DIY White Dresser Makeover
We have another exciting project for you to try out – this DIY white dresser makeover! And it’s not just your standard white piece, either. We did a little weathered gray top on it as well for a fun and unique touch. If you’ve been looking for a way to spruce up an old piece, this is for you!
The process for these DIY dresser makeover ideas is very straightforward, so you can easily recreate this for your home. So, keep reading for the step by step guide!
These vintage midcentury modern pieces are so much fun and so well built. And I just love the clean lines, especially when you paint these – they just look so good. So, we had a little bit of fun with this makeover.
Again, it’s not your average white dresser – we gave the top a weathered look to help it stand out and add more character to the whole piece. We also kept the original hardware, so we didn’t have to fill in the hardware holes or anything.
So, here’s how we painted the base white, and then I will go into more detail about how we finished the top with the gray finish. If you’re wondering, is two-toned furniture in style? – get answers here!
Supplies Used for DIY White Dresser Makeover
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- Electric Screwdriver
- Krud Kutter
- 220 Grit Sandpaper
- Shop Vac
- Tack Cloth
- Clear Shellac
- Painter’s Tape
- Pre Taped Plastic
- Behr Pure White
- Calcium Carbonate Powder
- Paint Filter
- Paint Sprayer
- Varathane Waterbased Polyurethane in Satin
- Valspar English Tea Party
- Behr Sahara Desert
- Behr Suede Gray
- Behr Black
Prep for Makeover
We started by taking off the hardware using an electric screwdriver, including the door hinges. After that, we gave the whole piece a good cleaning by wiping Krud Kutter all over to remove all the grease and grime that had built up over time.
Next, we sanded the piece with 220 grit sandpaper. We just did this by hand to lightly scuff up the surface to help the paint and the primer stick. Then, we cleaned up the dust with our shop vac and a tack cloth. Here’s all about sanding before painting furniture to learn about the process.
We sprayed two coats of clear shellac primer over everything. It helps with adhesion and prevents any bleedthrough issues, which can happen since this is wood furniture. Learn more about how to stop stains from coming through paint using shellac here.
Before moving on, we taped off all the drawers with painter’s tape and pre taped plastic to keep any paint from getting inside. We’re going for a clean, professional finish. Here are more tips on how to prevent paint bleed through painter’s tape and how to prevent overspray when painting furniture.
Paint Dresser White
We mixed up our homemade chalk paint recipe: Behr latex paint in Pure White, calcium carbonate powder, and water. We poured it into our Wagner sprayer through a filter to catch any debris or lumps, then applied the paint.
We did the front and the back of the doors and the drawers inside of the cabinets as well. It took us about 3 to 4 coats to get full coverage on everything. Lighter colors always take more coats to cover up darker wood. Check out these Wagner paint sprayer tips to make the most out of this tool.
We like to leave the drawers inside while working – it just saves space. Plus, it’s way easier on my back since I’m not constantly bending over drawers on the ground. This also helps keep the paint from getting splattered all over the inside of the dresser. We just open the drawers when painting the edges and tops of the drawer fronts, too.
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Distress and Topcoat Chalk Paint
With the new finish dried, I distressed it very, very lightly using 220 grit sandpaper. If you just want a subtle look, you can use 400 grit sandpaper, and it won’t distress the finish as much. Learn more about how to distress chalk paint here.
After that, we applied three coats of Varathane waterbased polyurethane in Satin. We thinned it out with about 5-10% water to make it go on more smoothly and give a nice, even finish. Can you spray polyurethane with a Wagner sprayer? – get answers here!
Gray Weathered Wood Top
Then, it was time to tackle the top. We used a mix of gray paints for this project. First, we applied a thin base coat of English Tea Party from Valspar. Once that dried, I layered on Sahara Desert, Suede Gray, and Black using a dry brush technique.
I kept the strokes long across the surface from one side to the other, and we just kept kind of blending and doing the dry brush back and forth until we were happy with the weathered look. Check out how to create a weathered wood gray finish here for a more detailed guide to this technique. I also did it in this rustic farmhouse end table makeover here.
Seal White Dresser and Wood Top
We finished it all off with a coat of Varathane waterbased polyurethane to seal in the finish, make it more durable, and keep it easy to clean and wipe down in the future. Learn more about sealing painted furniture here, including other sealant options.
Then, we put the hardware and doors back on. You can learn how to clean old furniture hardware here to refresh them as well.
And here’s what it looks like now. Isn’t it so cute? I love how nice and bright it is. And the weathered gray top gives it just the right touch of rustic charm. If you want more inspiration, check out these two tone dresser ideas!
More Before and After Makeovers
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Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.
So that’s our simple and easy guide for a DIY white dresser makeover! You can customize your piece to match your personal style and home decor. Feel free to be creative with different color combinations or techniques like distressing and dry brushing!
DIY White Dresser Makeover
Spruce up your piece with this DIY white dresser makeover with a little weathered gray top on it as well for a fun and unique touch.
Materials
Instructions
- Remove the hardware and door hinges using an electric screwdriver. If you're using the same ones later, clean them to refresh their look.
- Clean the dresser by wiping Krud Kutter all over to remove all the grease and grime that had built up over time. Let dry.
- Lightly sand the piece with 220 grit sandpaper to help the paint and the primer stick. Then, clean up the dust with shop vac and a tack cloth.
- Spray two coats of clear shellac primer over everything. It helps with adhesion and prevents any bleedthrough.
- Tape off all the drawers with painter's tape and pre taped plastic to keep any coating from getting inside for a clean, professional finish.
- Mix up homemade chalk paint with Behr latex paint in Pure White, calcium carbonate powder, and water. Pour the mixture into the sprayer through a filter to catch any debris or lumps.
- Spray the dresser with 3 to 4 coats to get full coverage on everything. Lighter colors always take more coats to cover up darker wood.
- After the chalk paint dried, distress it very, very lightly using 220 grit sandpaper. If you just want a subtle look, you can use 400 grit sandpaper, and it won't distress the finish as much.
- Thin Varathane waterbased polyurethane in Satin with about 5-10% water to make it go on more smoothly and give a nice, even finish. Apply three coats onto the white dresser.
- Apply a thin base coat of English Tea Party from Valspar onto the wood top. Once that dried, layer on Sahara Desert, Suede Gray, and Black using a dry brush technique. Keep the strokes long across the surface from one side to the other, and keep blending until you're happy with the weathered look.
- Finish with a coat of waterbased polyurethane all over to protect the dresser from everyday use. Then, attach the hardware back onto the dresser.
Recommended Products
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More Painted Furniture Makeovers
- Two Toned Dresser Makeover
- White Chalk Painted Dresser
- White And Modern Wood Dresser (Two-Toned) Makeover
- Painted Hallway Cabinet Makeover
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