Welcome to our tutorial on how to create a stunning DIY sideboard buffet using homemade chalk paint! If you’re looking for some creative chalk paint furniture ideas and want to add a unique touch to your home, then this is for you!

We’re adding a little extra flair with some raised stenciling, too, and if you haven’t tried this technique before, don’t worry – we’ll walk you through every step. So, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to take your DIY game to the next level, keep reading!

Welcome to Furniture Fixer Upper day, where we join 4 of our talented furniture friends and bring you brand new makeovers! I’ll link to my friend’s makeovers after our after photos at the bottom of this post! Don’t forget to check out their masterpieces!! Okay, back to our makeover!

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Who doesn’t love a little extra storage space? We sure do, and old furniture can be easily repurposed to help with that. And you can make any piece not only functional but also stylish with the right materials and techniques.

We’ll be using chalk paint for this project, and we’ll be creating our own using simple ingredients. It’s a budget friendly option, and you can customize the color to fit your home decor perfectly. Not to mention, it’s easy to make and use, even for beginners!

But we’re not stopping at just painting this DIY sideboard buffet. We’ll also be using a raised stenciling technique to add some texture and dimension to it. It’s a simple yet effective way to make your piece stand out and add a personal touch.

Supplies Used for DIY Sideboard Buffet

Electric Screwdriver
Krud Kutter
Bondo Wood Filler
Dewalt Orbital Sander
220 Grit Diablo Sanding Discs
220 Grit Sandpaper
Pre-Taped Plastic and Painters Tape
Clear Shellac
Behr Pure White Latex Paint
Calcium Carbonate Powder
Paint Sprayer
Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane in Satin
Drill
New Drawer Pulls/Handles
Round Floral Stencil
Elmer’s Natural Color Wood Filler
Brown Paint
Small Artist Brush

Prep Sideboard Buffet for DIY Makeover

First, we took the hardware and doors off to give us easier access for the makeover. Next, we gave the whole piece a good cleaning using our go-to Krud Kutter. Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean furniture before painting!

After that, we used Bondo wood filler to fill in the hardware holes and flower details on the doors we didn’t really like. We then sanded them down smooth with our Dewalt Orbital Sander and 220 grit Diablo sanding discs. Our Bondo Wood Filler review, which includes our thoughts on the product, can guide you through the process of using it.

flower details and hardware holes after sanding

We hand sanded the rest of the piece using 220 grit sandpaper, just enough to scuff up the surface and improve the adhesion of the new coat and color. Once we were satisfied with the prep work, we cleaned off any dust with a vacuum and damp rag before moving on to the next step.

Apply Primer to Prevent Bleedthrough

We wanted to make sure our final piece looked flawless, so we took the extra step of applying a primer. This not only helped with adhesion but also prevented any potential bleedthrough issues.

But before that, we taped off the inside of the drawers with pre-taped plastic and painters tape to protect them from overspray. We then took the piece out to the backyard, laid down some plastic on the ground, and propped it up on 5-gallon buckets to make it easier to work on.

Once we had everything set up, we grabbed our clear shellac spray and coated the entire piece with two coats, letting the shellac dry between coats of course. Shellac is one of the best primer for chalk paint options, and it dries quickly. Plus, using a spray made the process even faster and more efficient.

Check out how to stop stains from coming through paint here to also learn more on how to use clear shellac to prevent bleed through.

Paint and Distress DIY Sideboard Buffet

We were so excited to finally start adding some color! But first, we mixed up Behr pure white latex paint and calcium carbonate powder, following our homemade chalk paint recipe.

We chose a white paint color because we wanted a fresh and clean look, but you can use any color that you want! Then, we poured the mixture into our Wagner sprayer (This was an older project, but now we would actually recommend the Vonforn or FLEXiO 3500, too!)

Since we were painting white over dark wood, it took us about 4-5 coats to get the coverage we wanted. We made sure to do thin and even coats, using long, steady strokes. If you’re new to using a HVLP paint gun, here’s how to use a paint sprayer. And check out our recommendations for the best paint sprayers for beginners here!

spraying white coating onto wood furniture

After everything was dry, we were ready to do some distressing for that worn look. We lightly sanded the edges of the details and the trim using 220 grit sandpaper. You can learn more ways how to distress chalk paint in this post!

Once we were happy with the level of distressing, we cleaned off the dust. We want the piece clean before adding a topcoat – here’s how to clean wood after sanding for more tips.

Seal with Topcoat and Add New Hardware

To protect our hard work, we sealed it with another go-to product – Varathane waterbased polyurethane in satin. We chose this because it provides a durable and smooth finish while also adding a slight sheen to the piece. It also creates a protective surface that makes the piece easier to clean and maintain.

We applied three coats with the sprayer, making sure to wait for each coat to dry before applying the next one. After the final coat, we let the surface of our new piece cure for at least 24 hours before handling or moving it.

Then, we drilled new holes for the new drawer pulls and attached them. This simple switch of hardware can make a huge difference in the overall look and feel of furniture. You can learn more about how to change hardware on a dresser in this post.

Sale

Vonforn Paint Sprayer

Country Chic Paint in Peacoat Blue

Sale

Varathane Water Based Polyurethane

Add Stencil to DIY Sideboard Buffet

But we weren’t quite done with this piece yet…there were these empty squares on the doors after I filled in the details that we didn’t really like the look of. So, we decided to add a little something extra with a round floral stencil that we had on hand.

We carefully placed the design onto the surface and spread Elmer’s natural color wood filler over it, creating a raised stencil effect. After letting it dry, we realized that we didn’t like the natural wood look since we were going to distress it.

adding round floral stencil to doors on furniture

So, we lined up the stencil again and applied brown paint over the wood filler to match the dresser’s original dark stain. Then, we went in with a small artist brush to hand paint the raised flowers. We let everything dry before distressing and adding a topcoat to match the rest of the piece.

And our DIY sideboard buffet transformation was complete! The new white color plus the beautiful subtle detail brought this piece new life and charm. Yes, you can also get creative and try new techniques, like stenciling or changing hardware to make the furniture your own.

More Before and After Makeovers

See All >

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

Painting Mahogany Furniture with Chalk Paint

Dark Green Buffet Makeover

two Ethan Allen chests of drawers in a natural wood finish before makeover

DIY Card Catalog Dresser Makeover

How to get the stained leg farmhouse style look on your thrifted painted furniture finds. Leave the legs raw wood, or stain the wood legs after you sand or strip them down on your old vintage furniture makeover. These are the best ways to get this farmhouse / shabby chic look on your DIY painted bedroom furniture.

Chalk Painted Desk

close up view of distressed finish and stenciling

full view of white piece after the makover

Don’t forget to check out these other awesome before and after furniture makeovers from my Furniture friends!! (Click the links below the photos!)

collage of wooden furniture before makeovers

Antique Estate Sale Dresser from Confessions of a Serial DIYer
Accent Table Makeover from Petticoat Junktion
Chest Of Drawers Makeover from Salvaged Inspirations
Waterfall Dresser Makeover from My Repurposed Life