Gorgeous DIY Painted Dresser Makeover Ideas

Beautiful before and after ideas for your DIY dresser makeover.

Are you looking to take your old furniture up a notch? If so, you're in luck! A simple way to breathe new life into an antique dresser or chest of drawers is to give it a gorgeous, DIY painted dresser makeover.

Discover dozens of ingenious vintage dresser makeover ideas that will help spruce up your piece of furniture with minimal effort. From stenciled designs to adding a pop of color, you can transform your dresser into a unique showpiece. Add instant style to your interior décor without breaking the budget with these inspiring dresser ideas.

Optional Supplies for Refinishing Furniture

• Small paint brush
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper or sanding block
• Orbital sander for big projects
• New hardware for your piece
• Paint sprayer
• Paint
• Primer
• Stain (Minwax is a great brand)
• Water-based polyurethane sealant
• Glaze finish

Dandelion DIY Painted Dresser Makeover

Sometimes, staining or re-painting an old furniture piece just doesn't cut it. I have refinished loads of furniture makeovers and sometimes you just want to do something unique and fun to satisfy that creative streak, like with my colorful ombre dresser. Hence, this dandelion painted dresser became the perfect candidate.

I used a combination of light coats of paint and stain for this thrifted dresser. However, I am NOT an artist. So the first time attempting dandelion hand-painted dandelions on these dresser drawers took me awhile to get all the dimensions and placement right. The dresser before was a sorry state!

But the after turned out amazing! It was so popular that when I brought another dresser home, I replicated dandelions on that one as well.

Since this dresser has 4 drawers instead of 3, I had to figure out how to cover the top drawer without making my dandelions look too big, wild and out of place. A blowing dandelion was the perfect solution and it made the end result different from the original chest.

Old Dresser Makeover Details

The wood grain is beautiful, creating the perfect backdrop for these dandelions. I painted the frame of this dresser with Benjamin Moore's White Dove then lightly distressed the edges. The front of the drawers are stained with Jacobean by Minwax. Next, I sealed the whole thing with a waterbased polyurethane. The old hardware was replaced with glass knobs to not cover up the dandelions too much.

DIY Painted Dresser Top

One big change was to replace the top of the dresser. Unfortunately, there was some water damage and the veneer was peeling. I tried to salvage the old top, but peeling the veneer off was going to be a very time consuming job. Replacing it seemed to be the best option.

Lowe's carries pine panels that are already joined together. You can probably find something similar at your local hardware store. So all I had to do was cut it down to the size, route the edges, apply new paint and reattach the top.

I love how this hand painted dandelion dresser turned out! For more DIY tutorials, see my youtube channel here.

Distressed Lavender Dresser With Mirror

This before and after dresser makeover doesn't even look like the same thing! Applying fun paint colors like this lovely lavender is a great way to bring in new color to a room. I also ended up distressing the edges of the entire dresser for a more antique look.

Pattern Painted Dresser

Why not not try something unique with painted dresser drawer fronts? With just a little bit of paint and a fun pattern, this antique furniture looks like the perfect dresser for a nursery.

Bold to Beautiful

A fresh coat of paint gives this dresser a completely new look. Going from a bold red to a subtle palette is the best way to create a style of neutrality. Add in new handles and knobs and what a huge difference it makes.

How to Refinish a Painted Dresser

To begin, assess the condition of the existing paint. If it's in good condition without peeling, painting over it is an option. Utilize 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it out, ensuring an even surface for a seamless paint finish. However, if the previous paint job is subpar, it's advisable to strip it entirely and commence with a fresh start.

Antique White Dresser

This like-new dresser is painted with Benjamin Moore's White Dove. Then I used a darker color for the stain on top, followed by slightly distressing it. I added a watered down glaze for the top coat to really get in all the cracks! 

Ombre Dresser Makeover

Looking to try something that really makes a statement? An ombre style dresser is perfect for those wanting to try out their creativity with a different color. It's also ideal for those who love a modern look. See more details here.

White Painted Dresser

Is your dresser too dark? You can also take a dark furniture piece and turn it into a brighter version with a little white paint.

More details on this dresser here.

Dresser With Replacing Top

The before and after of this dresser are slightly different because we ended up needing to replace the top. This is completely doable if your dresser top isn't salvageable.

What a beautiful blue grey dresser with dark walnut top.

Light Blue Distressed Dresser Makeover

This paint job is perfectly suited for the piece with its light blue paint, followed by antiquing with an oil based brown glaze.  

Custom Pink Dresser

Going more bold can be so much fun if you are purposely trying to bring in color to your space. This dresser for my girls' room is a custom pink that I added a lighter tone to. I will find a color I think I like and once I start to paint with it, sometimes the tones are off just a bit. Easily adjust your paint color by adding in some gray, brown or white to change the palette.

After painting with the custom pink, I added the White Dove ivory color by Benjamin Moore.  I used an oil based brown glaze to antique this and then I sealed it all with a Spar Urethane.

Don't spend extra money by buying a new dresser. Take an old piece and turn it into a stunning DIY painted dresser makeover to fit the needs of your space. Enjoy these before and after ideas to inspire your own masterpiece.

Happy Refinishing!

Brooke

Looking for additional ideas on how to transform your old dresser? See this inspiring DIY dresser turned bench tutorial.