Painting A Buffet
A buffet is a versatile piece of furniture that can add both style and functionality to any room. But sometimes, a plain and outdated buffet can make the whole space look dull and uninviting. Luckily, painting a buffet is an easy and budget friendly way to make it look brand new and fit your home decor.
Here’s one of the chalk paint furniture ideas that will surely transform your buffet into a statement piece. Let’s get started on this fun DIY project!
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See more AFTER photos below these printable instructions!
Painting A Buffet
Give your buffet a stylish makeover with a fresh coat of paint and transform it into a modern, personalized statement for your home decor.
Materials
- Krud Kutter
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- 220 Grit Sanding Screens (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)
- Painter's Tape
- Vaseline
- Bondo
- Tack Cloth
- Clear Shellac
- Behr paint in color Heavy Cream
- Calcium Carbonate Powder
- Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Stain
- Lint Free Rag
- Varathane Polyurethane
- New Cup Pull Hardware and Knobs from D Lawless Hardware
Tools
Instructions
- First, prep the buffet by removing all the hardware and giving it a good cleaning with Krud Kutter for a smooth surface for the new paint to adhere to.
- Then, sand the buffet with 220 grit sandpaper to create a rougher surface for better paint adhesion. For the top, sand down to bare wood with SurfPrep 3x4 sander and 220 grit sanding screens to make it ready for staining. Don't forget to clean up the dust from sanding. To prevent any paint from getting on the top, tape off the top as well.
- Repair any broken areas on the buffet using hot glue, Vaseline Bondo for a seamless fix. Make a mold with hot glue, apply Bondo to the damaged area, and place the mold on top until the Bondo sets. Then shape and smooth it out for a flawless surface.
- Prime the buffet with 2 coats of clear shellac, allowing each coat to dry in between. This will help seal and protect the wood from stains or discoloration.
- Mix your own chalk paint using latex paint, calcium carbonate powder, and water, following our homemade chalk paint recipe. Spray on 2 coats for full coverage using a Vonforn Paint Sprayer. Let the first coat dry before adding the second one.
- For some added character, lightly distress the edges with 220 grit sandpaper once the final coat of paint is dry for a vintage, shabby chic look.
- Remove the tape and plastic cover from the top and apply Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Stain with a foam brush, following the direction of the wood grain. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before wiping off excess with a lint free rag. Add another coat for a darker finish if desired. Let the stain dry for at least 24 hours.
- Spray on 3 coats of Varathane poly all over the buffet and its stained top for added protection and a beautiful sheen. Make sure to cover every inch with thin, even layers and allow each coat to dry before applying the next one. Let it cure for at least 24 hours.
- Finally, complete the transformation by adding new hardware like cup pulls and knobs for a modern farmhouse look. And now your painted buffet is ready to shine in any dining room or kitchen space!
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More Before and After Makeovers
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Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.
Paint can completely change the look and feel of an old buffet. With just a few coats of paint, you can take a tired and outdated piece of furniture and give it a fresh, modern update. Plus, it’s a great way to incorporate your personal style into your home decor.
Not only does painting your buffet add aesthetic value, but it also helps protect the wood from wear and tear. The right type of paint can create a durable finish that will stand up to everyday use. This means your buffet will not only look great but also last longer.
So if you have an old buffet that doesn’t quite match your current style or needs a little love, painting it is the perfect solution. And you don’t need to be an expert to create stunning results! We’ll show you all the steps and tips to make your buffet painting project a success.
Supplies Used for Painting Buffet
- Electric Screwdriver
- Drill
- Krud Kutter
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- SurfPrep 3×4 Sander (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)
- 220 Grit Sanding Screens (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)
- Painter’s Tape
- Vaseline
- Hot Glue
- Bondo
- Tack Cloth
- Clear Shellac
- Behr Paint in Heavy Cream
- Calcium Carbonate Powder
- Vonforn Paint Sprayer
- Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Stain
- Varathane Polyurethane
- New Cup Pull Hardware and Knobs from D Lawless Hardware
Cleaning Buffet for New Paint
Like we always do, we removed all the hardware from the buffet. This makes it easier to clean and paint without any obstructions. We also took measurements and drilled new holes for the new hardware we plan on putting on after painting.
