Stunning DIY Furniture Painting Ideas in 2024

Looking for ways to breathe new life into your old furniture at home? Instead of throwing away furniture that has seen better days, consider upcycling it with a fresh coat of paint. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it’s also eco-friendly. In this post, I’m sharing some of the most stunning DIY furniture painting ideas that’ll help you transform your old pieces into trendy new items.

I love painting old furniture to give it a brand new look. It’s cost-effective, ultra satisfying, and there are so many options for a variety of different decor styles. I’ll often use leftover paint from other projects for my furniture makeovers, so it’s also a great way to use up paint that might otherwise be wasted. Here are some fun ways that you can transform furniture with paint, and I’ll link to all the furniture idea tutorials too. Let’s go!

Bold and colorful

One of the simplest ways to make your furniture stand out and look stunning is to add a pop of color to it. Whether you want to stick with a deep jewel tone like navy or go all out with bright colors, this trend is all about making a statement. For instance, consider painting your old chairs, bookshelves, or cabinets in bold primary colors like red, blue, and green. A colorful piece of furniture mixed with neutral decor pieces is a fun statement.

The cabinet above was an old IKEA sideboard I’ve had for many years, and giving it a fresh coat of paint in a beautiful green colour gave it a whole new life. One of my favourite paint colors is Laurel Leaf by Behr, and I had just enough leftover paint to makeover this cabinet! I also added some pole wrap to give the doors texture, applied some patterned peel & stick drawer liner inside the drawers, and installed some new hardware. I recommend taking out all the drawers and taking off the doors before you paint your piece. See all my IKEA furniture painting tips here.

Two-tone bliss

Another popular trend in the DIY furniture painting world is the two-tone trend. This technique involves painting two sections of the furniture piece in different colors. For instance, painting the legs and the top of a chair in different colors is a surefire way to create a stunning and unique design. Similarly, you can create a two-tone effect on dressers, coffee tables, and bookshelves.

My neighbour gave me the old chair above, and I painted the bottom of the legs with metallic gold spray paint. After that, I taped off the legs and painted the top of the chair with turquoise chalk paint. I love this look; it’s so unique!

Ombré delight

If you’re someone who loves the gradient effect, then you’ll fall in love with the ombré trend! This effect involves blending different shades of the same color or combining two or three complementary colors to create a smooth and seamless transition between them. To achieve this look, you’ll need to apply a base color, then add layers of paint in progressively lighter or darker hues until you reach the desired effect. Ombré works particularly well on dressers, bookshelves, doors, and cabinets.

For the door upcycle above, I used spray paint in a turquoise colour to spray the bottom half of the door. Then, I used yellow spray paint to paint the top half. Lightly spraying the yellow paint over the blue paint in the middle section created the ombré look. See how I transformed an old door into a plant stand here.

Distressed and fabulous

This trend has been around for a while now and still remains a crowd favorite. The distressed technique involves giving your furniture an aged look by painting it with chalk paint and sanding down the edges. Little nicks, scratches, and brush strokes are all a part of this more rustic look. This furniture painting technique works well on vintage-style wood furniture, including wooden chairs, headboards, and coffee tables. My current favourite chalk style paint is this one right here.

I found the cabinet above at a clearance sale. I didn’t like the colour, but I loved the shape! Using some chalk style paint, I gave it a makeover in only a few hours. After painting it, I distressed the edges of the piece and the corners of the drawer fronts with sandpaper. It looks like an antique piece of furniture, but I paid less than $100 for it! See how I made over this cabinet here.

Metallic makeover

If you’re someone who loves the glitter and glamor, then you’ll fall in love with this trend. The metallic trend involves painting your furniture with a metallic gold or rose gold paint. Whether you want to paint the chair’s legs, handles, or the entire thing, you can be sure that your piece of furniture will look like a million bucks. This trend works well on chairs, stools, and side tables.

If you’re starting with a glossy finished piece, I recommend using a spray paint primer before your metallic spray paint. This will help your paint stick for a more durable finish. Get all my furniture spray painting tips right here.

I hope you enjoyed these DIY furniture painting ideas & inspirations! Transforming your old pieces of furniture into stunning new designs is as easy as picking up a paintbrush and getting creative. Whether you want your furniture to stand out or blend in with your décor, the possibilities are endless. From two-tone designs to ombré masterpieces, there’s something for everyone! I hope you’re inspired to give your old furniture a new lease on life with a fresh coat of paint, and see how stunning it can look in your home!