Painted Piano Ideas: Bright and Unusual Options and Suggestions

Have you ever wondered if an old rustic piano could be painted?

If you’re struggling to integrate your piano into your home décor, modify the style! It is absolutely not necessary to chuck your piano away. Rejuvenate it by painting and breath new life into it!

Painted piano ideas

Do you own an old piano that is in need of a refresh? If you’ve ever bought an old wooden piano or even inherited one, you know that while they’re at play, they also can be eye irritation. Let’s face it a massive beast is pretty difficult to hide in the room behind curtains. 

One of my most cherished memories from my childhood was having fun Christmas family celebrations, playing the piano, and singing together with the tribe. I’ve always envisioned having to have a grand piano in my house one day.

When I found a stunning black piano for sale at a reasonable price I purchased it there and then, pretty fast. It just needed some attention to make it come back to life, so I began exploring amazing ideas for painted pianos!

I comprehend that a painted piano might appear like a flimsy concept to professional musicians, however, you’ve got to admit that it’s a little tempting to have a fun piano that matches your interior design and makes a statement. 

IS PAINTING A PIANO A GOOD IDEA?

Can painting pianos ruin their sound? Painted pianos will not make a noticeable difference.

Providing that you don’t paint the soundboard piano tuners and piano players have stated that painting the exterior won’t cause the sound to alter.

WHAT KIND OF PAINT IS BEST TO USE ON THE PIANO?

Regular latex paint has many colours to choose from. Behr paint in the satin finish would be a great choice.

However, there are many great benefits of painting your piano with chalk paint, versus using latex paint, and here is why:

• As water-based paint, it’s very easy to wash. If you happen to get chalk paint in a location it’s not intended to be (like the piano key, hinge, or pedal) just rub it off using a damp cloth, and voila!
• It dries very fast, you would be able to do another coat in no time!
• It’s perfect for creating an old rusty look. Chalk paint is a great match for the style!
• You can mix colors or make use of colored waxes to create various beautiful paint effects!

• Fantastic matte finishes.
• Chalk paint has more dense consistency and is much less likely to drip than regular latex paint which is thinner.
• Chalk paint will stick to nearly anything, including metals, without primer and just one scuff of sand is required in the majority of cases.
• The chalk paint can easily hide the most grooved wood such as oak 
• Chalk paint contains zero or low VOC meaning the paint is very light in scent and is safe for your home environment.

WHAT TYPE OF CHALK PAINT DO I USE ON MY PIANO?

If you do decide to paint a piano, ensure that you make use of top-quality chalk paint.

Painting a piano with chalk is not a difficult job and top-quality chalk paint will have more the amount of pigment and will give you the greatest coverage for each layer of paint for your piano.

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PAINT A PIANO

If you decide to paint your piano with chalk or mineral paint, it’s your personal choice. Both options work efficiently.

This is what you need to buy for piano painting:

• Chalk Paint or Fusion Mineral Paint
• Paint Brush
• A couple of Painter’s tape rolls
• Final Wax (if you want to refinish using Chalk Paint)
• Sanding Block
• Dry sheet to clean after sanding
• An old sock or wax brush to apply wax
• A piece of cardboard can be used to paint the keys.
• Drop cloth
• Antique Glaze helps to age the piece (if you wish to)
• A gallon of paint with a satin-finish 
• Graco TrueCoat 360 Paint Sprayer*
• Sheeting of plastic (for covering the piano’s interior)
• 400-grit and 80-grit Sandpaper
• Primer

Note: You don’t require the use of a sprayer for this task. You are able to paint the piano yourself however, a sprayer allows the painting process faster and smoother results! If you’re using a sprayer, make sure to cover the area you’re working on with a suitable amount of overspray. Plastic sheets around area are pretty much must have.

HOW TO PAINT A PIANO?

Preparation stage – 1 hour

Actual Painting Time – 1,5 to 2 hours

The process of painting the piano is relatively simple however, it does take a bit of time to finish with some drying period between.

The most difficult place would be the area around the piano keys. Little tip: try to use a piece of cardboard to keep them in place while painting.

Although it isn’t necessary to pre-sand the surface, it would be a great idea to lightly scratch the surface.

DIRECTIONS TO PAINT A PIANO

• Take out all the hardware if you do not want the paint on it.
• Lift the bench off the floor so it’s easy to apply paint on the legs. Tip:  put legs on paint cans that are similar in dimensions.
• Sand lightly to remove any scuffs.
• Clean the entire piece with a dry cloth.
• Start painting! Let the section dry between coats.
• Once the piece is dry then open it to uncover the keys. Sand lightly to remove any marks that have drips or marks. Finish painting. 
• Paint the piano bench
• Let the paint dry for a couple of days. Then lightly sand it to give it an aged appearance.
• Clean the surface using an abrasive cloth or a dry rag.
• It is important that the piece be dry for at least 24hrs prior to lightly rubbing it with sandpaper to achieve the aged look.
• If you paint the piano using chalk paint, apply the finishing wax to protect it.

EQUIPMENT

• 4 Paint containers to lift the piano bench off the floor
• 1 Drop Cloth

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAINTING A PIANO

The most important aspect of this process is to tape your piano correctly so that none of its functional components parts are damaged throughout the painting. You should also contemplate tape sheeting of plastic on the inside parts of the piano when you are touching the outside or in some way.

Here’s a brief list of areas to think about the tape to shield the piano prior to painting

• Piano keys
• Pedals
• Mechanisms to open and close the piano
• Other metals for that music stand piece, that covers the keys, or in any other place
• Under it is the piano (between the keys and the base)
• The top of the piano
• We also took down the entire music stand and painted it in a separate manner.

This project is all about preparation. 

