This easy thrift store cabinet makeover requires NO sanding. It uses primer and chalk paint, instead. You’ll love the results!

I would love to say I’ve spent my summer finishing all of the projects that have been sitting around our house since we moved in (back in February of 2016).

Really, I would.

But that would be a lie. Instead, I’ve spent the last three months doing various freelance work, one of which has me going into an actual office for the first time in 5 years. And honestly? I’m kind of loving it. The work, the people, the office, the commute (I love driving, y’all). It pretty much rocks.

So if I haven’t been working on household projects, then how am I writing about one today? Well, because this particular project has been finished for an embarrassingly long time. I bought and finished this thrift store cabinet about a month after we moved in last year.

Yes, I’ve been holding out on you.

Honestly, the problem was just that I hate taking pictures of furniture. SUCH a pain. Especially in a townhome with no windows in the living room (very dark). And this piece of furniture goes in our entryway, which is narrow. So I had to move it into the sunroom (uggghhhh) and photograph it there. I’m too lazy for this crap.

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Easy Thrift Store Cabinet Makeover (No Sanding!)

Soon after we moved in, we discovered a Habitat for Humanity Restore. I LOVE this place! I’ve bought a couple things there, but this cabinet has to be my favorite.

It’s an old bathroom cabinet, from what I can tell. When I bought it, it had flower stencils on it which made it look dated, and was yellowed from cigarette smoke.

It was perfect for our entryway, which felt barren and cold. But it needed a makeover.

Materials used:

• Americana Decor chalky paint (in Primitive)
• foam brushes
• Zinsser 1-2-3 primer
• Americana Decor Creme Wax
• Cabinet knobs
• Painter’s tape

I didn’t get any real photos of the process. But all I did was scrub the cabinet with soap and water, put painter’s tape on the windows, removed the hardware, and got to painting!

I used a foam brush (a mix of 3-inch and 1.5-inch) and painted it with 2 thin coats of Zinsser primer, letting each coat dry completely. This stuff is the secret to no sanding, and I always end up with a nice, smooth finish when I start with it.

Then I applied about 3 coats of Americana Decor chalky paint in Primitive. Chalk paint is amazing because it dries so quickly. It also looks great, but mostly the fast drying thing. 😛

Once the paint dried, I used a rag to apply 2 coats of Americana Decor creme wax to seal. The wax was also quick to dry, so then I removed the painter’s tape and reattached the hardware.

Voila!

Ignore the aluminum foil. Kashka wouldn’t stop clawing the door frame (just this particular door frame), so I taped the foil to it.

Instead of the original knobs, I added some that I found at TJMaxx.

This is one of my favorite furniture pieces! It came out cute, its perfect for my entryway, and it holds a lot of the stuff I want to keep around, but don’t use very often.

Maybe one day I’ll fix the crooked doors. But honestly, it’s not very noticeable in person.

What do you think? Massive improvement, right?

Do you have a piece of furniture you’ve given a chalk paint makeover to? Let me know in the comments!