I have a 100 year old birdseye wash stand, how do I refinish it?

Vivian
by Vivian

The fronts on the drawers are okay, but the trim, the top and the towel rack are damaged by scratches and age. The top is totally down to the wood. I would like to use it in my entryway under a Monet print in a black frame with a lot of black and grey in the picture. Should I paint the trim and top?

  3 answers
  • Wendy Wendy on Jul 15, 2018

    You can paint it! Chalk paint is pretty easy to use, and needs minimal prep.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 20, 2018

    Wendy is right but there is one thing I would do before painting it. Seal it. Use bullseye clear shellac. By sealing it you will keep the wood grain from standing out and give the paint a smoother finish. Afterwards (painting) you can use a paste wax and then buff for further protection.

  • Joanne Joanne on Jul 20, 2018

    I finished a wash stand with finish almost off the top. I stripped the rest of the top with a stripper. I sanded the top with 220 sand paper. Scrubbed the legs with 000 steel wool and stripper rinsed off stripper and wiped dry. Then wiped on same color stain over the old finish on the legs. When it was dry I added a wipe on poly turned out great.