HGTV's Chelsea DeBoer Shows How To Incorporate Old Furniture Into A Modern Home

In a home renovation, it's typical for homeowners to find ways to update old family heirlooms and well-loved pieces so they can seamlessly fit into the new setup. They can be remade into something new, reupholstered with new materials, or simply repainted to give them a fresh look. That's what Chelsea DeBoer did in Season 1, Episode 1 of "Down Home Fab" with a vintage piano. She chose chalk paint specifically because it enhanced the vintage effect and was very easy to apply.

The clients in this episode wanted their home to have a more cohesive design and weren't afraid to try new things, so DeBoer was excited to make some bold statements. One of her tasks was to figure out how to get their beloved vintage piano to match the home's new style. The piano had a nice, wooden color but would be out of place in the "glam-ranch" aesthetic they were going for in the open floor plan kitchen and dining room, so she chose to paint it black to match the black cabinets. Rita, DeBoer's stepmom and a restoration expert, recommended chalk paint for this project.

"Chalk paint is named for its chalky, matte finish. It's water-based. It doesn't drip much. And, chalk paint is gonna give this very distinctive look," explained Chelsea DeBoer. People choose to work with chalk paint because it adds a distressed character to surfaces and has the unique ability to be applied without the need for extensive surface preparation like sanding or priming. "We don't have to sand it," said Rita, talking about the piano. "Cause chalk paint sticks to mostly everything."

This makes it a great tool for transforming old or worn pieces. You can find virtually any chalk paint color to match the decor and the finish will style up the vintage look. DeBoer's goal was to connect the kitchen and dining room zones. She was successful because, by the end of the "Down Home Fab" episode, the piano looked like a modern piece. Chalk paint is great for DIYers of any level to experiment with and try new things. There's nothing to lose and a lot to gain when working on old furniture pieces, as you might be able to upcycle something you were ready to throw out and find a new use for it in your home.

Chalk paint was created and developed by Annie Sloan, making that an ideal place to get it. The paint comes in a wide range of colors and costs between $16 and $45, depending on the amount you get. They offer color cards and sample pots if you need to try something out first. To prep the surface of your furniture, all you need to do is wipe it with a damp cloth to remove any dirt, dust, or finishes. You can also sand it to make it smoother if you want. Note that a laminated surface will need a bit of sanding to make the surface easier for the paint to adhere to.

This water-based paint is thick, doesn't drip, and needs just one or two coats to do the job, so apply the chalk paint using a high-quality brush or roller and allow each coat to dry completely before applying the next one. In the "Down Home Fab" episode, it takes only one coat for the piano to get an improved look. You can also use the brush to create texture as you go. When you're done painting, apply a wax or varnish to seal it so the paint can last on your good-as-new furniture piece.