While older furniture is beautifully crafted, it’s coloring and hardware can look outdated in our homes. But that’s no reason to let these pieces go to waste.
With a little work, you can completely transform your older furniture into stunning new pieces for your home.
That Shabby Guy teaches us how in his provincial dresser makeover tutorial. For this piece, the top will end up with a natural dark brown stain with the rest of the dresser painted white and stained with an antique finish.
First, you’ll want to remove all of your hardware and put the pieces and screws aside for safekeeping. You’ll also want to take all the drawers out so nothing drips on them.
Apply Klean Strip chemical stripper or another stripper to only the top of your piece.
The 15-minute paste formula was used for this project. Just pour it right on and spread it out evenly with a paintbrush.
It’s important that the area you are working in has good ventilation and that you work quickly because the stripper has strong fumes and works fast.
Keep the solution on your piece for 10 to 15 minutes before using a large plastic scraper to remove the old varnish.
Gently run it along your piece so the varnish scrapes right off. Plastic is best because metal can scratch your wood.
A smaller scraper should be used to get into the edges, angles, and tiny crevices. Make sure you have a bucket or trash can to get rid of those gross globs of varnish.
Once you’re done scraping you can pour mineral spirits over your piece and use a stripping pad to spread it out and rub into your piece to remove any leftover stripper.
When you’re done, wipe it off with a clean rag. This top must be completely dry before you can do any more work on it.
Try placing some paint cans underneath the furniture legs to elevate it and make it a little easier to work on.
Use TSP cleaner to wipe down the rest of your piece and drawers.
This will get rid of any existing dirt or grime that will ruin your new paint job. Now you’re ready to sand your piece with 120 grit sandpaper.
When you’re done, brush the piece with a clean paintbrush and wipe with a damp cloth to remove any leftover dust.
You’ll want to sand the top of the piece using a 220 grit sandpaper before wiping it down. Place painter’s tape around the edges of the top of your pieces to project it while you paint the body of your dresser.
The body of the dresser will be painted with four thin coats of white paint. This will ensure a smooth finish with minimal brush strokes.
Y0u’ll do the same to the drawers. When those are done you can take your tape off of the top of the piece. Sand the top piece with 320 grit sandpaper before you wipe down.
Now you’re ready to apply your stain. Miniwax Dark Walnut oil-based stain was used for this piece.
Cover the piece generously with stain and let it sit for 15 minutes before you wipe it away with a rag. For the rest of the piece, you’ll want to work in sections to ensure each section stains the same way.
For the bottom and drawers, cover the piece in stain and wipe off immediately. This will give your furniture an antique finish.
Do the drawers last and in sections so you can make sure they match the dresser.
Place them in the dresser as you go so you could stand back and make sure they all match and you don’t have any blotchy patches. The piece is then finished off with an aerosol semi-gloss lacquer.
You’ll need lots of ventilation and a respirator mask when using this product.
Be sure to shake the can frequently when you’re using it to ensure your product is mixed well.
You can test on a piece of cardboard so you can get comfortable with how your spray will be applied.
Spray lightly with no saturation while recovering about 20 percent of your last line. Apply in four light coats and one final heavy coat.
Make sure you wait at least 15 minutes between each coat.
Before your last coat on the top of the piece, you’ll want to lightly sand it with 320 grit paper to remove bumps from the aerosol spray.
Wipe down then spray your final coat which should now leave a glass-like coating.
The hardware for this piece was sprayed with oil rubbed bronze enamel spraypaint in a silver color.
The pieces were given several thin coats once they are dry you can reinstall your hardware and enjoy your gorgeous new piece. Get all of the details on this project in the video below.
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