Grey Chalk Paint Dresser

Looking to paint a grey chalk paint dresser but not sure where to start? Here is a great modern chalk paint furniture idea for you!

Get more chalk paint tips and secrets that you need to know here!

Here’s what the dresser looked like before the grey chalk paint. These vintage modern dressers are just the best!

They are so sturdy and so well built, and those sleek modern lines are perfect for soo many different decor styles! Anyway, let’s dive into the makeover!

This dresser started out as the typical furniture find on Facebook Marketplace.

It was beat up, cosmetically damaged, and basically left to fall apart until the owner decided to list it for sale to “get rid of it.”

Table of Contents

Supplies Used for Grey Chalk Paint Dresser

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Prepare and Prime Dresser for Chalk Paint

First, I prepped it how I always do. Learn how to prepare furniture for paint here.

Then I repaired the large gouge on the top with Bondo. Learn more about how to repair damaged furniture here.

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Check out my Bondo wood filler review to learn more.

Since I sanded down the top to some bare wood where the large gouge was, I primed the whole top with a stain blocking primer to seal in the wood grain and prevent bleed through stains.

This primer is a great stain blocking primer that is waterbased, so you can use it indoors without a bunch of fumes. Check out the best primers to stop tannin bleed here.

Paint Dresser with Grey Chalk Paint

Finally, it was time for some paint. I used Behr latex paint mixed to Sherwin William’s Iron Ore. It’s a beautiful dark grey color that has been very popular.

I turned it into homemade chalk paint with this homemade chalk paint recipe.

I like chalk paint better than latex paint because chalk paint sticks better, and when you sand it, it turns into a powder instead of balling up.

Check out my top chalk paint brands for your future furniture makeovers. Here are more chalk painted furniture ideas.

Either way, latex paint and chalk paint both need to be top coated for durability, so it’s a no-brainer for me when I’m looking for a budget-friendly paint for furniture.

Wondering what is chalk paint exactly and why it’s popular? Check out the blog post to learn more!

(I could have used Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim enamel, and I would have been able to skip the topcoat. Learn more about the process in this post on painting furniture with enamel paint.)

And then, I sprayed 2 coats of chalk paint with my paint sprayer for a smooth, even finish.

Check this post to learn more about best HVLP paint sprayers for furniture. And this post on how to use the Wagner FLEXiO 3000 to help you if you’ve never used a paint sprayer.

Check out this homemade chalk paint dresser makeover that I painted with the Homeright Super Finish Max sprayer. If you don’t have a paint sprayer, check out the best chalk paint brushes here.

Distress and Seal Grey Chalk Painted Dresser

I lightly distressed all the edges with 220 grit sandpaper. Learn more about distressing furniture here.

Then I cleaned up the dust with my shop vacuum and a tack cloth to make sure there wasn’t any dust left behind before moving to the next step.

closeup of grey painted dresser with distressing

Chalk paint has to be top coated with either polyurethane or wax if you want it to be durable and washable. Learn all about topcoats for painting furniture here.

So I sealed the paint in with multiple coats of my favorite waterbased polyurethane.

Just another great reason to love painting furniture with a paint sprayer. Spraying water based polyurethane is the best and easiest way to make water based polyurethane look perfect.

Learn ALL of my tips and tricks on how to spray polyurethane here!

Update and Paint Dresser Hardware

The hardware was updated with Rub N Buff, to give it that aged gold finish. This stuff is amazing to quickly update hardware. Just rub it on, and then buff it off.

closeup of painted drawer pull with rub n buff

Weird.. that’s what it’s called. ha! Learn another way to paint drawer pulls here.

To finish it off I brushed Country Chic Paint hemp oil inside the drawers to make the wood look fresh.

After it soaked into the wood for a couple of minutes, I wiped the excess oil off and let it dry for a few days.

freshening up the wood and hide scratches of inside of a drawer with hemp oil

This is such a great tip if your drawers have any scratches. It helps hide the scratches to create a final fresh new feel to used furniture.

And here’s what the grey chalk paint dresser looks like now! Get more painted dresser ideas here!

Here are more inspirations for DIY 9 drawer dressers makeovers.