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Update: See how I made homemade chalk paint in our guest bedroom – I loved using Annie Sloane but this was so much less expensive!
How To Paint A Piano
I don’t think I’ve ever (E.V.E.R.) been so excited to see what $100 can do, and am tickled to share this week’s Friday Fluff Up project with you!
Back when we were first married, my mom gave my husband and me a piano, and we were so excited to have one in our home. (I grew up playing the violin and piano, and can’t imagine not having something to plunk on!)
And the piano was just perfect, even though it never looked exactly the way I’d hoped. When we added built in bookshelves in our office in our last home the piano headed to our guest bedroom, and it was fine because I just never looked at it. (But, I always knew I wanted something different ~ I just wasn’t sure how to get there!)
When we moved into our new home in Ohio I fell in love with the floor plan, but we were stuck (again) with no home for this little piano. In a perfect world it would march on down to the basement, however our stairwell isn’t very wide, and I’m not quite sure it could make the trip down the steps all in one piece. (I have considered taking it apart to get it down there though? Still a possibility.)
We did have this very unused dining room though, and I kept thinking that just maybe it would work there. (Remember how I furnished our dining room for $150? Yup, everything just moved right with us when we headed North, despite a little wear and tear that’s finally been fixed on the table. Yikes!)
After looking (and looking and looking and looking) through painted piano pins on Pinterest, I finally gathered up my courage to paint that little piano and oh. my. word. I am so glad I did.
Literally, last Thursday night I decided to tackle it at 5:30 PM (when I should have been cooking dinner), and painting was done with two coats by 7:30 PM. I added some wax this week in about 30 minutes, and my project is done!
I love it.
After seeing this “chalk paint” (not chalkboard paint like you might think) at the cutest shop ever in Westerville Ohio (Edwin Loy Home), I decided to try out their Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.
As y’all know, while I’ll pinch pennies on just about everything I don’t believe in penny pinching on paint (I promise, it’s worth it!), and I’m just so pleased with the results. I bought a quart of their paint, a small can of wax to finish it with, a paint brush, and some cheese cloth to rub in the wax in with, and for less than $100 this little piano has a new happy home.
Success!
So, have I lost my mind? (Maybe?) I’m still debating if the piano’s going to stay there, but as I sit at my makeshift desk typing here each day I love looking across the hall at my fun fluffed up dining room. I’d love to hear your thoughts and if you have any other suggestions on where else this fun little piece can go!
I’d love for you to join me over on Pinterest (I love that place!) If you have a blog and have done a little fluffing in your home, I’d love to see it, so leave your link in the comments section. Also, if there’s a craft you’ve seen on a website that you’re hoping to make, feel free to share that link as well (I’m always looking for new ideas!)
See previous Friday Fluff Up projects and ideas . . . and Happy Fluffing!
Love the color! I have that color in my kitchen and dining room. What was once old becomes new again. It’s a wonder what a coat of paint can do. Great job…looks beautiful!!
I don’t even have a piano, but I love how it looks. I hope it still has a good sound when you play the piano. I’ve heard that a painted piano doesn’t always keep the same sound.
Did you have to sand the wood before you painted?
I didn’t – chalk paint makes it easy!
Has anybody transformed their piano any other way? Mine has dings in the wood. I’m thinking a bookcase. I love the color you chose.
I’ve seen many turned into a desk.
I love that idea!
I would like to know what kind of wax you brought.
I am working on some end tables and will use the chalk paint But I’m not sure what kind of wax to buy. Thank You!
Hi Caron, I don’t remember exactly what brand I used for that but typically you can buy the same brand of wax as the chalk paint. It’s usually in the same area as well. If nothing else, I have always gotten great success by asking about it at the paint department and they always seem to point me in the right direction!
Hi Caron, There is an Annie Sloan wax that goes with the chalk paint but we have used both of these and found them to be great! https://amzn.to/3BkAtZb, https://amzn.to/3hRtjnJ
Hope it works well for you!!
