Who says white has to be boring? Fresh and fun white painted furniture ideas to update your space. Includes incredible before and after makeovers, tips, and techniques for nearly every room in your home. Modern makeover inspiration for everyday DIYers.

Repurposing a thrift store find is a great opportunity to find a piece with unique character and skip the long wait. Once you’ve found a piece with classic charm- the real fun begins! I’ve spent hundreds of hours refinishing and nailed the best way to paint furniture white. But today is about inspiration!
White is clean, effortlessly chic, and works well with any style. This classic neutral covers a full spectrum of tones from warm eggshell, greyish pearl, traditional cream, and bright snow white. Your options are limitless.
I’ve put together a beautiful list of furniture pieces that highlight different aesthetics, unique techniques, and shade choices. Gleam inspiration for your home or for that outdated piece of furniture you’ve been struggling to find a new purpose for.
I have an in-depth post on How to Choose Paint Colors and The Best Paints for Furniture that I recommend and why. From the gorgeous classic Black Painted Furniture to Colorful Painted Furniture ideas because there isn’t just one brand to use for all situations.
Painting Buffets & Dining Tables
Painting kitchen cabinets or furniture in shades of white provides your kitchen or dining area with a bright, clean vibe. White compliments any wood tone or hardware so it’s easy to make the transition to white accents with existing flooring and fixtures.
Click on any of the titles below for more information on a particular project including step by step.
Cerused Table
Textured finishes add depth to white painted furniture designs. Cerusing (or Limed Finish) highlights the natural patterns of wood grain. This technique is similar to filling the wood grain with a contrasting paint or color. We used Fusion Mineral Champlain paint for our cerused table’s incredible before and after journey.
White Buffet with Ceramic Knobs
A hand-me-down buffet gets a smart, modern makeover by Sustain my Craft Habit. The buffet’s clean lines are showcased by Fusion Mineral Casement paint, while whimsical ceramic knobs add a sunny pop of color.
DIY Caned Sideboard
Would you believe that this is the third reincarnation for this sideboard? Inspired by a design that would’ve cost thousands, this DIY Caned Sideboard from The Honeycomb Home is simply genius. She hand painted this vintage piece with Fusion Mineral Raw Silk paint, a warm eggy shade. Creativity, a roll of caning, and a hot glue gun came together to complete this Cinderella story.
DIY Outdoor Dining Table
Isn’t she a beauty? This chic farmhouse style outdoor dining table started off as a thrift store find! We designed a new top washed with Varathane Sunbleached to allow the chevron wood pattern to shine through.
White Living Room Furniture
White is one of the few living room choices that can be considered timeless rather than trendy. It’s easy to match to any aesthetic, from coastal to country chic.
Worried about using white in a high-trafficked living space? Don’t sweat it. You can design a practical family room and still incorporate white painted furniture. Protect your projects with a proper paint sealer. Use decals or textured finishes to disguise everyday wear and tear. (Bonus: white furniture hides dust better than dark furniture!)
Painted Entertainment Center
It can be daunting to go from a dark finish to a light one. This custom-built entertainment center takes center stage in our living room. I hand-painted the dark wood with Champlain Fusion Mineral Paint but left the inner shelves. The furniture craftsmanship and ornate details are exhibited beautifully by the new antique cream color.
Vintage TV Cabinet
A vintage TV cabinet from the ’70’s receives a modern revival by The Boondocks Blog. She lovingly restored this gift from her father using Old Fashioned Milk Paint in Snow White and Slate. The contrasting hues provide distinction to the ornate trim work.
Painted Armchair
Painting a fabric chair may be the ultimate upcycle. This tutorial from Fusion Mineral Paint features a traditional wingback chair updated with a few coats of Cashmere Fusion Mineral Paint. This method works specifically well on non-plush fabrics. The finished product has a leather-like quality.
DIY Clock Coffee Table
This DIY Clock Coffee Table is so inventive! A particle board kitchen table gets a brand-new purpose thanks to this clever makeover by Seeking Lavender Lane. The secret behind this stunning transformation is a handmade stencil and Annie Sloan Old White Chalk Paint with French Linen and Charcoal accents.
Painted Entryway Furniture
Define your entryway with a table or bench. It’s always handy to have a place to toss your keys or mail as you walk through the door. White accent furniture paired with a suitable overhead light fixture work together, so your space feels light and airy yet cozy all the same. It’s a welcoming effect for any guest.
Stenciled Entryway Bench
Homemade Lovely knows how to make a great first impression. A neutral white bench was the perfect jumping off point for this chalky design project. The stenciled entryway bench was refinished in a custom blend of Chalky Finish Paint in Yesteryear, New Life, and Everlasting.
Vintage Bicycle Side Table
I love a noteworthy statement piece. This vintage painted bicycle side table is a beautiful before and after story. The table was in rough shape until Canary Street Crafts added a few coats of Annie Sloan paint in French Linen. She used Annie Sloan’s “Graphite” to paint the stencil.
Painted Dressers & Beds
It’s no big surprise that many upscale hotels choose white for their suite decor aesthetic, or that nursery furniture is often available in shades of white. A white room maximizes light and feels inherently calm. Mix textured finishes and layered linens to create a cozy bedroom haven.
Is your bedroom ready for a refresh? If you get bit by the DIY bug after gazing at this before and after gallery, check out my 5-step guide to painting a dresser. You’ll be painting furniture like a pro in no time.
Antique Chest of Drawers
This beautiful restoration by pennollo_designs combines a crisp white finish with exposed natural wood tones. Classic gold hardware gleams brightly against the new white facade. The result is a stunning chest of drawers that highlights the piece’s original beauty.
Dresser Makeover
We can’t always get what we want, but sometimes we have exactly what we need. While searching for the perfect piece for a bedroom, The Honeycomb Home found a short-term solution right in front of her. The yummy warm cream color is courtesy of Amy Howard Rescue Restore paint in Blessed. New paint, new drawer pulls, and a whole new look equals a successful white dresser makeover.
Children’s Dresser Decals
Every child dreams of being surrounded with magic and whimsy. Why not include their furniture? These cloud decals are easy to apply and anything but boring. They are the perfect touch for a white dresser or bookshelf. Also available in other design styles, these are an easy solution to camouflage marker scribbles or other “oopsies.”
Black and White Dresser
Do you have a piece of furniture that holds sentimental value but no longer fits your design aesthetic? Follow along as Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry give their twenty-year old bedroom dresser a stylish makeover with Fusion Mineral Paint Raw Silk. The finished product is an heirloom-quality distressed white dresser.
IKEA Dresser Decals
This white IKEA Malm dresser is transformed from an everyday staple to a stunning work of art with watercolor dresser decals. This timeless design is easy to apply and works just as well in a Master bedroom scheme as it would in a nursery design.
Looking for something extra special? Learn how to encase drawers in custom fabric with this tutorial by Confessions of a Serial DIYer.
Wood Slat drawer Fronts
IKEA furniture makes a great base for DIY projects. To create this boho chic bedroom furniture @knots.and.pots.home used the IKEA Hemnes collection, Sherwin Williams Pure White, and about $120 worth of lattice mounding and grout materials. Her goal was to create a unique and high-end bedroom suite on a budget. Mission accomplished.
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