The Ultimate Painted Dresser Tutorial That'll Give Your Antiques New Life
Make a hand-me-down look tailor-made with just a bit of paint.
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So you're ready to add some pizzazz to your bedroom—but you're not sure where or how to begin? Good news: You've come to the right place. Here's a bedroom decorating idea that you'll be able to do with minimal effort. Below, we're sharing a quick painted dresser tutorial that's as easy to mimic as it is nice to look at—and it's really, really nice to look at. To make it even easier on you, we'll be demonstrating the project on a real hand-me-down dresser given to one of Country Living's former photo editors by her parents.
With our tips on how to paint furniture (particularly the ones about the best paint brands to use), you'll be able to take any antique and make it look tailor-made. Magic! And because painting isn't the only way to spruce up your furniture, we're also sweetening the deal with a quick how-to involving vinyl decals, shelf liners, embellishments, and other add-ons. Get ready to create the cozy bedroom you've always dreamed of having, starting with a newly painted dresser.
"Before" Dresser
Country Living's former photo editor Barbara Ovrutsky needed more storage space, so naturally she eyed her parents' 1980s chest of drawers. "Take it," her mother said. "Now your father will finally buy me a new one."
The Danish modern dresser was beautiful, but Barb couldn't wait to put her own stamp on it. While she appreciated its clean lines and lovely, symmetrical construction, she specifically hoped to change the drawer pulls and cover the wood veneer.
In the next few slides, we'll show you how she managed to transform the dresser into something a little more sophisticated and modern.
Step 1: Gather Your Tools and Materials
Here's what you'll need to transform a dresser of your own:
1. Wood filler
2. Paintbrush and roller
3. Putty knife
4. Screwdriver
5. Craft knife
6. Low-grade sandpaper
7. Spray-paint primer
8. White water-based latex interior paint
9. Drill
10. Drawer knobs
11. Vinyl decal
12. Burnisher
13. Painter's tape
Start by removing the drawers from your chest. In Barb's case, she was able to unscrew their pulls and press quick-drying wood filler into the holes. Kristan Cunningham, a home decor expert on the Rachael Ray show, recommends pushing a generous amount of filler into the holes to prevent air pockets from forming.
Barb smoothed away the overflow with a putty knife, but a stiff spatula could work as well.
Step 3: Sand, Prime, and Paint
Next, you'll want to sand, prime, and paint the furniture. Barb chose to gently sand the surface of the bureau's drawer fronts and frame before spray-painting them with primer. Two hours later, she went over everything with two coats of white water-based latex interior paint in a semigloss finish.
Cunningham's advice: Apply the first layer of paint with a roller for quick coverage and the second with a paintbrush to create a slightly textured effect.
Step 4: Add Embellishments
Next, you'll want to let the paint dry and then add on any desired embellishments. Barb chose to let her paint dry for several days, She then measured and drilled holes for the new knobs, centering her 16- by 39-inch decal and adhering it to the dresser with a burnisher (pro tip: a credit card will also do). Finally, Barb screwed in the handles and sliced the sticker along the drawers' edges with a craft knife so the drawers would open.
To protect clothing while adding a touch of unexpected style, place a liner, like these decorative sheets, inside the drawers. The best part? They're perfumed—so your clothes will always smell sweet.
Step 6: Admire Your Refreshed Dresser
You could call it a day there—but if you want to keep going, opt for a fun decal, as Barb did. "If I want a different look, I can just peel off the decal and try out another design," she said.
Before applying wall decals, be sure to affix them with painter's tape to find the best arrangement. Barb selected drawer pulls in a variety of sizes and patterns, but note that she stuck to a single color for unity and to allow the decal to stand out.
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