says
Funny! I agree, getting children to practice anything is such a challenge. In regards to piano practice, I try to have my children practice 10-15 minutes a day and they are responsible for writing this on our calendar. That does seem to make them more accountable as the entire family can see if they've completed their practice time. I also think it's helpful to have the piano teacher ask them specifically about their practice time. Good luck!
joy says
Having taught piano lesson, give them music that they like. Don't say "You have to practice". Just tell them to play whatever they want for 5 minutes. Do this several times a day and they will set and play for longer because they enjoy it.
Molly says
Joy, your students were lucky to have you as a teacher, and you are spot on with your advice. It is lonely to go off by yourself to “practice” when you are young. I am also a teacher and encouraged parents to come in the room for a “concert”, even if the child can only play one line of Twinkle twinkle! Turn your phones off and pay attention to your child. Now and again bring in some refreshments to make it special. A cut up apple or some cheese crackers are all you need. The whole thing can take as little as 3 or 4 minutes of your time! Grandparents, neighbors and friends are usually eager to hear a little concert from a child they love. Children learn that their music can bring joy to others, feel encouraged & appreciated & everyone is smiling.
Oh, and the piano is really cute too, nicely done!