If your piano is made of finished wood, you’ll get the best results by sanding off the gloss away. Sand until smooth with 80-grit sandpaper. Always wipe down the piano to remove any remaining dust from the sanding.

Time to paint! Open and stir your can of paint. If using a spray gun, fill the paint gun according to the instructions that come with it. First, apply a thin coat. If using a spray gun, be sure to paint in one long motion for smooth, even skin on each part of the piano. 

If you have huge areas you aren’t able to reach using your paint gun, you’ll need to paint using an airbrush or roller. 

Let dry.

PAINTING PIANO USING A PAINT SPRAYER

Fill the paint gun. Start painting your very first very thin coat. If you are using a sprayer make sure you paint with one continuous motion to create a smooth, even coat on every part of your piano.

After drying you can lightly sand the paint using 400-grit sandpaper. Paint the second coat, and allow it to dry. Sand once more. Then you can decide whether you require a third coat. Repeat three times If you decide to do.

Then, you can paint any tiny areas and details in the areas you need to with an appropriate paintbrush. Get rid of all painter’s adhesive and plastic sheets. Be sure to carefully cover any areas where tape might have hindered your painting.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GET THE PIANO PAINTED?

Do you want to know what budget to set for this particular project? Below is a breakdown of the budget, incl the cost of a used piano.

• Second-hand pianos for sale approx $200
• 1 Gallon Paint  $45.95
• Paintbrush – $10
• Painter’s tape $11.95
• 80 grit sandpaper – $5
• 400 grit sandpaper – $5

The total cost of this project, which includes the piano cost $277.90. 

If you were to purchase an entirely new paint sprayer (Approx. $250) to complete this project, that could increase the cost to $527.90

PAINTED PIANO IDEAS

There is a myriad of inventions and concepts to makeover, modernize and color an old instrument!

Suggestion #1

Put together extra features

If you’re seeking to increase excitement to otherwise dull instrument, you can take a crack at adding low-cost pretty ornamental plank appliques using wood adhesive prior to chalk paint a piano.

Add wood adhesive to the pattern, then put it on the old piano. Secure detail with painter’s tape. The glue must be dry before piano painting.

Paint the first layer, then leave it to air. After that, use caulk paintable for filling in any spaces between ornaments. After the first painted layer, apply another one.

Suggestion #2

Give Your painted Piano’s iron fixtures Some SWANKY Style

If the knobs on house instrument aren’t as appealing, you can paint them or replace them with a new one to give a sparkle to your colorful pretty piano!

Give a whirl to:

• Square Brushed Brass Hardware
• Brushed Nickel Modern Pulls
• Blue Glass Charms
• Crystal Oil Golden Knobs

Suggestion #3

Give colorful Pianos an amazing state-of-the-art Contemporary Look

If you’re looking for ultra-modern twenty-first-century decor on your piano do not sand it down. When the chalk paint is settled, apply a layer of wax or water-based polyacrylic.

Suggestion #4 

Give painted Pianos a beautiful Farmhouse Feel

If you desire to create a more pretty rustic farmhouse appearance to painted piano, you might utilize the sand block of 100 grit on corners or detailed sections of your piano once the chalk paint is pretty dry to make it appear aged and tired.

SOUGHT-AFTER CHALK PAINT COLORS

BLACK, WHITE, and CHARCOAL are the most popular chalk paint colors for pianos. 

Some incredible piano transformations have been made by painting in BOLD COLORS. 

Bold chalk paint piano desired shades in home decor include COBALT, EMERALD GREEN, MUSTARD YELLOW, HOT PINK, and NAVY BLUE.

Elegant WHITE-painted piano with simple frames and plants hanging above it is a marvelous idea of making use of an old chair instead of a bench, making it more comfortable while your fingers twirl on the keys!

Milk paint gives a naturally gorgeous worn-out look.

If you love PURPLE, by painting in lavender the room gets a wonderful boho vibe.

If you are a PINK lover, the hot-pink-painted piano will fit in with any nursery room. In no time your baby girl will be playing that piano with a smile.

Terracotta-painted piano gives a little fun twist to a vintage style. If you’re trying to figure out ways to style an eclectic space with the piano then the perfect solution would be a unique variation on an old pink piano with a hint of TERRACOTTA.

Tiffany’s style goes a long way and if you are a massive fan of MINT color, Tiffany’s piano would be a statement on its own.

The magnificent BLUE-painted piano in your boho-style room is a great accent.

Green blue CYAN is an uplifting color, making painting your piano in gorgeous aqua an off-beat idea to make everyone smile!

MIDNIGHT-BLUE can be such a sophisticated color, so, incorporating it into your decor is a wonderful method to create timeless decor. 

What could be more joyful than a bright yellow-painted piano? Nurturing and dazzling ray of sunshine brings cloud nine to your room!

EMERALD GREEN is trending now and it’s hard to resist. The Painted piano in OLIVE GREEN, however, will remain an icon for quite a while.

If you’re not looking for the piano to be painted PLAIN WHITE, but still want to add a little color take a look at the LIGHT GREY option. It is pristine and modern. Stunning!

Every home needs a striking piece, and classic piano in BLACK AND WHITE would look fantastic in any room. It is simply the perfect farmhouse-style home.

BROWN instrument is still all times favorite!

CONCLUSION

Painting a piano can be a fun and enjoyable approach to breathing new life into an old instrument and creating a beautiful individual masterpiece in your home, you and your family will cherish for a lifetime! Do you own a gloomy and unappealing piano that could do with a makeover? Get courageous, use your imagination, and color-paint your piano!

If you’re looking to buy a piano, you might be interested in learning more about how much acoustic pianos and digital pianos cost.

If you want to choose a good digital piano, I invite you to check out the Yamaha Piano Comparison Chart.