Hi — I’m Courtney, Melissa’s daughter. Recently I shared a tour of the lower-level apartment I lived in at my parents’ house for about a year. If you missed that post, you can find the full tour on the blog. In that update I mentioned painting the wood armoire in my room, and today I want to share the full before-and-after and the simple process I used.
This antique armoire belonged to my grandmother and has been in the family for decades. It likely dates back more than 40 years and has held up remarkably well. When we moved into our Seattle home it ended up in my bedroom and served as my closet while I lived with my family. It was lovely as it was, but I couldn’t stop picturing how beautiful it would look painted.
For an easy, low-prep refresh I chose Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in the color Marzipan, an off-white with an almond tone. I liked that this paint requires minimal surface prep and has a durable, attractive finish. For larger pieces you may need more than one quart; I ended up using two one-quart bags to complete this armoire.
We used the same milk paint for our bathroom vanity in another project, and it held up well. If a surface is very glossy you might want to sand lightly or add a bonding agent to improve adhesion. For this armoire, a quick dusting and removing the hardware was enough — I didn’t sand or use bonding agent, and the paint adhered nicely.
And here’s the after — the difference paint makes is amazing.
I’m thrilled with the result. The paint highlighted the armoire’s carved details and gave the piece a fresh, timeless look while preserving its character.
My process was straightforward: remove the hardware, clean and dust the surface, then apply multiple thin coats of milk paint until I achieved the coverage I wanted. Milk paint is very forgiving, so it’s a great option for beginners. I applied several coats to get an even, opaque finish and to bring out the molding and trim details without obscuring them.
I also replaced the original pulls with inexpensive glass knobs to update the look and add a little sparkle. The new hardware complements the light paint color and keeps the piece feeling classic and airy.
Here’s one more before-and-after for comparison — it’s always satisfying to see a tired piece refreshed with a relatively small investment of time and materials.
I hope this project inspires you to refresh a piece in your own home. Painting furniture is an approachable way to renew beloved pieces, update a room, and express your style without a major investment.
If you try a paint makeover, I’d love to see it. Share your photos in our Facebook community group or tag @theinspiredroom on Instagram so we can admire your work.
Want to see more of this room? You can take a full tour of my former basement apartment on the blog.
Since moving out I’ve also been sharing photos of my new apartment in Bellingham on Instagram. Feel free to follow along to see more small-space updates and decor ideas.
More paint makeover inspiration:
Our stone fireplace makeover shows how paint can transform masonry from dated to fresh and modern. A painted nightstand before-and-after is another simple example of how small pieces can have big impact. Throughout our home you’ll find many examples of how strategic paint choices and small updates have refreshed rooms and given them a cohesive, lived-in look.
Simple paint projects—from kitchen updates to furniture makeovers—are some of the most cost-effective ways to reinvent a space. If you’re considering a refresh, start with one piece and let the result inspire the next project.