How I Got the Courage to Paint My Piano and You Can, Too!

Hi guys! Today I'm going to share with you the story of a girl with a piano ... and a dream.  Years ago when our neighbors were moving, they came to us and asked if we wanted a piano.  For free.  Seriously.  They didn't want to haul the piano with them to their new house, and, because it had been in his family for generations, he wanted another family with kids to have it and appreciate it.  We obviously jumped at the chance to own a beautiful old piano  and called several strong men to come help us transfer the piano from their house to ours.  Immediately.  Before they could change their minds.

I have to tell you, at this point it wasn't much to look at.  It had a few broken keys, some badly damaged corners, and needed a serious tuning.  My husband was doubtful about taking on such a big project, but I saw its potential and I clung to my dream of fixing that old piano up.  I mean, you don't look a gift piano in the mouth, right?!  But you might let said gift piano sit for a few years in its ugliness because you are paralyzed by fear.

I knew I wanted to paint it.  Without a doubt.  But I was scared.  It seemed like a TON of work and what if I messed it up?  And, for that matter, what color should I paint it anyway?  It was a job that I was only going to do ONCE if I ever got up the courage to do it, so I had to get it right.  I read everything I could find on the internet about painting a piano.  I pinned every image of painted pianos on Pinterest -- like, literally every single one.  At first I was set on having a turquoise piano, but finally talked myself into creamy white.  White is classic and goes with everything.  Last summer I just decided to do it already, and {spoiler alert!} I am thrilled with the results!

So, this post is less of a tutorial on how to paint a piano, and more a pep talk for actually painting your piano.  Because YOU CAN DO IT!  Yeah, it takes some elbow grease and time, but you can do it.  Fairly easily.  And you won't regret it ... in the end.  I had my doubts along the way -- and probably so will you -- but if you stick with it, it will really come together.  

In my infinite lack of wisdom, I didn't take a before picture.  I tend to mull ideas to death for months, but when I make a decision I strike while the iron is hot.  I just jump into projects, on a whim, on a Tuesday afternoon, without warning.  I did post this photo to instagram after I had the ancient shellac stripped off:

I had decided to use BB Frosh chalk paint powder and a Benjamin Moore paint called String of Pearls.  I know they say you don't have to sand or strip the original finish first, but my piano was so old and so dirty, I thought it was probably best.  I used a natural product called Citristrip and it worked like a charm.  I repaired the damaged edges and corners by using a wood putty to build it back up and then sanded it smooth.  I decided to leave some of the dings on the edge of the bench because It gave it character.  This whole process took me a couple of days, working a few minutes at a time when I got a chance.  

When I finally got around to painting, I was very, very excited!  This was finally my moment.  All my piano-oriented dreams were coming true.  And then I got half way done with the first coat ... and I hated it.  It wasn't looking at all like I had imagined and I just wanted to quit and roll that old piano to the dump.  After allowing me to shed a few tears over it, my husband encouraged me to "just finish it for goodness' sake". {Or something similar, but slightly more colorful.}  I had so much invested in it already and very little to lose.  Sometimes my husband is a genius like that.  Because once I was done with the 2 and a half-ish coats of paint and the whole thing was creamy white, I kinda' started to like it.  

It wasn't until I sanded the edges to give it a little distressed finish that I fell in love with that old piano.  I mean, check it out:

It brought out all the beautiful lines and details.  After sanding and waxing, the finish was buttery soft and PERFECT!

The white of the piano is a little bit different than the walls -- a couple shades more toward the cream side.  I love how this giant beast of an upright piano doesn't feel quite so heavy and imposing now.

{Please excuse the second bad Instagram photo -- it was the only one I had from the same angle as the first.} Here's a close-up of one of the worst damaged corners I had to repair.  It was missing a hunk of wood right along the front edge.  After building it back up with putty, you almost can't even tell it was damaged.

I am thrilled with the results.  You will be, too.  The moral of this story is that you can paint your piano.  You can.  Even if you don't think you know how.  Even if you're overwhelmed.  You can do it.  And if you've always dreamed of a painted piano, you should do it.  No regrets!

So, tell me.  What big project do you have in the works?  Share links so we can check them out!!

Have a great day, friends!

Amy