The small town Colorado girl who’s obsessed with home and everything that entails! I’m a creative, a decorator, a day dreamer, a huge fan of scones, and I’m passionate about loving where I live and making a home.
I'm Shayna
I’ve been itching to paint something black. Weird, I know, but it’s true. A while back, I ran into the cutest side chair. I fell in love with it.
And I knew exactly what I was going to do with it!
The back of the chair is what really caught my attention, and I couldn’t wait to put my own spin on things…
So, I started by grabbing my Relic chalky finish paint by DecoArt. After I had given the chair a good wipe down, I started on the legs….
In general, chairs can be a bit time consuming to paint. All those legs and spindles can really add up. And it’s best to cover them with light even coats so that the paint doesn’t glob up and run…
It only took two coats to do the legs, then I moved on to the spindles…
Once they were finished, I painted the seat and the top of the chair…
Once the paint had dried, I did a little distressing. Now, I don’t know about you, but I love the way wood looks with black, so I let quite a bit of the original chair peek out from underneath the black paint…
I did it to the seat….
Then moved to the legs & back spindles…
After another good wipe down, I used the clear creme wax from DecoArt. This picture really shows you just how much darker wax will make the paint….
And once I had it waxed to a shine, all I had to do was admire it…
It’s such a lovely chair…
And all that distressing makes me fall a bit more in love with it. I mean, just look at how perfectly that black brings out all its curves…
And the back of the chair is definitely a show stopper…
Every room needs a touch of black, and I’m loving how this chair looks again our white board & batten walls…
Goodness, I’m in love with that little chair. Even if you think a chair doesn’t have what it takes to look fabulous after a makeover, it will. There’s always hope for it, you know? There’s always hope.
And I’ve never met a chair I didn’t like…
You can find the new Chalky Finish paint online at Home Depot! They have so many fun colors to choose from too! Happy Painting!
*This was a sponsored post by DecoArt. However, all opinions about the new Chalky Finish paint and this loovely side chair are my own! For my full disclosure policy, click here.
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Join me as I share several easy to implement ideas that will give your home a breath of fresh air and leave you feeling excited about the changes you see by the end of the week!
What a great little chair! I am always looking at old chairs and furniture and wanting to paint them.
THANK YOU so much, Sherry! I agree, I do the same thing with dated furniture! 😀
-Shayna
I am so excited to learn about DecoArt paint and cannot wait to try it. I am a fan of chalk paint but hated the price and the time it took to order. I am going to run to my Home Depot to see if they have DecoArt at our store. Thanks for sharing !
That’s terrific Vicki! I am really liking the paint! It covers great and uses very little paint! Very reasonably priced too! 😀
Happy painting! 😀
-Shayna
That’s a good looking chair! I first came across your blog when you posted about your fall “mantel” at a link-up party. I gotta tell you it was love at first sight.
THANK YOU so very much, Anna! I’m so happy you found me— and that you’re here! 😀
-Shayna
My Mom had a chair just like that. I love it in her “little black dress”!!!!!
THANK YOU so much! I love that—- “Little Black Dress”! So totally true! 😀
-Shayna
Shayna, it is lovely! So I’ve been wondering what to do with a nice newer wood rocker that I have. It is just too blonde and shiny for my taste. I knew I wanted to paint it but had no idea what color or what paint. You have answered both of these for me! Love the chair! Since the finish on mine is so shiny, seems to be ‘baked’ on, do you suggest I sand it first? Or apply a painted on sanding product? Yours seems pretty polished also but adhered very well. Thanks much!
THANK YOU so much, Dianne! I think your rocker sound like a perfect fit for the chalk paint. The great thing about it, is that it takes very little prep work. You could lightly sand it down if you wanted, but this adheres very well! You’re right, this little chair had a very shiny finish and the paint covered it fabulously. The wax is also an extra protectant and gives it such a fabulous finish.
I hope that helps! 😀
-Shayna
I love it, and It looks perfect against your new walls!!!
THANK YOU so much, Amy! I couldn’t agree more! 😀
-Shayna
I’m in love with your little black chair too! I adore a little black in every room!
THANK YOU so much, Yvonne! 😀
Hugs to YOU!
-Shayna
I LOVE IT!! I agree… love the look of wood under black paint!
THANK YOU so very much, Martina! Wood under black looks just fabulous! 😀
-Shayna
I love black…and I love this chair! You did a beautiful job on it. I’ll have to check out that paint. The other chalk paints are too expensive for me….I appreciate your sharing!
xo
Pat
THANK YOU so much, Pat! I love black too! I’m so happy to have introduced a new {and cost effective} paint! 😀
-Shayna
That is a fabulous chair! What a difference. I love it!
THANK YOU so much, Amy! I agree, it’s a huge difference! 😀
-Shayna
I have the same chair in my bathroom holding towels. I’ve been thinking about painting her too! Maybe a blue? Yours turned out lovely!
THANK YOU so much, Charity! I bet this chair is just lovely holding towels! And blue? Perfection! 😀
-Shayna
There is just something about a black distressed chair that get’s me all excited. I paint a couple chairs of my own black a while back and love it. Now, months later, natural distressing from using them everyday has made me love them even more.
Your chair looks amazing, Love all the cute spindles.
THANK YOU so much, Robin! I couldn’t agree more, there’s just something about a black distressed chair!
