Among many chalk paint furniture ideas, the two toned dresser makeover is a popular and stylish trend that involves updating it in two contrasting colors to transforming it into a unique and eye catching piece of furniture.

We will guide you through the process of painting and staining a single piece to create a beautiful contrast and added character. Let’s dive into the steps and tips to nail the two tone look!

When refreshing your furniture, you’d probably think of sticking to just one color. That’s fine and good, but adding a second color or finish could be a nice upgrade to the usual solid color look!

The key here is choosing the right color combo that works well together. For this project, we’re painting the base white and staining the top – but feel free to change it up to match your current style or home decor.

If you’ve never done a two toned dresser makeover before, don’t worry! It’s not as complicated as it looks. You can easily create this trendy look and get a one of a kind piece in just a few simple steps. So, let’s get started!

Supplies Used for Two Toned Dresser Makeover

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Prep Before Painting A Two Toned Dresser

We started by removing the hardware using our electric screwdriver. We set the hardware aside for later since I planned to paint them before putting them back on, but more on that in a bit. You can also use new hardware if you like!

removing hardware with electric screwdriver

Next, we cleaned the piece with Krud Kutter and wiped all surfaces with a damp rag and let everything dry before moving on to the next step. We have a guide on how to clean furniture before painting here for more tips.

Remove Old Finish from Wood Top

Then, I stripped off the top using Citristrip. This product is a safer, more eco friendly option that works well for removing old finishes. We feature it as one of the best wood stain removers in this post.

Citristrip chemical stripper to remove old finish

I applied a thick layer of Citristrip and let it sit for a few hours to cut through the finished wood. After everything dried out, I sanded the surface with our DEWALT orbital sander and 220 grit sanding discs to remove the remaining residue and make it a nice smooth surface for stain.

Staining The Top of A Dresser

At this point in the makeover, you could either start by painting the base of the dresser, or you can decide to stain the top first, but I usually begin with the top. I used a Dark Walnut oil based wood stain, applying it with a lint free rag. Remember to follow the natural wood grain and let the stain sit and dry.

Next, I taped off the top with painter’s tape, making sure to stick it under the lip or edge. Basically not on the stained part itself because pulling it off could mess up the stain – and nobody wants that!

Then, I covered the entire top with pre taped plastic and taped off all the drawers with pre taped plastic and painter’s tape to keep them protected while I worked on painting the base. Learn what is the best painters tape here.

Sand and Prime Before Painting

I continued the prep work – I scuffed the base using 220 grit sandpaper, making sure to smooth out any rough areas. This also helps with adhesion. I cleaned off all the dust afterward with our shop vac and tack cloth to pick up any remaining particles.

Next, I sprayed clear shellac all over this area to prevent any possible bleedthrough and help the new coating stick. You can learn more about using shellac in our guide on how to stop stains from coming through paint.

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Paint with Homemade Chalk Paint

Following our homemade chalk paint recipe, we mixed Behr latex in Pure White with calcium carbonate powder and water. If you’re unsure about making your own, check out these top chalk paint brands!

I applied the white chalk paint with our Wagner sprayer, and it took about four to five coats to get complete coverage. If you’re looking to invest in one, here are the best Wagner paint sprayers for furniture. Spraying definitely cuts down on time and gives your project a nice and smooth finish!

Once the base was completely dry, I lightly distressed the edges and details with some more 220 grit sandpaper, focusing on areas where natural wear and tear would usually happen. Then, I cleaned off the dust with a shop vac and a tack cloth again.

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Vonforn Paint Sprayer

Country Chic Paint in Peacoat Blue

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Varathane Water Based Polyurethane

Topcoat Two Toned Dresser

By this point, the stained top had dried for 48 to 72 hours. I could now topcoat it and the chalk painted finish at the same time! You want to seal everything with a durable product to protect your beautiful work.

I applied waterbased polyurethane with the same Wagner sprayer and did three coats to get the best durability. But can you use a paint sprayer for polyurethane? – you can get more answers from this post!

mixing Varathane waterbased polyurethane

You can also check out our comparison post on spray polyurethane vs brush on polyurethane to learn the difference between these two application methods.

Clean and Paint Hardware

Then, back to the hardware, I cleaned them thoroughly with Krud Kutter and then updated them with metallic Rustoleum Oil Rubbed Bronze Spray Paint and let the hardware dry completely for at least 24 hours before attaching them back to the piece.

And this is how our two toned dresser makeover turned out! It’s amazing how different finishes on a single piece can transform the look even more. As we mentioned, you can decide to use other combos on your piece to make it your own!

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Click any of these “before” photos below to view the “after” of that makeover.

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