I purchased a mid century china cabinet hutch on Facebook Marketplace a few years ago and it’s just perfect for an empty spot that we have in our breakfast nook. The hutch was a medium gray and I decided to give it a fresh paint of coat on a whim. I love how the light blush color brightens up the space and is a little unexpected. I have painted a lot of furniture in my days (such as this old dresser that I completely renovated), but there are a few tips and tricks to know in order to paint a hutch.
If you want to paint a hutch in 10 easy steps, you will need to take time to choose the best color and type of paint. It’s also important to properly prepare your old hutch or china cabinet before painting. Use a brush to get in any corners or details and then apply the paint with a foam roller to larger, flat sections. Allow your hutch to completely dry for 24 hours before putting the handles back on and styling.
I love finding old piece of furniture on Facebook Marketplace, antique stores and thrift stores and giving them a new life for my home. Not only does it save money, but you can give your space a ton of character that you can’t achieve by purchasing everything brand new. Changing up the color of a piece of furniture can totally transform the look and feel of your space. Since paint is fairly inexpensive, you can easily paint it another color whenever you get tired of it or want to change the colors in your decor.
I recently painted a mid century hutch and I love how just switching up the color to a light, blush pink totally changed the vibe in the space. You don’t need to be an experienced DIY-er to paint a china cabinet or hutch, it’s easy to do and once you complete your painted hutch, you will be searching your home for more furniture to paint!
Materials Needed To Paint A Hutch In 10 Easy Steps
Here’s what you will need to paint a hutch or china cabinet:
- Paint (semi-gloss or chalk paint works best)
- Primer
- Foam Roller
- Paint Brush
- Sand Paper (fine grit is best)
Steps Needed To Paint A China Cabinet Or Hutch
1. Choose A Paint Color
Now that you’ve decided to paint your old hutch, the first step is to choose your paint color! Choosing a paint color for a piece of furniture can feel daunting. The good news is that you can always paint over it. (I discuss how to choose a paint color more extensively in this post.)
First, decide if you want your hutch to be a neutral color like white, gray or black or if you want to paint the hutch a pop of color. After you have decided on the general feel of your paint color, start looking for inspiration in magazines, Instagram and Pinterest. Pay attention to what colors jump out to you.
Once you have decided on a color grab some paint swatches and bring them home to see how the colors look in your particular space. You can also do a Google Image search of specific colors to see how they look in different spaces.
If you are still undecided pick up a few paint samples to try. If you still aren’t sure, my advice would be to just pick a color and go for it. You can always paint your hutch again if you don’t love what you chose.
2. Determine What Type Of Paint Is Best
There are a few different types of paint that you can use when painting a piece of furniture. The type of paint that you choose will affect the overall look, feel and style of your painted hutch.
- Chalk Paint: Chalk paint is a popular choice because you typically don’t need to use primer first. It also dries quickly. However, it leaves a very flat finish, so you will probably need to add some type of wax afterwards.
- Semi-Gloss Latex Paint: Semi-Gloss is my personal favorite for furniture. It is forgiving and leaves a glossy finish. It’s great for a more modern feel.
- Flat Paint: Flat paint is great at hiding flaws and imperfections, but it is difficult to clean and can make your piece of furniture look cheapy. I would not recommend flat paint.
- Spray Paint: Spray paint is ideal for smaller projects. It dries very quickly and don’t leave brush marks. I wouldn’t recommend using spray paint for a large piece of furniture.
3. Remove The Hardware
Now that you have your paint read to go, it’s time to start removing the hardware on your hutch. Take off all knobs and handles. You also might want to go ahead and remove the doors and hinges.
If your hutch is too heavy to move or you don’t want to bother taking off the hinges, you can put painter’s tape over them. You can also leave in the drawers, but just make sure that they are slightly pulled out while you are painting.
4. Sand The Hutch
If your hutch is unpainted, then you will need to sand it down before painting. Use a fine grit sandpaper so that you don’t damage the surface of the wood.
If the hutch is painted, but the paint is flaking off, you will also want to sand any areas where the paint is flaking.
If your hutch is painted, but the surface of the paint is in pretty good condition, you won’t need to sand it ahead of time. If in doubt, go ahead and sand your piece of furniture first, just make sure you thoroughly wipe it down before painting.
5. Give Your Hutch A Coat Of Primer
For an unpainted hutch, you will need to give it a coat of primer first before painting. Make sure to use a good primer like Kilz or Zinsser.
If your hutch is already painted, but there are areas of bare wood where the paint has flaked off, go ahead and prime the whole thing.
6. Paint Corners And Details With A Brush First
After your hutch is sanded and primed, it’s time to paint. Grab an angled paint brush and paint any corners or detailed areas that a roller won’t be able to reach. Make sure that there are no globs or drips of paint as you do this step.
7. Go Over Larger, Flat Areas With A Foam Roller
Use a foam roller to apply paint to the flat surfaces of your hutch. A foam roller works great for doors and shelves of a hutch. Using a foam roller will ensure a smoother texture than a conventional wall roller pad.
8. Repeat To Apply More Coats
You will most likely need at least 2 coats of paint for your hutch. I applied 3 to my pink hutch makeover. Use as many coats as you need until there are no streaks. When in doubt, do another coat. Make sure you allow proper drying time in between each coat.
9. Allow To Cure For At Least 24 Hours
It’s important to allow your paint to cure for at least 24 hours before attaching the handles and styling it. If you can wait longer, that’s even better.
10. Style Your Hutch
Now it’s time to play around with styling your hutch. Experiment with different objects, dishes, plants and vases until it looks just right in your space. Styling your hutch is the most fun and rewarding part of a painted hutch makeover!
For more DIY and second hand tips and tricks, check out these posts:
- How To Prepare Your Front Door For Painting
- The Best Home Decor Items To Find At The Thrift Store
- The Best Items To Sell On Facebook Marketplace
- How To Renovate An Old Dresser
