Are you ready to transform an ugly, boring dresser into a gorgeous faux wood masterpiece? I’m here to help you do just that! Let’s get started!
I thrifted this hideous stickered dresser for very cheap at our local second-hand store.
Materials needed:
- Tinted tan primer
- Varathane whitewash
- Rust-oleum Java Brown antique glaze
- General Finishes flat topcoat
- Medium-grit Sandpaper
- Foam rollers
- Paintbrush
- New hardware knobs
Step 1: Remove drawers from the dresser
Let’s make things easier by removing the dresser drawers first. This will make painting coats onto the dresser much easier to manage. Be sure to check out my tutorial on adding trim to this dresser if your dresser needs a little dressing-up like this one did!
Step 2: Rough up the surfaces
Next you need to give that old dresser a bit of a rough-up with some 100 grit sandpaper. It’s kind of like a spa day for furniture!
Step 3: Apply tinted tan primer
With your trusty foam roller, apply a tinted tan primer to the dresser. If you have white primer, you can mix in a bit of light tan paint. Think of it like putting on a good base coat of makeup before the fun stuff!
Step 4: Whitewash
Now the real fun begins! Grab your Varathane whitewash and start rubbing it onto the wood. Rub some of it off with a rag to leave a thin layer of whitewash. This will create a textured, wood grain effect. Repeat this process on all surfaces of the dresser.
Step 5: Antique it
Give the whitewash a little time to dry, then get your paintbrush ready for the Java Brown antique glaze. It’s like giving the dresser a vintage makeover! Rub off as much or as little glaze as you want to create that perfect distressed look.
Step 6: Protect with two layers of topcoat
Time to protect your hard work! Use a 4-inch foam roller to apply two coats of General Finishes flat topcoat. This will get rid of that oily-paint feel and protect the new paint from chipping.
Step 7: Replace the hardware
Last but not least, replace those boring old knobs with some brand new hardware to make it pop!
There you have it! You just turned that old dresser into a beautiful, faux wood masterpiece.
