How To Paint a Piano & Add Shiplap…A Piano Makeover

How to paint a piano…and add shiplap!  A complete piano makeover you have to see to believe.  

How to Paint a Piano and Add Shiplap | Piano Makeover

So, I added shiplap to my piano. YES, I did! I have been wanting to paint my piano for a very long time.  Years, in fact.  I don’t know why I’ve hesitated, because normally I paint anything and everything I can get my hands on. I think a lot of it is due to the fact that the last couple of years we have been moving around a lot–three states in a two and a half years–and now that our new house will be finished in a few months, our temporary living situation will cease. Hallelujah! I haven’t been able to really do any projects or decorating for years, and I’m more than ready to start digging into my mile-long list so they’ll be ready when we move in. So…hold on…it’s going to be a crazy and fun tutorial on how to paint a piano!

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

Project #1?  The piano.  It’s one of the few things we kept out of storage. We might be sleeping on futons, and we don’t have a real kitchen table, but we have a piano! As a pianist, it was never really a question if it was coming with us or not, and now that my kids are playing too, we found the space. It’s actually the piano I learned to play on, and it has a lot of sentimental value.  It just needed major makeover–mostly because it just wasn’t my style, and the wood was an orange-y color that didn’t go with anything. So I decided to go all in–not just paint, but a update it with whole new look that would match our new farmhouse-style home. When I think farmhouse, I think of planked wood.  I’m kind of obsessed.  But really, how much more perfect can you get?  So, yes, I shiplapped my piano. And I LOVE it.

HOW TO PAINT A PIANO…AND ADD SHIPLAP!

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Yes, I can almost hear the gasps from some of you–she painted it, AND she nailed wood to it?  I would not do this to any collectible piano, a Steinway, or a piano that you aren’t sure about.  Because once start…you can’t go back.  However, I was sure, and I was ready to take the chance.  It didn’t affect the sound at all, and I took great care to not damage anything internally.  I took the panel off the front of the piano in order to add the wood planks, so the inside was always protected.  And let me just show you the before picture, and you’ll see how much of a difference it is!

PIANO MAKEOVER BEFORE

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

I changed the piano legs, added wood planks to the front panel, painted it with chalk paint, and added new hardware.  The result is a complete transformation, and I almost can’t believe it’s the same piano!

I highly recommend chalk paint when painting a piano.  You don’t have to move it from it’s current position–just move it away from the wall, put it up on wood blocks, and add a drop cloth.  It also requires no priming or sanding, which is HUGE.  My piano had a smooth, shiny surface, and  I would have been sanding for days and days to even get it close for a latex paint.  It dries quickly, and you can add a second coat in less than an hour.  I used Annie Sloan, Pure White. Another great option is to use BB Frosch Chalk Paint Powder.You can add it to any color latex paint, which just opens up the door if you’re looking for a specific color! 

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

The front panel flays flat, but it doesn’t cover the whole front of the piano.  That’s why the planking doesn’t go all the way to the edge of the piano–it still has to come off and on.  I removed the front panel, added the wood planks, and then put it back on.  I used 1×6 pieces of wood, so it sticks out about 3/4 of an inch.

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

I bought knobs at The Home Depot for around $3–what a bargain–and SO perfect!

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

After painting, I distressed a little bit before adding the wax.  I didn’t want it super distressed, but I loved the way the wood came through when I did.  It adds just a little more character and depth.

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

I bought knobs at The Home Depot for around $3--what a bargain--and SO perfect!  

Here’s how I did it…how to plank a piano!

 

SUPPLIES:

  • piano  :)
  • chalk paint 
  • wax brush
  • paint brush
  • chalk paint wax
  • painters tape (Frog tape)
  • lint-free cloths
  • 1×6 wood planks
  • wood glue
  • 1 1/4 inch nails
  • 200, 300, 400, and 600+ (optional) grit sandpaper

 

DIRECTIONS:

1.  Clean your piano well with a mild soap or good dusting–you don’t want any dust, stickiness, etc.  The paint will adhere much better.  One of the most important steps is to tape off the stuff you don’t want paint on.  I used Frog tape to cover the keyboard, trying to press it down as close to the keys and wood behind the keys as possible, so I could still paint behind there.  I also taped off the pedals.  That was all I needed to tape off, but look carefully at your piano, in case there’s something else.  I also removed the music holder, and painted it separately.

2.  I used Annie Sloan chalk paint (Pure White). I used a tiny brush for the corners, and inside the scrolls, but otherwise I used an Annie Sloan paint brush.  You don’t have to use hers, but it should be made of natural bristles.  I also love BB Frosch Chalk Paint Powder, which you can add to any color/brand paint, but I already had the Annie Sloan, so  I used it.  I did one coat of paint, then removed the front panel to add the wood planks.

2. I measured the panel, and it was 22 inches in height and 51 inches in length. I needed 3 of the 1×6 planks to fit the height, and then I had to cut the fourth plank to fit the remaining inches.  I put that at the top of the panel, because it would be hidden behind the scroll-y part of the piano underneath the keyboard. I only cut the planks to be 49 inches in length, because I wanted to leave a 1 inch space on each end. The edges of the planks were rough after being cut, and to cover them and give it a finished look, I added a 1 inch piece of wood on either end.

