Curio Cabinet Makeover

Curio Cabinet Makeover

I have been collecting colored glass for years now and finally found the perfect cabinet to display it all in! But the color just didn’t fit the vibes I was going for. So I grabbed a can of paint and got to work! Let me show you how I transformed this cabinet to compliment my collection.

Supplies

Step Summary

  1. Clean furniture piece
  2. Sand everything down
  3. Prime with Kilz Primer
  4. Prepare for paint
  5. Use Behr Paint + Primer

Detailed Steps

Clean Furniture Piece

This curio cabinet was in great condition but it was a little dusty. Grab some wipes and cleaner and get to work removing all the built up dirt and grime. I usually use my vacuum cleaner first to get all the nooks and crannies

Sand Everything Down

To ensure that everything adheres, it’s always best to lightly sand your piece. You don’t have to go and remove all the finish on it, you just need to rough up the surface enough so your primer & paint have something better to stick to! I use a 120 grit and finish with a 180 grit afterwards. I used my orbital sander, but you can also just use a sanding block.

Prime with Kilz Primer

After you have cleaned all the sanding dust off your furniture, it’s time to prime! I used Kilz Primer as my base. You can apply this with just a paint brush and 4″ foam roller, but since this piece had some tight spaces, I decided to go ahead and use my paint sprayer.

Whenever you are painting wood, you always want to use a primer! The tannins in the wood will leak through, so Kilz primer will ensure nothing bleeds through when you go to add your paint!

Prepare for Paint

Before you paint, but after you have applied Kilz primer, I go back in with one final sand with a very light grit. This will knock down any texture that paint may have created and creates an overall smoother finish! I use a 180 grit very lightly all over my primer. Then I go back in with a cloth ( I love these tack clothes!) to get any speck of dust I can.

Use Behr Primer + Paint

Now is time to add in the color! Again I am going to use my paint sprayer, but don’t worry! You can get just as smooth as a finished using a 4″ foam roller.

I am using Behr’s 2027 Color of the Year “Grounded” on the outside of my curio cabinet. This beautiful green will not only look good in my dining room but will make all the colors of my glass really pop and stand out! On the inside of my cabinet, I used Beh’rs “Blank Canvas” so the colors stand out against the backdrop even more.

With Behr Primer + Paint’s one coat coverage and durability, this piece looked perfect after just one quick coat!

I love how this cabinet turned out and the color is absolutely beautiful!

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Featured

Sep 22, 2026

Hi, I’m Kelsi!

I live in Illinois with my husband Chris and our two dogs, Boomer & Nala. When we moved into our home, I began turning it into our dream home one DIY project at a time. I started with a handful of everyday tools and the desire to complete projects by myself.

Room after room I have taken an average space and made it unique and chic while sharing my journey along the way. I love a good challenge and finding ways to complete new home projects in ways that are achievable for you no matter what your skill or experience level is. 

Meet Kelsi!