Asked on Apr 15, 2015

What to do with this piece?

Sarah Wilhelm
by Sarah Wilhelm
Ok. I have 3 boys. I have 3 VERY active little boys. I have 3 very active little boys that like to jump, kick, bite, spill, color and climb(etc.). I've had this dresser a while now and I'm so tired of cleaning the damn thing over and over. It's a beautiful color but it's not meeting my needs. My needs are; something that won't show finger prints, something that'll be easy to do, and something that will look great! I've been thinking of maybe giving it a light sanding with actual sand paper and then using a white/grey antique looking chalkboard paint(does that even make sense?). I live in an apartment so I can't do anything heavy duty, not to mention by boys won't allow for days of dry time.
I'm a totally newbie when it comes to painting or sanding or doing ANYTHING with a large piece of furniture so I really need help! Thanks so much!
Beautiful but needs a large face lift!
  7 answers
  • Christine Christine on Apr 16, 2015
    Any paint is a great solution. They can't really hurt something that is already "distressed". You won't see watermarks or scratches. It can be repainted over and over to suit your needs. Search for distressed or shabby chic ideas. Good luck!
  • Andrea Habitzruther Andrea Habitzruther on Apr 16, 2015
    Use a bonding primer ( i.e. Zinser 123 or Valspar bonding primer) 1st and you wont have to sand. Give it a couple of coats but pay attention to brush strokes ( Id use a roller mostly) then paint it with a good quality paint. Chalk Paint techniques are super popular right now but you definitely want to use a polyurethane and not the paste wax or it wont be durable.
  • Leslie Leslie on Apr 16, 2015
    Agree, use the primer. It will make the job easier.
  • Diane Diane on Apr 19, 2015
    I would lightly sand it with a fine grit sandpaper, then put on a coat of Primer. A semi gloss paint will give it a nice finish, then a coat of polyurethane. If you really don't want it to show marks, antique it after the paint step.
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Apr 19, 2015
    With the 3 boys how about using Chalk board Paint on both ends.. That would give them a place to mark up all they wanted to and use your Chalk Paint on the front/top... Maybe change the knobs to a different color for each boy ( each boy would then have 2 drawers) they could call their own... looks like there is 2 narrow drawers at the top of the dresser? you could add Knobs on each of them too..?
    • Sarah Wilhelm Sarah Wilhelm on Apr 19, 2015
      Thanks Jean! I'm definitely leaning towards Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan since it allows you to skip the sanding and priming process. But I'd like this to be in my bedroom and not promote drawling on ANY furniture, haha!
  • Ione H Ione H on Apr 19, 2015
    chalk board paint is great for kids, and it comes in different colors, add some colorful knobs
  • Andrea Habitzruther Andrea Habitzruther on Apr 20, 2015
    Remember there is a difference between chalk paint and chalkboard paint.