3.  Once the wood was cut, we used wood glue and nails to attach it to the panel. I used a nickel in between each plank to give it the right amount of space.  Clamps kept the wood pieces in place and secure while the wood glue dried.

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

4.  After the glue was dry, I slid the front panel back into place. At this point we also removed the legs and added the new ones, which we found at The Home Depot for around $15 each.  There was a scroll-y part on them that I didn’t like at all, but I was okay with it, because they would end up being cut off when we cut them to length.  All the rest of it I liked, and thought it was the perfect choice for this piano.  The legs are just screwed in, so it wasn’t hard to remove the old ones, and screw the new ones in.

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

5.  I painted an additional 2 coats of paint to get the coverage and look that I wanted, waiting until the paint was dry before adding the next one–usually 30-60 minutes.

6.  To achieve a smoother look, and minimize some of the brush lines, I used a 200 grit sandpaper, and then repeated the process with 300 grit. I also used the sandpaper to distress the edges and corners, and remove the paint in those areas.  If you want an even smoother look, you can use a 400 grit after that, and for no distressing and super smooth surface, a 600+ grit.  You’ll need at least 2-3 coats of paint to do that much sanding though, or it will come off.  Lightly sand–the chalk paint comes off very easily.  Once you’re finished sanding, wipe off all of the excess dust.

7. I used the chalk paint finishing wax by BB Frosch, and I ADORE it.  Like I would marry it if I could.  It goes on like butter.  Seriously, so easy to work with!  I used one whole container for my piano, which is a spinet, and it was just exactly enough. If you have an upright piano with a higher back, I would get two for sure.  You might even want to get two to be on the safe side. Use a large craft stick to apply a small amount of wax to your wax brush, then apply it evenly over the painted surface. You can also use a lint-free cloth to apply it Work with about 12-15 inches at a time, and then go back over that area with a lint-free cloth to remove the excess wax and buff it smooth.  It shouldn’t be tacky or sticky–buff it until it’s not.

8.  The last step was to add the hardware, which I found at The Home Depot for just a few dollars.  It was the perfect finish!

How to plank a piano & a chalk paint piano makeover | oldsaltfarm.com

Now I just sit back and stare at it all day long.  I find myself passing it, and stopping. All day long.

How to Paint a Piano and Add Shiplap | Piano Makeover

 

 


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21 Comments

  1. I have a spinet piano as well and we are living in temp housing while our house is getting built! Your situation sounds familiar. :) Love what you did with the piano!!!

    1. Yes, that certainly does sound familiar!! :) I hope you are close with your house…

  2. For those of you who don’t know Kierste, I wanted to let you know that she is an accomplished pianist among all of her many talents, so when she says it did not effect the sound of the piano, and the fact that she is happy with the results is something you can totally trust! It is beautiful Kierste – good job!

  3. Oh my goodness! You have just inspired me! (As always when I read your blog!) We inherited an old upright that even has ivory keys! It has become so scratched over the years and I hate to see such a gorgeous piano just fade away! I am going to try this! Thank you for sharing your amazing creativity and talent!
    How did you paint the cover that goes over the keys that slides in and out?

    1. Yay! You’ll have to send me the before and after pics, I would love to see them! For the part that slides in and out, I left it for last. I did all the coats with it slid back in, then I slid it out, and added three coats on that part. Same with the wax–I waxed with it in first, let that dry, then slid it back out and finished that part. I hope that made sense, lol.

    1. Thank you so much, Shannon! And yes, you need to find a piano! I’ve discovered that there are plenty of people out there wanting to get rid of their old pianos–either for free, or for a very reasonable price. Hope you find one you love!!

  4. I LOVE this. Seriously. If I could convince my husband to let us do this I would already be buying paint! But since our piano was his parents . . . alas. I would be staring at that piano all day too. So perfect!

    1. I totally understand. I was really nervous about telling my mom, but fortunately she loves it! I think if it wasn’t my parents, I Would feel the same way!!

  5. This is amazing! Simply beautiful. We’re in temp housing too waiting to close on a house and I want to paint my crib (it’s a “lovely” honey oak :). Would you recommend chalk paint? And would you have it assembled or disassembled? I was thinking disassembled but after reading this I wondered about putting it on wood blocks…..just so many slats to paint.

  6. Hi Kierste,

    My grandparents are giving me their piano next year but are concerned about me painting it since they are concerned it will cause the acoustics to be different. Did you notice anything afterward?

    thank you!

    1. Hi Courtney,

      I can totally understand their hesitation. There has been absolutely no difference in the sound or acoustics at all. Paint didn’t touch any of the internal parts of the piano at all, and I was really cautious when painting it. It’s been totally fine, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again! xoxo

  7. Great work! I just got a second hand console piano and want to do something similar, but I was wondering if you had reckon whether putting planks or a big panel on the back of an upright would be doable with nails and glue like you did for the front? My piano has the typical open unfinished cross-hatching type stuff on the back, but I am hoping to make the back of the piano flat so that it can be painted on and visually displayed as part of the piano being in the middle of the room. (An alternate option is to buy a fabric piano backing rather than add wood). Thanks!

    1. Hi, Julian! I wouldn’t add wood to the back or an upright—that’s where the sound comes out, and would greatly affect the sound and the piano. I would go for fabric!!

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