How to Use Bold Paint Colors on Furniture with Confidence

Thinking about using bold color on a furniture makeover but not sure where to start? Denise from Salvaged Inspirations is sharing how vibrant paint colors can completely transform a piece and bring personality into your home. In this guest post, you’ll discover tips for choosing bold hues with confidence, creating balance, and turning ordinary furniture into a beautiful statement piece using Dixie Belle Paint products.

(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here.)  

This end table was found curbside, and I had a ton of fun with this one. Sometimes you have to pick up the brush and do something for the sheer pleasure of the process, right? I’m sharing how BOLD color can totally transform your dated furniture, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of this bright color and this brand new look!

I’m also sharing –

• How a pop of color can update a piece
• When to use primer… I wish I had used it, but I didn’t
• How to decoupage a drawer
• … and more!

Here’s the end table with a top drawer and open shelving I found curbside on bulk day.

When I brought it home and gave it a once-over, I saw that this piece is a mass-produced reproduction. It’s made from plywood layers, chipboard, and has been constructed with simple butt joints. This piece was probably made between the 70s and 90s. It’s not a highly valued piece, but these are great for refinishing projects!

The exterior finish was a little scratched and chipped, but overall, the style is super cute. I like the turned legs and the gallery top detail.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED FOR A DIY END TABLE FLIP: 

End Table – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
1.75″ Oval Med Paint Brush
Florida Orange Chalk Mineral Paint
Vintage Oranges Decoupage Paper
Satin Clear Coat (for decoupage)
Gator Hide Topcoat

TOOLS THAT MAKE THE JOB EASY

Sanding Sponge
Utility Knife (to cut paper)
9 in 1 Painters Tool/Putty Knife

CLEANING & SANDING

To give this little end table a good cleaning, I used a TSP substitute and a large automotive sponge. I also removed the little knob on the front drawer and made sure the underside was all cleaned up as well. I like flipping the piece to get a better look at what I’m working with. Here is another clear view that the shelf is made out of chipboard and the turned spindle legs are solid wood.

To scuff sand the finish on this end table, I used my handy sanding sponges.  These worked really well to scuff up the existing finish and get around all the details on these turned wooden legs.

I WISH I HAD PRIMED! …  BUT I DIDN’T

I really wish I had primed this piece, but originally, I planned to distress it so some of the black finish would peek through, and then tone it down with a dark wax. If I had gone with my original plan, the dark base would have worked in my favor. But halfway through, I was liking the bright color so much, I didn’t want to antique it or distress it.

Priming isn’t needed in every makeover, but I would say it’s beneficial for MOST makeovers – unless you’re using an all-in-one paint + primer product. Primer helps paint adhere and look all uniform instead of patchy or peeling. Anytime you’re working with tricky surfaces or changing colors significantly, primer creates a stable, even base so your paint adheres properly and performs the way it should.

If you’re just starting on your furniture painting journey, here are a few tips on when to use primer:

• Raw or bare surfaces: Unfinished wood, drywall, or repairs will soak up paint unevenly without primer
• Color changes: Going from dark to light (or vice versa) needs primer to prevent bleed-through
• Stains or odors: Water stains, smoke, or tannins can seep through paint unless sealed first
• Glossy or slick finishes: Surfaces like laminate or old varnish need primer for proper adhesion
• Durability matters: High-traffic areas benefit from primer to reduce chipping and extend paint life

Again, I wish I had primed this piece because it would have saved me a lot of painting… and paint.

FLORIDA ORANGE PAINT

Once the whole piece was scuff-sanded, it was time for the fun part—choosing a color. I kept thinking about my recent trip to Portugal (I shared more about it in this blog post if you’re curious), especially the roadside orange trees where we were literally picking fresh fruit and eating it on the spot—such a highlight! That memory inspired me to go with this bold Florida Orange Chalk Mineral Paint. It’s definitely outside my usual comfort zone (I’ve only used it a handful of times), but wow—it really makes a statement!

Using bold, bright paint colors is one of the easiest ways to completely transform a dated piece of furniture. Instead of trying to hide its age, a bold color can make a piece feel modern and full of personality. A vibrant color can highlight details, create a focal point in a room, and turn something dated into a standout piece—all without changing anything structurally. The vibrant paint does all the work in updating the look.

 But once I saw how vibrant and fun the color looked on its own, I changed course. The only downside? Without primer, it took about four coats to get full, even coverage—but totally worth it in the end!

And the first few coats looked scary/hideous!

I wish I had used a primer because it would have saved me a few coats. But each coat thereafter started looking better and better!

HOW TO DECOUPAGE

Since I was inspired by orange, I thought, why not make this a super sweet table and add this Vintage Orange Decoupage Paper to finish the look!

Decoupaging a drawer with rice decoupage paper is super easy, and you really only need a few key steps to get a beautiful result.