DIY Mustard Yellow Card Catalog Dresser

I’m so glad we wrote that old blog post on How to Make a Card Catalog from an Old Dresser with all the details so I could recreate the look over a year later without my dad’s expertise!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I also may earn from other qualifying purchases with other companies or get free product to review and use. All opinions are my own.

Supplies Used:

• Krud Kutter
• 220 Grit Sandpaper
• Shop Vac
• Tack Cloth
• Mustard Yellow Paint from Sherwin Williams
• BBFrosch Paint Transformer Powder
• Paint Sprayer
• Waterbased Polyurethane
• New Card Catalog Hardware
• Screws
• KwikWood
• Java Gel Stain

Mustard Yellow Chalk Paint

After the drawer fronts were routered out, I started on the mustard yellow paint.

To make sure the paint stuck to the end table, I cleaned the dirt, grime, wax, and oil off of the dresser with Krud Kutter.

Check out how to clean furniture before painting here.

Then I lightly sanded the whole dresser down with 220 grit sandpaper and removed any dust with a vacuum and a tack cloth.

Learn about the importance of sanding before painting furniture here.

Prepping the dresser for paint is the most important step in the painting process.

So if you want all your hard work to last, take a few extra minutes to properly prep the wood for paint. Otherwise, your paint could easily scratch or peel off!

BB Frosch Paint Transformer Powder (Chalk Paint Powder)

I picked out a mustard yellow paint Sherwin Williams and had Home Depot color match it.

Then I mixed some BBFrosch Paint Transformer Powder into the paint to make homemade chalk paint.

This was my first time using BB Frosh to make homemade chalk paint, and I am super impressed by it!

It really did make latex paint into chalk-style paint, and not just any homemade chalk-style paint, but really good chalk-style paint! I actually can’t wait to use it again!

*Update: We did use BB Frosh Powder again to transform this DIY Pink Dresser and I love how it turned out!

BB Frosch Paint Transformer Pros

• It turns cheap latex paint into quality chalk-style paint.
• Mix with any color under the sun from your local hardware or paint store.
• It’s easy to mix together.
• The homemade chalk paint is way better than the homemade chalk paint recipe I usually use.
• The adhesion was great!
• I love how it made the paint silky smooth and easy to distress.
• You can mix small batches so you don’t use all the powder in just one color.
• It’s a bit cheaper compared to other chalk-style paints!

BB Frosch Paint Transformer Cons

• You have to mix it into the paint, so it takes an extra minute or two.
• Honestly, I can’t think of another con.

Learn more about how to use BB Frosch Paint Powder here.

I painted the dresser with a few coats of mustard yellow paint and my favorite paint sprayer.

You can use a paintbrush if you don’t have a paint sprayer! This is my favorite paint brush because of its shape, quality, and price.

Learn more about painting furniture with a paint sprayer!

Then I cleaned off any dust and sealed the chalk paint with my very favorite water-based polyurethane.

Chalk style paint is very porous and has to be sealed for wipe-ability and extra durability, and spraying poly from a paint sprayer is super and easy, and gives the perfect streak-free finish.

Learn ALL of my tips and tricks on How to Spray Polyurethane here!

The Card Catalog Hardware

After the paint was dry I added this fresh new card catalog hardware and put little labels in them. That’s my favorite part!

These are the screws I used to attach the hardware to the dresser.

I used the same ones on the other card catalog dresser makeover, and they have held up great, even with the drawers full of clothes.

Use the code “sunlight” at checkout to get 10% off your order of hardware! D Lawless Hardware is one of my favorite places to shop for hardware and their prices can’t be beaten!

**Before painting, we filled the old hardware holes with our favorite and easy-to-use Kwikwood instead of wood filler. Learn more about how to change hardware on a dresser!

Check out the best wood filler for furniture here.

The Stained Dresser Top

You may have noticed that the top was missing from the during photos. This dresser had a laminated top, and I wanted a stained wood top for this dresser.

So I removed the old top and replaced it with a new wood top.

The new wood was actually recycled from the top of one of my desk turned into nightstands makeovers.

I cut the old top down to the size of this dresser and then I stained it in the deep and rich Java Gel Stain.

Learn more about how to replace the top of a dresser here!

DIY Mustard Yellow Card Catalog Dresser

Print

Turn a vintage dresser into this DIY mustard yellow card catalog dresser and give your space a pop of color.

Materials

• Krud Kutter
• 220 Grit Sandpaper
• Tack Cloth
• Mustard Yellow Paint from Sherwin Williams
• BBFrosch Paint Transformer Powder
• Waterbased Polyurethane
• New Card Catalog Hardware
• Screws
• KwikWood
• Java Gel Stain

Tools

• Shop Vac
• Paint Sprayer

Instructions

1. Router out the drawer fronts to recreate the design of a catalog dresser.
2. Clean and scuff sand the dresser to prep for paint.
3. Mix some paint and paint transformer powder to make homemade chalk paint.
4. Paint a few coats onto the dresser.
5. Seal the paint with waterbased polyurethane.
6. Add new card catalog hardware and put little labels in them.
7. Replace the laminated top with a wood top.
8. Stain the top with a deep and rich gel stain.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Paint Transformer Powder
• 
  Waterbased Polyurethane
• 
  Gel Stain

Please share this makeover with your friends and family by pinning this image!

I love that this piece can either be a card catalog dresser or a card catalog nightstand!

We are using the originals as nightstands, and I love them! But it’s also big enough to be a dresser in an entryway, or a coffee bar, etc. Even extra storage in a bathroom!

-Natalie

Love bold colors? Here are more makeovers:

• DIY Emerald Green Dresser
• Painting a China Cabinet Purple
• DIY Pink Dresser
• Yellow Painted Vintage Dresser Makeover
• Painted Dresser Ideas

Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture.

Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!