I bet yours are just lovely! 😀
-Shayna
Love your chair so glad you have sheared it on your blog and glad you have a blog .Your blog is my favorite. I check it out ever night to see if you have put something else on there .
THANK YOU so very much for the super sweet comment, Clara! I’m so happy you enjoy reading my blog! I’m so happy to have you! 😀
-Shayna
It’s so sweet…nice job on the distressing, Shayna! love it, love it, love it!!! The photographer rocks as well…teehee;) Blessings & <3wks
M
THANK YOU so much, M! I love the distressing too! So happy you love the pictures too… this photographer is working on her pictures! 😀
-Shayna
I love your sweet chair and the back is super interesting ! I am working on a little stool as I type this , in between coats….so thanks for the tips with your wonderful make over. Looked at your little numbered side table as well and I think I will put an “M” in the middle of my little stool! Thanks for the idea!
THANK YOU so much, Dawna! I love the back of the chair too! I hope your stool turned out fabulous! 😀
-Shayna
The chair looks fabulous! I adore black painted furniture mixed with my whites and wood tones. That looks like a great product too.
THANK YOU so much, Elizabeth! I love black paired with white and wood too! 😀
-Shayna
I love the chair, so I rushed right down to Home Depot to pick up some DecoArt Chalky paint for some projects I am teaching, only to find none. After emails to the company website, I have learned they carry 6 of the most popular colors at the stores in March, along with the clear creme wax. And all colors are available online. Thanks for letting us know this paint is available, I have an order in, and will visit the store again when it is there.
THANK YOU so much, Judy! I’m so happy you bought your own paint! You will love it! 😀
-Shayna
SOLD! I have been putting off painting a table for months because I didn’t want to spend a lot of $$ on designer chalk paint. Had no idea this brand existed at Home Depot. I’m ordering some ASAP. Question: did you use a special paint brush to apply the paint and/or wax?
Hi there! I’m so excited you’re going to try the paint! It really is great! For the paint, I just use a soft bristle paint brush. For the wax, I use a lint free rag. 😀
I hope that helps!
-Shayna
Ditto on all above! I am on the website about to order… have same question about application process. The round paint brush? Any old brush? A Rag? Also, I see you chose the color Relic but refer to it as black. I want my project to be a softer black. They also have a Carbon color which is darker black. How did you choose? Thanks in advance all your insight & expertise!
Hi Holly! I’m so happy you’re going to try the paint! For application, I’m just using a soft bristle paint brush. For the wax, I use a lint free rag. The color that I chose is Relic. It’s definitely not a dark black color. It has a slight gray undertone that softens it. I can’t wait to try carbon, I have that one too! 😀
I hope that helps! Happy painting! 😀
-Shayna
[…] found the cutest little chair and couldn’t wait to give it a makeover…. in […]
Hi Shayna,
I love the work you did on your chair, too, and I’m thinking of redoing my kitchen table/chairs following your success. So, I’m not an expert like you 😀 and really don’t know how to distress..are you using sandpaper? or a tool? Thanks for the links to the products you used; they’re only available online at our Home Depot.
Corrinne
THANK YOU so much, Corinne! I’m so happy you’re inspired to do your own kitchen table and chairs! This chalk paint is very user friendly! For the distressing, I used medium grit sandpaper and lightly went over the edges where natural distressing would happen with years of wear. You can distress as light or heavy as you want the piece to look. On a separate note, be sure to give your kitchen table top a couple coats of wax. You’ll be good to go!
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have anymore questions! 😀
This paint seems to be what I have been looking for – thank you for the suggestion. I want to re-do our kitchen table/chairs. I plan to paint the base of the table a cream color, and stain the top red mahogany like the rest of our wood work. I am wondering if you think this paint will hold up on the chairs used daily. We have boosters on 2 of them for our little ones, but they are also used to stand on to reach high things, and everything else. How easily will it scratch off the seat of the chair? I would actually rather the chairs be stained, but stripping them and re-staining is very intimidating, and i’m afraid they won’t turn out well. But they are a very yellow-honey color, and it’s driving me crazy!!!!! I would appreciate any feedback before spending the time painting. Thanks!
Hi there! I think your two toned table would look wonderful! Also, I think the paint would be great on your chairs. So far, the chairs that I’ve painted have held of beautifully! Once you paint them, be sure to wax them and buff it smooth. You may have to add another coat of wax as time and fabric will wear it off. I hope that helps. Let me know if you have more questions! 😀
Just found your site (while randomly looking on Pinterest for something else – you know how that goes…) and could not believe it when I found this chair. I showed the before & after to my husband, and he couldn’t believe it!
I have the entire dining room set made by Heywood Wakefield (it was originally bought in 1966 for my Christening)and have been trying so hard to figure out what I was going to do with it (it has a lot of mileage on it at this point) – so THANK YOU!!! I love refinishing furniture, but this project seemed daunting and just so much work (especially when nothing so far was inspiring me).
Love how yours turned out, and with a lot less work than I had envisioned sanding, staining, etc. Thank you as well for the step by step instructions (and brand names to look for).
Definitely will be subscribing to your site, going online to check out the colors available (probably stick with yours) and now have a fall project.
Thank you again for the inspiration!
Was wondering will buffing smooth out the wax. Because mine dried with brush marks, which is one of the reasons I use chalk paint is to avoid brush marks.
Hi there! Buffing definitely smooths out the wax. It’s best to buff with a soft cotton rag. I hope that helps! 😀