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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!
OLGA says
Hi, I just found this on pintarest. I see you posted this a while ago. But, this exactly what I am looking for. I want to paint our piano mint green. I want to use chalk paint because of the not prep work. I just couldn’t figure out how to find the perfect color. And I don’t know if there is a missing step in your post. Did you do three layers of white and then on the provence?
Kindly advice. Thank you!
Leigh Anne says
I diluted the provence 1 part provence and 3 parts white.
Guylaine says
Hi ! What a surprise I had this morning, seeing your piano on Pinterest. We have the exacte same piano at home, the carving and everything. We are living way apart (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and have the same piano ! It came at my parent’s house when I was a little girl (early 70′) that same color that yours is today ! Under the paint we can see the dark brown color. When it was move to my own house we had it tuned et learned that it was built in 1918 but don’t remember where. So a century to celebrate soon ! Time to start to play again don’t you think ? Enjoy !
Leigh Anne says
How fun that we have the same piano. I agree that it is time to start playing again!!
Lenetta Carnes says
Curious. Does the chalkboard paint leave it feeling grainy like a chalkboard?
Leigh Anne says
not at all
Marcy says
How much paint did it take for you to do the piano and bench? I’m thinking of doing the same to our piano but I do not want to run out of paint. Thank you
Kerri says
My friend gave me a small upright piano – I’ve got it all taped off and ready to go, even added some wooden appliques. Sent my hubby to pick up the Annie Sloan paints for me… I’m so excited to do this! Thank you so much for the tutorial; it’s going to look fantastic!
Leigh Anne says
Have fun! I love my piano. What color are you painting it??