Have you got a hallway cabinet that’s looking a bit lackluster? Want to spruce it up and add some personality to your hallway? This DIY painted hallway cabinet is just the project for you! With these furniture makeover ideas, you can create a beautiful and personalized statement piece for your home.

Say goodbye to boring hallway furniture and hello to a stylish and unique piece that will brighten up your space!

Photo of Hallway Cabinet before the makeover

I stumbled upon this hallway cabinet at a cheap estate sale and couldn’t resist its potential. The tan marble slab on top wasn’t my favorite, so I decided to remove it and give the piece a complete makeover.

Hallway cabinets provide valuable storage space and add a touch of style to your hallway. But don’t settle for a plain cabinet – let’s add some personality and flair to it with this fun DIY project!

With a few simple steps, I transformed this cabinet into a stunning addition to my hallway.

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for DIY Painted Hallway Cabinet

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Electric Screwdriver
Krud Kutter
Sandpaper
Milk Paint (Chesterfield Blue and Silhouette Black)
Zibra Round Brush
Jigsaw
3/8″ Plywood
Vacuum
Tack Cloth
Real Milk Paint Wax
Old English

Prepare Hallway Cabinet

First, remove all the knobs on the doors of your hallway cabinet with an electric screwdriver. This will make it easier to paint and clean the cabinet.

Next, use Krud Kutter to thoroughly clean the surface of the wood. Cleaning furniture before painting will remove any grease or oils that may prevent the paint from adhering properly.

photo of cleaning cabinet with krud kutter

Since we want a chippy look for our painted hallway cabinet, there’s no need to sand before painting.

However, if you prefer a smoother finish, you can lightly sand the surface with a fine-grit sandpaper. Make sure to clean off any dust before proceeding.

Check out our guide on how to prepare furniture for painting for more tips and tricks!

Mix Milk Paint

Now it’s time to mix milk paint! I used a mix of Chesterfield Blue and Silhouette Black milk paints from Rove and Dwell (previously Old Barn Milk Paint) – around 3 parts Chesterfield to 1 part Silhouette.

They have a great selection of colors to choose from – you can also get creative and mix your own custom shade. We have a post on mixing milk paint colors if you need some inspiration!

Once you’ve chosen your colors, start by mixing them together first until they’re well blended.

Then, add an equal amount of water and continue mixing until smooth. Let the paint sit for around 15 minutes to thicken up before using.

Paint Hallway Cabinet

I began painting the hallway cabinet in smooth strokes using a Zibra round brush. The milk paint went on easily and had a nice consistency, making it simple to get an even coat.

photo of applying milk paint onto furniture using Zibra paint brush

Don’t worry about perfection – the slightly chipped look is part of the charm! If you’re new to painting furniture with milk paint, check out our post for more tips and tricks.

After one coat of paint, I let it dry for around 1 hour before applying a second coat. If you want a more distressed look, one coat may be enough, but I wanted to deepen the color and add some texture.

I did leave the shelves and the inside of the cabinet unpainted, as I like the wood look and it adds some contrast to the piece. But feel free to paint those areas if you prefer a more cohesive look!

Replace Cabinet Top

As mentioned above, I removed the top from this hallway cabinet, so I needed to replace it.

I traced the outline of the old marble top onto a piece of 3/8″ plywood, then cut out the shape with a jigsaw. I painted the plywood top with the same color of milk paint as the rest of the cabinet.

Then, I lightly sanded the paint with a fine-grit sandpaper to give it a smooth finish and help bring out any chipping or texture. Unfortunately, the paint didn’t chip as much as I wanted.

Anyway, I removed the dust that was created from the sanding with a vacuum and tack cloth before moving on.

Seal Milk Painted Hallway Cabinet

To seal my milk painted hallway cabinet, I used furniture wax. This not only helps protect the paint from chipping and damage but also gives it a subtle sheen and brings out the color.

Here’s our post on sealing painted furniture to learn more about how to properly seal painted furniture.

photo of applying furniture wax to seal paint

I prefer using Real Milk Paint wax as it’s all-natural and easy to apply. Alternatively, you can use other topcoats for painting furniture such as water-based polyurethane.

After I sealed the painted cabinet with wax, I wanted to give the shelves some extra love. Since I left them as is without painting, they were looking a bit worn and dull.

I used Old English on them – an oil that helps darken scratches and imperfections to blend in with the rest of the wood’s stain. This simple step gave my shelves a fresh look.

photo of old english polish to give shelves a fresh look

Finally, I put the old hardware back on the cabinet doors. I didn’t want to replace them as they had a unique vintage feel that added character to the piece.

If you prefer, you can switch out the hardware for something new and modern. Here’s how to change hardware on furniture if you need some guidance.

close-up photo of DIY Painted Hallway Cabinet

full view photo of DIY Painted Hallway Cabinet

More Before And After Makeovers

Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.

Will a chippy look affect the durability of painted furniture?

Some people may worry that the chippy look of painted furniture will affect its durability. However, this is not necessarily the case.

The chipping effect is actually a desired aesthetic and does not impact the structural integrity of the piece.

In fact, milk paint is known for its strong adhesion and durability, making it a great choice for painting furniture.

If you want maximum durability, then you should seal the milk painted piece with a topcoat. This will help protect the paint and prevent further chipping.

A chippy look with milk paint can add character and charm to your painted furniture without sacrificing quality or durability.

And there you have it – a beautiful and unique DIY painted hallway cabinet! You don’t need to settle for boring hallway furniture when you can easily transform it into a statement piece.

And you can definitely make this makeover reflect your personal style by choosing different colors and finishes.