Hi there! I’m Courtney, Melissa’s daughter. Recently we shared a tour of the lower level apartment I lived in at my parents’ house for about a year. In that post I mentioned painting the wood armoire in the room and promised to share more details — so here they are.
This is the armoire before I painted it. My grandma bought it many years ago — it’s likely over 40 years old and has held up beautifully. My parents had it in their bedroom at the old house, and when we moved to our Seattle home it became part of the basement apartment where I used it as a closet. It was nice as-is, but I’ve always loved the look of painted antique armoires and kept picturing how it would look refreshed with paint.
I wanted a simple paint option that required minimal prep, so I chose Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in the Marzipan shade — an off-white with a warm almond tone. For larger pieces you may need more than a single quart; I used two one-quart bags to finish this armoire.
We used the same type of paint on our bathroom vanity in a different project. Milk paint offers great coverage and a vintage look without complicated steps, which makes it ideal for furniture makeovers.
Here’s the after — the power of paint is amazing.
I’m thrilled with the result. The paint highlighted the armoire’s details and gave it a fresh, timeless feel.
Because I used milk paint, the prep was minimal. I removed the hardware and gave the piece a quick dusting, but I didn’t sand. If your piece has a very glossy finish, sanding or using a bonding agent is a good idea; we used a bonding agent on our bathroom vanity. For this armoire, the milk paint adhered well without additional preparation.
- Follow basic surface prep recommendations for the best results with milk paint.
- Consult manufacturer guidance for mixing, color options, and finish techniques.
I applied multiple coats to achieve the coverage I wanted. This paint is forgiving, so even if you’re new to DIY furniture painting you can get professional-looking results with patience and a few light coats.
I also replaced the original hardware with inexpensive glass knobs to complement the new finish and enhance the vintage vibe.
Take another look at the before and after — small changes like paint can completely transform a piece.
I hope this inspires you to refresh a piece of furniture in your home. If you try a paint makeover, I’d love to see it — share photos in our Facebook community group or tag @theinspiredroom on Instagram so we can admire your work.
Want to see more of this room? Click through to the basement apartment tour to view the full space and see how the armoire fits into the room.
Since moving out of my family’s house, I’ve been sharing updates from my new apartment in Bellingham on Instagram. Feel free to follow along to see more small-space decorating and styling ideas.
More paint makeover inspiration:
Explore other projects that demonstrate how paint can transform a home, including fireplace and nightstand makeovers, kitchen updates, and whole-room color changes. Small updates like paint and new hardware can dramatically refresh your space without a major renovation.
Simple paint projects have transformed much of our house; a little color and creativity go a long way toward creating a cozy, personal home.