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Liven up an old piano with some chalk paing. I will show you how to paint a piano, step by step.
This summer I needed a project. I am a project person. I decided that it was time to redecorate my living room. I have never really liked my living room. It always felt too dark and heavy. As a result I never spent much time in there except for holidays. I decided it was time to lighten up my life!
The whole new living room reveal will come later but today I am excited to share the transformation my piano underwent.
Our piano is old. I’m not exactly how old it is but when we bought our first home back in 1986 it was in the house. We paid the owners who were moving into a retirement home a few hundred dollars for it. It has been a great piano for our family. All of our children learned to play the piano on it and many a Christmas carol has been sung around the piano.
But it was just too big and dark for my new lightened up decor. Since there are no kids at home any more, I rarely play and the only time it seems to get used is Christmas Eve I thought about getting rid of it. I had a small revolt from a few of my children, one in particular who considers it his piano since he is the only one that still plays the piano. So I decided to keep it but something had to change.
I decided that painting it was the solution. That same child who revolted against me selling the piano also wasn’t too happy about me painting it either but oh well! I have to admit it did seem a little “sacriligious” to paint the piano but I decided to do it anyway.
Deciding on the color was the hardest part. After a little research I knew I wanted to use chalkpaint. I love the fact that there is no prep work with chalkpaint. No sanding, no priming all you do is paint with the chalkpaint!
I used Annie Sloan Chalkpaint which can be bought at two different places here in Portland that I know of. I purchased my paint at The Purple Pear in SE Portland. The owner was very helpful and she even gave me samples of different colors to take home. She also sells the paint online. There is also another shop in Hillsboro that sells Annie Sloan Chalkpaint that I have purchased from before also called B Designs Home Decor and the owner is great too!
I ended up chosing Provence diluted 4 to 1 with Old White.
The process was easy. I removed the front of the piano first. This was the only part of the piano I took apart. It came off easily by releasing some levers.
I also taped around the foot pedals and the keys.
And then I just started painting. I did paint the piano bench first because I decided if I hated it I could just buy a new piano bench! I decided I loved it and then I just went for it!! I was a little nervous putting that first brush full of paint on the actual piano.
Here it is with the first coat. I ended up putting 3 coats on since the piano was so dark. After the third coat I lightly distressed the edges and then put a couple of coats of the Annie Sloan clear wax on it. There are lots of YouTube videos out there on how to apply the wax.
And here is the finished project. Isn’t she pretty!!
I have to say I am totally in love.
It is so pretty now, I’m inspired to sit down and play! Someone asked me if painting it changed the tune of the piano. My reply was that unfortunately it was still as out of tune as it was before. Need to get a piano tuner over here!
dana says
Cute! Does it make you want to play the piano a little bit more now! The dishes on top or cool too. PS keep us posted on what you find out in regards to the serial number – could be super old! PPS Post a video of your Son when he plays on it for the first time! So fun!
Sue J says
I inherited a very old piano from my grandmother and no one seemed to know the history. We got the serial number out of the inside of the piano and called a piano dealer in the area. They were able to look it up in the catalogs. If you’re curious to find out a little more of the history of your piano, that would probably work for you too! I found out mine was made in 1905 in New York.
Leigh Anne says
Love that – I’m going to look for a serial number and see what I can find out. I looked for a date somewhere on the piano but couldn’t find one. Thanks for the tip!
Bobetta says
Brave girl!! I had no idea you did it yourself. I hyperventilate at the thought. The other one I saw done, they hired some painting crew to do it. I definately want to do it some day.
Leigh Anne says
It was so much easier than I thought it would be. Using chalk paint really simplifies the process.
Patti says
Love your piano transformation and the sneak peek of your living room…they are beautiful! I’m wanting to try some chalk paint, in the photos is the first coat we see in the photos the same color as the finished piano. It almost looks white? Thanks for sharing, love your blog.
Leigh Anne says
Patti, Yes the first coat is the finished color. I used the same paint for all three coats. It just looks lighter because of the dark wood showing through and part of it might be the angle of the camera too, more light.
Barb McC says
Leigh Anne, this is simply awesome! I’m not familiar with chalk paint. Would you explain a little about it? What can it be used on? And how is it that you don’t have to do any prep? Will it adhere to any surface – paint? varnish? plastic? laminate?
Leigh Anne says
It is amazing! You paint directly on your surface, no prep, no prime, no sand!. I have used it over varnish, stain and paint but not plastic or laminate so not sure about those two. here is the website that has lots of great info: http://www.anniesloan.com/ I would google and see if there is someone in your area that sells it and they should be really helpful to answer your questions.