Next, we used Krud Kutter to clean the entire buffet thoroughly. We made sure to wipe down every surface and even the inside drawers and cabinets. This is important to get rid of any dirt, grease, or grime that could affect the adhesion of our paint. For a more detailed guide on cleaning furniture here’s how to clean furniture before painting.
Sanding Buffet and Top
Then, we moved on to sanding the buffet and top. We scuff sanded everywhere with 220 grit sandpaper to create a rougher surface that will help the paint adhere better as well.
For the buffet top, we completely removed the old finish and get down to bare wood using our SurfPrep 3×4 sander and 220 grit sanding screens. Then we made sure to tape off the top to prevent any paint from getting on it, since we planned to stain it later.
Repairing Broken Buffet Trim
We noticed that a piece of trim on the bottom of our buffet was broken, and we knew we had to fix it before painting. We started by making a hot glue mold with the same details as the damaged area. Before applying the hot glue, we made sure to rub Vaseline on the damaged area to make it easier to remove once the glue had cooled down.
We made a mold that was slightly bigger than the damaged area for better coverage. After allowing the hot glue mold to cool completely, we gently removed it and rubbed more Vaseline on the inside.
Next, we mixed Bondo and spread it all over the damaged area, then quickly placed the hot glue mold on top of it and held it in place until the Bondo started to set. Once the mold was removed, we scraped off any excess Bondo before smoothing and shaping it for a seamless repair.
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Then we cleaned up the dust from sanding the Bondo with a tack cloth. Here’s how to fix a chipped wood corner for more detailed instructions to guide you with this step if you have a similar repair to make on your buffet.
Priming Buffet Before Painting
It was finally time to start priming! We sprayed 2 coats of clear shellac on the buffet, while letting each coat dry for at least an hour in between coats. The shellac helps to seal the wood and create a layer of protection against any stains or discoloration. Here’s more on how to stop stains from coming through paint, including priming with clear shellac like we did.
Painting Buffet with Homemade Chalk Paint
For painting the buffet, we used our own chalk paint – we mixed Behr paint in the color “Heavy Cream” with calcium carbonate powder and water, following our trusted homemade chalk paint recipe here.
With our Vonforn Paint Sprayer, we sprayed the chalk paint onto the buffet, applying 2 coats for full coverage. We let the first coat dry before adding the second one. And after the last coat dried, we lightly distressed the edges with 220 grit sandpaper for a vintage, shabby chic look.
The paint and process are similar to what we did in this tutorial on how to chalk paint furniture white, so check it out, too, to see how that turned out.
Staining Buffet Top
Then we moved to the top of the buffet, which we had taped off before painting. We removed the tape and plastic cover and were glad to see that there were no paint speckles or overspray on the top.
We applied Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Stain on the top using a cheap foam brush, following the direction of the wood grain, and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. The longer you leave the stain on, the darker it will get. Here’s how to stain wood darker for a more detailed guide on staining wood darker.
After letting the stain sit, we wiped off the excess with a lint free rag. You can add another coat if you want a darker, richer finish. Let the stain dry for at least 24 hours before moving on to the next step. Check out how to restain a coffee table here where we used Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Stain too.
Applying Topcoat on Buffet
After everything had dried, we applied 3 coats of Varathane polyurethane all over the buffet and its stained top. This topcoat adds a protective layer over the paint and stain so that the buffet can withstand daily use and wear.
Not to mention, it adds a beautiful sheen to the furniture, making it look more polished and professional. Here’s our list of the best topcoat for chalk paint for more topcoat options for chalk painted furniture.
With the same Vonforn sprayer, we sprayed the topcoat in thin, even layers, making sure to cover every inch of the buffet. We waited for each coat to dry before applying the next one, and after the final coat, we let it cure for at least 24 hours.
If you wondered, can you use a paint sprayer for polyurethane? Yes, you can, and you can check out this post for more tips!
And for the finishing touches, we added our new hardware to the buffet. These cup pulls and knobs from D Lawless Hardware gave the buffet a modern farmhouse look, completing the transformation.
And this buffet is now ready to be the centerpiece in any dining room or kitchen! For similar makeovers, check out these painted sideboards ideas and chalk paint buffet ideas. Here’s another before and after buffet makeover you can do.
More Painted Furniture Makeovers
- Painting an Antique Buffet
- Painting a Buffet Cabinet
- $5 Yard Sale Buffet Makeover
- Painting A Bedroom Set
- Painting Furniture With Chalk Paint
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