Old Dresser Makeover Turns Into Great Piece of Furniture

Decor Home Ideas
by Decor Home Ideas
2 Materials
$80
4 Hours
Medium
I finally found some muse (and free time) to transform an outdated dresser I had purchased at the flea market into an outstanding piece of furniture.


Even though my husband wasn’t that positive about the result, I was brave enough to work on it thanks to the fact that my granddad used to be a professional furniture renewer.


He was a true craftsman who put his heart in everything he was doing. 
Clean the surface


The first thing you have to do is to clean the surface from dust and stains.
Apply the white paint


It’s best to apply 2 shots of the white paint to get a nice saturated result.
Apply the other color paint unevenly


Next step is to apply the other color only in certain places.


For my dresser, I’ve chosen the blue-green paint in order to give a vintage vibe to the new piece of furniture.
Give it some time


After applying the paint, wait until it dries out, preferably for 24 hours.


Afterwards, you should apply the dark wax to the entire chest to get this effect.


For all the beginner DIYers, here are some steps to follow when applying a dark wax:
  1. Use a smaller wax brush ( icon  once you use it for wax applying, you don’t have to use it for painting)
  2. Move the brush in all directions, making sure that you get the wax into the atom of the wood as you go. Keep working into the wax while it is still wet.
  3. Use an old fabric to remove the overload wax.


Leave overnight and glaze the wax with a fabric the next day to achieve a high shine.
Final touch


And finally, I highly recommend to sand down the chapels and the wood carving with a Fine (150-180) sandpaper.
The interior of the dresser is also painted with 2 shots of chalk paint (to create a chalky appearance) and a colorless wax on top.


For those of you who are not that well informed, the wax usage is required when painting with chalk paint to seal the color and keep water and moisture from getting in the finish.


The chalk paint lacks a sealer itself. Before applying the wax, make sure the paint is completely dry.


Materials used:
  • Chalk paint / Americana decor
  • Dark Wax / Americana Decor
  • Brush
  • Shrimp


You can choose other colors to mix and you will get amazing results. Just get an old dresser and start experimenting until you create your own masterpiece.


That's all! I hope you like it! :)
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 15 questions
  • Ticia Ticia on Jul 16, 2021

    Somehow I must have fallen off the planet -when did chalk paint become so popular to use that it replaced other paints? Is it really any better? Can anyone tell me? Thanks

  • Kat Kat on Jul 16, 2021

    The dresser turned out beautifully. You definitely inherited your grandfather's furniture refinishing skills. Question. In the list of items you used, I see shrimp😳. The only shrimp this old gal knows is the little creatures you make into shrimp cocktail as well as other dishes. What do you mean as shrimp?

  • Ani85728181 Ani85728181 on Jul 16, 2023

    One question

    You cover the whole cabinet with chalk paint twice and then remove it on the places where you want the natural wood to show. Am I understanding correctly?

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