Awesome , I love the finished product. Here’s a short story about my piano – I was gifted my moms piano several years ago when she decided to get new furniture and it didn’t fit in her living room any longe (and no I didn’t have a choice). Now it’s in my living room and I don’t mind it (and none of us play). But during Christmas, and because I don’t have a fireplace/mantas, it be comes my make shift “Santal” – a mantle with just Santa’s on it. I
Can you use another type paint like Valspar? I have sensitivity to smells. Your piano is beautiful! Ty Ginny
Hi Ginny! Hmm, I’m not sure, but you might be able to look on Google to see if other folks have had success using Valspar to paint their piano! That type may work fine! 🙂 Hope that helps!
Did you take the piano apart to paint it?
I didn’t Taylor – I just painted it as it is!
Sounds like this piano was ready for a new home. It is no longer played. It is simply decoration at this point. Not recommended for pianos that get used daily, or weekly.
Schools, assisted living, nursing homes are always on the lookout for pianos. And, people. I see offers and wanted ads all the time on NextDoor and Freecycle.
Where did you read in her post she no longer plays it??
Laurie you are so brave! It turned out great and looks perfect in your home. Way to take a risk and go for it.
Curious…. does lid still lift up and close okay? I painted a roll top desk chalk paint and it gets stuck really bad!
I’d love to paint our piano but my daughter uses it daily and I’m worried opening & closing lid would cause the paint to chip. Is yours used regularly?
Painting a piano is definitely not recommended when it is played daily.
Unless you leave the most used parts unpainted. The rich wood look mixed in with chalk paint is beautiful when designed with good planning. I am also not a fan of painting hardware.
You are so right about not pinching pennies when it comes to paint. We did that one time many years ago. The paint was so runny and took more than one coat. When the project was all done, you could tell we had skimped on the paint quality. Never made that mistake again.
Your piano looks beautiful!
I have been thinking abou doing this but am worried about it affecting the sound or tone of the piano. Have you noticed a difference?
This piano isn’t played anymore. It is just decoration.
Great blog! Did you tape your keys or take any part of the piano off before you painted? I’m going to start painting mine and any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
I didn’t Rachel but probably should have – I just closed the lid to paint, then went back later and carefully painted the inside. Hope that helps! 🙂
Hi Laurie, wonderful job! I’m thinking to paint mine as well but mine sits directly on the floor without wheels. Any advice on how to line the floor?
Thanks!
Love this blog. Just stumbled across it.
Would love to see s pic with the keys showing!
Love how that chalk paint looks. I have a black lacquer piano, and I’m still trying to figure out how to snake it up. You do awesome projects. I love your energy.
I meant snaze it up.
Love the piano! I saw you got the chalk paint in Westerville. Do you live in the Columbus area also?
I do Elizabeth – we moved just North of Columbus 2 years ago 🙂
I love this so much. Thank you for the inspiration.
My daughter had her piano in the front hallway just as you came in the door to the living room. I loved it there. I love your painted piano! Good luck finding it a showplace.
what color was the Annie Sloan chalk paint you used? I really like it and didn’t see where you named the color. Thanks
Duck Egg
What do you mean by wax? What is the name of it? Also, what if there are scrathes or dings, what can you do to cover that up on a piano?
I'm so glad to find out I'm not the only one with a piano in their dining room! I couldn't imagine getting rid of it, but there was no where else for it to go…. I'm going to have to consider painting it now that I see how beautifully your turned out.
You are the best fluffer I’ve ever met. I wish you could come fluff my house 🙁
You’re so stinkin’ sweet Jamie 🙂 I’d come fluff anytime!
Did you do it without primer?
Yes Joan! That’s the best part about the chalk paint – you just clean it well and paint – I was amazed at how well it went on!
amazing! No sanding, either, then? cool!
No sanding – it’s amazing! 🙂
I LOVE this! I have this same piano and it just makes the room look so outdated. I am seriously thinking about doing this to mine. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Amie! I have had the same struggle for so long and finally decided just to go for it – I’m so glad I did! It was MUCH easier than I expected, and now I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner 🙂
I have been thinking about doing this to our piano for a while, but am worried about the smell in the house since the thing is way too heavy to move! Was there a strong smell with the chalk paint?(Is there such a thing as zero VOC chalk paint??)
Hi Jessica! There wasn’t much of a smell at all with the paint – I did notice some smell with the wax but it was gone within a few hours. I’m not sure if there’s a zero VOC chalk paint, but this one has a very low VOC content – http://www.anniesloan.com/acatalog/Why_our_Paint_is_Special.html
Hope that helps!