DIY Dresser Makeover - The Life We Weave

A DIY dresser makeover is a great way to save money when buying furniture. Just recently I inherited an old bedroom set that had seen better days on the outside. But it is built with solid wood instead of the fiberboard that the more affordable dressers are made of. If you were to buy a solid wood dresser now it would cost you in the thousands of dollars.

This dresser that my daughter and I did the DIY makeover only cost us the price of 1 gallon of paint, drawer pulls, and a gold acrylic paint tube. We didn’t even use half of the gallon of paint and had two pulls leftover. So we decided to makeover the nightstands also. All three cost us $55.00. Definitely can’t beat three pieces of furniture for that price.

No Dresser Inherited

Not all of us get old furniture handed down to us. There are ways to get great pieces that won’t break the bank. Look at thrift stores, yard sales, ask friends for old pieces, the Offer Up app, and even the side of the road. I’ve seen dressers for $15 dollar at Goodwill many times. You will be surprised at what you will find. Just the other day I bought 2 side table lamps for $13.00 for two. I brought them home and I noticed on the bottom it said, Pottery Barn. They are out of stock but are listed for $300.00 each. I couldn’t believe the deal I got without even knowing it. There are some amazing pieces of furniture out there that might need a DIY makeover that will cost a minimal amount compared to what they would go for retail.

Start the DIY Dresser Makeover

Once you have found that great dresser to makeover decide what color you would like to paint it. We went black with a gold outline. This is another bonus to doing your DIY dresser makeover you get to choose the color you want not what comes from the factory. I like using satin paint. It makes it where it has a little shine but not too much and easier to keep clean. Dust won’t cling to it like flat paint and you are able to wipe it down with a wet cloth if needed.

Before Painting

Before the painting begins remove all of the hardware. When using the same hardware wash them with soap and water then make sure they are completely dried. Washing the hardware can be done anytime. Just make sure it’s done before you put them back on the drawers.

I like to try and get new hardware that fits the holes that are already there. A lot of times that isn’t possible. No worries if you find something you like that just doesn’t fit. Pick up some wood filler and fill in those holes that are not needed. When it’s time to put the drawer pulls or knobs on all that you will need to do is drill some holes where you want the hardware.

After the knobs are removed wipe down the dresser with a damp cloth of dish soap and water.

Imperfections of a DIY Dresser Makeover

This is a great time now to give it a good look. Check for deep scratches or dents in the wood. Here is a great post from entriway s .com that explains how to fix dents and broken areas. Now is the time to make it look like a new dresser instead of one that’s been painted real fast.

When you find an imperfection that can’t be sanded out fill it in with a wood filler. If you are restaining instead of painting make sure the filler is a stainable one. Let it dry for the recommended time on the jar.

Sanding Time

Once you have all the holes and dents filled and fully dried it’s time to sand. Using a power sander is faster but sandpaper does work also. Just a lot more work but doable. Go over the whole dresser making sure it is nice and smooth. Pay attention to the area that has been filled with wood filler. Get those even with the wood and just as smooth. Sanding also gives the dresser some tooth so the paint will adhere to it better. Sanding is a must if you want a great-looking dresser.

After the sanding is done once again wipe it down with a dry cloth to remove the dust.

Time To Paint

This is the time that your DIY dresser makeover starts to shine. I like using a 4″ sponge roller for cabinets. They give a nice smooth finish. Still have on hand a paintbrush for those hard-to-reach areas.

Make sure to start out with light layers of paint. It is tempting to go thick but light layers prevent drips and help the paint adhere to where there will be less chance of it scraping off.

Let the paint dry before you start another layer. Paint as many layers as needed to get the look you are wanting.

Hardware

After you have let the paint dry completely( I like to wait 24 hours) It’s time to dress up the dresser. Gather the knobs or pulls that you have chosen and mark where you want them to go. Marking where the holes need to go for the screws. Note what size of the screw the hardware takes. Here at toolsowner.com, they tell you how to figure out the correct size.

Gather your drill and the right size of a drill bit and check again if the marks are in the correct spot. Once you are sure go ahead and drill your holes through the drawers. If there was some chipping this would be a great time to touch up the paint if the knobs won’t cover it up.

Now add the knobs and tighten the screws.

Finish Up That DIY Dresser Makeover

Put the drawers back in and take a step back. Look how beautiful that dresser look!

It’s so exciting to finish a piece of furniture that you did yourself. Knowing that you salvaged a piece of furniture that you will be using for years to come.