The Only Reasons To Paint An Antique Dresser

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There are many reasons not to paint an antique dresser. However, I feel strongly about saving these old pieces even if it means to paint them. For this project, I have chosen to do a little of both. Restoration and paint. Read on…

This post contains a few affiliate links to help you find the products I use. You are not charged extra to use any of the links, but any income I make will be used for more fun projects! To see my full disclaimer, click here. 

Antique Dresser Makeover

Preparing For The Makeover

This old gal had seen better days. Her top was pretty beat up and no amount of sanding would repair the beauty of the wood. However, the lower half wasn’t too bad. The wood looked okay.

The drawers were falling apart and if that weren’t bad enough, someone had added wire to the bottom of this antique dresser and several holes on the back. Wanna know why? Scroll down to see more

Ha! The only reason I know this is because I saw my Grandfather do this to my Grandma’s furniture. Mothballs were placed inside the wire to repel varmints. That’s what he called them! They had a weekend home in the country and let’s just say it wasn’t as secure as it needed to be. My nights spent with my Grandparents were sometimes interesting, to say the least.

After the usual sanding, cleaning, and repairing I decided that I would have to paint.  But, rather than paint the whole dresser, I would only paint half. That sounds weird, right? I had a plan.

Replacing The Hardware

The hardware was cleaned up and replaced in its original spot. Here’s a tip for you. Use a pair of Needle Nose Pliers to hold those tiny nails to avoid smashed fingers. It will seriously change the relationship with your hammer. You’re welcome!

Painting The Antique Dresser

Below are the products that I used to create my masterpiece.

• Villa (Chalk Synthesis Paint)
• Weathervane (Chalk Synthesis Paint)
• Cling On Paint Brush
• Spray Bottle (for water)
• Putty Knife (for blending the paint)
• Lemon Verbena Furniture Salve 

I started with a color called Villa from the Wise Owl Paint Line. Wise Owl Paint is a highly pigmented paint and goes on like a dream. Great coverage with usually 2 coats. When painting over darker woods with light colors, it may take three coats of the paint.

I love their Cling On Paint Brushes too! I painted the upper half with one coat and used my Cling On Brush to make the paint appear to be streak down the wood where it gradually fades into the wood. It gave it an artistic look. Normally I would have used a primer before painting, but I didn’t mind if stains bled through the paint. The finish I wanted was old and weathered and the few stains just added character.

The secondary color used is called Weathervane. It’s a yummy dark gray and when blended with the Villa, it creates a beautifully aged finish. I used my Cling On Brush, a spray bottle with water and a putty knife to create this look. After completing the design I wanted, I allowed the paint to fully dry. About 3 hours at room temperature. Wise Owl Paint dries quickly and that helps me complete projects a lot quicker. I like that!

Sealing The Paint And Wood On The Antique Dresser

Wise Owl makes a Furniture Salve that is nothing less than amazing! It can be used for so many things. It’s great to seal wood, paint, clean old hardware and even helps with old sticky wood drawers. I applied it all over the whole piece, inside and out using a soft, white cotton cloth. It conditioned the wood and sealed the paint. It comes in several scents, but the Lemon Verbena is my favorite. You gotta try this stuff! It smells amazing. No musty, stinky wood furniture for me.

The Finished Product

I’m super happy with the finish! Rustic, yummy, aged goodness with the beauty of the wood. The best of both worlds and as a result, I saved another piece from the landfill.

I’m so glad I got to share my makeover with you. Do you like wood and paint finishes together? CLICK HERE  to see a cool copper leaf finish on a minibar.

Until the next project…