How To Paint a Dresser To Make It Look Like New Again

Evaluate Your Dresser

Before you grab your paint brush and get started, remember that not all dressers are good candidates for repainting or refinishing. Antique dressers should be evaluated prior to painting to make sure that doing so won't devalue the piece. This dresser had been painted numerous times and the faux wood look using brown paint was heavy and worn.

Remove Hardware and Contents

Prep work is so important when painting a dresser. Don't rush the process or you'll end up with a careless looking end result. To start, carefully remove all drawer pulls using a screwdriver and empty all the drawers. Working on the dresser will be much easier when it's not loaded with stuff.

Sand Existing Finish

If your dresser has a smooth finish and is in good shape, feel free to skip this step if you are using chalk paint. However, if you want to smooth out some rough edges, use a medium grit sanding block to sand off any high points.

Clean the Dresser and Let Dry

Remove any dust and debris from the surface. If the surface is not pristine, dust will get stuck in the paint and compromise the finish. Use a damp, lint-free cloth to wipe down the dresser. Allow the dresser to dry completely.

Roll on a Coat of Paint

Read the directions on the paint can for specifics. We added a tablespoon of water to thin out the chalk-finish paint to a desirable consistency prior to painting. Use a roller to paint the larger surface areas to create a finish that does not have visible brush strokes. Roll paint onto drawer fronts and drawer sides to ensure a smooth finish.

Trim With a Brush

Not every surface of the dresser can be painted with a roller.

With a paint brush, fill in the edges and any detailing the roller didn't hit. Allow the paint to dry completely. Depending on the paint used, you may need to apply one to three coats of paint. (We applied one coat since the paint covered the dresser well.) Wait about 48 hours before applying the final protective finish.

Buff on a Wax Finish

For latex and oil-based paints, you won't necessarily need to put a finish coat on top of a dresser. However, if you're painting with chalk paint, wax finishes are a common finishing step. We buffed on two different wax finishes: a clear and a dark.

Apply the clear finish to the entire dresser. Focus the dark wax finish on details and around the edges. Use the same rag used to apply the clear wax to buff the dark wax for best results. The transitions should look seamless from one wax to the next.

Use Wax To Lubricate Rails

One way to make a dresser seem new again is to improve its function. This quick trick will help old wooden dressers slide better and not get stuck.

Buff on a clear wax finish on the wood rails of the dresser drawer. Additionally buff on the same wax finish on the inner rails where the wood rubs against each other.

Reattach Your Hardware

The last touch is adding back the decorative hardware. We reused the existing knobs without refinishing them to retain that authentic antique vibe. If you prefer, update your hardware in a similar style so you won't have to drill any extra holes.