How to Paint a Dresser

Searching to update an aged dresser? Locate out how to paint a wooden dresser the uncomplicated way for a stunning, easy complete.

I adore a superior home furnishings makeover there’s a little something about the blend of creative imagination and restoration that – at the risk of sounding extremely spectacular – stirs my soul. So a modern painted dresser makeover for our grasp bed room was both equally price successful and therapeutic. 😉

Fairly than display you a uncomplicated just before and immediately after, even though, I wished to give a step by step tutorial on how to paint a dresser. In today’s local climate of extended guide periods and high expense, I consider it is particularly sweet to be in a position to restore an old piece to new everyday living. Irrespective of whether it is a spouse and children heirloom, a new-to-you antique, a enjoyable vintage come across, or only a substantial high quality new-ish dresser that wants a contemporary glimpse, being ready to restore an out-of-date dresser is this kind of a valuable skill!

Obtaining a Good quality Utilised Dresser

Initially, here’s a fast glance at the piece I lately painted. Just after a pair of a long time of residing with household furniture that didn’t seriously healthy the format of our master bed room, I lastly determined to go my beautiful empire dresser out to the ranch and get a extensive, small dresser that in good shape our area greater.

I located this dresser on Fb Marketplace domestically, and with dovetail drawers, smooth glide drawer slides, and velvet lining, I was thrilled with the quality I obtained for the rate.

It is a additional fashionable shape and design and style than I frequently pick out for home furniture, but I knew I wanted a painted dresser that was a little bit stately and yet easy to enhance the wood grain on the far more ornate antique washstands I restored for bedside tables.

Also, just hold out on that blank wall about the window… I’ve acquired significant ideas! For the dresser, while, I was on the lookout to attain a clean, modern-day, matte complete in a deep moody blue. Let me exhibit you how.

This is not sponsored, but a specific thanks to Fusion for giving the paint. All thoughts are my own!

How to Paint a Dresser

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Applications and Materials:

I’ve put with each other a video tutorial for you. For additional specifics and created instructions, keep looking through down below.

1. Get rid of drawers and hardware

Pull each drawer all the way out of the dresser overall body and set it aside with the drawer entrance facing up. Then clear away all knobs, pulls, and attractive hardware. Store these securely in a cup or bag so you really don’t lose them.

As you do so, examine the dresser for any critical harm to the prior end. If there are important chips or deep scratches in the complete, consider a second to fill these with wood filler before the future phase. Trust me, the prep get the job done is value it!

2. Evenly sand

Applying medium grit sandpaper (I like 150), give the dresser a light-weight sanding. If it requires much more smoothing, go in excess of a second time with 220 grit paper.

You do not have to have to eliminate the previous finish fully considering the fact that you are likely to paint the dresser. You just want to scuff up the past finish and smooth out any inconsistencies. If the earlier complete was shiny, be absolutely sure to sand sufficient to remove that sheen, as this could make your paint not adhere pretty nicely.

3. Cleanse

It is critical to eliminate all sanding dust as properly as any leftover grime, grease, or grime. I propose a speedy wipe down with an aged rag to remove the greater part of the sanding dust. Then spray the dresser with Krud Kutter or Uncomplicated Green and wipe with a lint-cost-free fabric to make certain a clear, oil no cost complete.

4. Paint very first coat

My intention for this dresser was a sleek and resilient finish no cost of brush strokes (if you want a textured chalk paint complete, then this is not the suitable system for you.) Utilizing a large-excellent synthetic brush or a little foam roller built for trim paint, use the paint in smooth prolonged strokes, being careful to stay away from paint drips. Allow it dry totally.

5. Paint 2nd coat

Repeat action 4 for the second coat.

6. (Optional) Use top rated coat

Fusion mineral paint does not demand a top coat, and our dresser will only keep decorative goods, a lamp, and my outfits when I fail to set them absent )… so I did not seal it. But if you know your dresser will acquire substantial visitors, then you could possibly pick to seal it with a polyurethane or h2o-based mostly top rated coat (scroll down to see associated posts for much more ideas on major coats!).

7. (Optional) Update components

While your paint dries, you might look at updating your hardware. I gave these drawer pulls a very little facelift with Rub ‘n Buff, which is my most loved gold wax item. I just wiped it on with a paper towel and rubbed off the excess.

8. Set up components

As soon as every thing has thoroughly dried, reinstall your components. Then use the dresser diligently for at the very least of couple of weeks to enable the paint to absolutely overcome to its toughest end.

Painting Home furniture FAQs:

Can you paint a dresser without sanding?
You can, if you use chalky paint or mineral paint, but I would advise towards it. A quite light sanding (not to take away the complete, just to scuff it up a bit) will sleek out imperfections and enhance your paint’s adherence and consequently sturdiness.

Do I need to key my dresser just before portray?
That will count on the past complete and sort of paint (and colour) you are using. As you saw over, it is possible to paint with out primer if you get ready the wood thoroughly (a light-weight sanding to take out any shiny finishes) and use a paint manufactured to adhere, these as mineral paint or chalky paint.

Even so, if you are setting up to use latex paint or oil based paints, I advise priming. If you are striving to paint a really dim wood dresser white, then you may want to primary just to lower down on the number of coats of paint needed. If the wood is in particular dark or various and you want a clean up, light color, then I suggest an oil based mostly primer.

What sort of paint do you use on a dresser?
My preferred paint to use on dressers (and most small household furniture pieces) is Fusion mineral paint. Nonetheless, I have also experienced achievements with chalk paint, latex, and even oil-primarily based paints. The vital factor is that you prepare the dresser to receive the paint correctly. If you select latex or oil paint, you will want to use satin, semi-gloss, or gloss for durability.

Can you paint a dresser with spray paint?
I enjoy using spray paint on outside furnishings and extras, but I would not recommend working with it on a dresser considering that spray paint does not generally give you a really even end. And most dressers have significant flat parts that would be challenging to spray paint devoid of some inconsistencies in the end.

Alternatively, you could use a paint sprayer, with mineral or latex paint like I did on our murphy mattress, but I find that taping off all the drawers and openings of a dresser is incredibly wearisome and hardly really worth the perform considering the fact that dressers are simply just not pretty significant.

Can I stick to these directions for other wood home furniture (like chairs, beds, tables, and many others.)?
Yep! These same directions could be adopted for most items of home furniture. However, I do suggest a leading coat for a table or desk to give it better longevity.

Other Household furniture Painting Ideas

Here are a number of extra posts you may obtain helpful when portray household furniture. Get recommendations on poly, waxes, stripping home furnishings, and more!

Satisfied painting!