• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Dresser/Chest » How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain

    How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain

    Published by Gail | Published September 29, 2016 | Updated June 8, 2022
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    How to update a dresser using old furniture. Removing the front trim helps to modify the look of this vintage dresser. Photo tutorial included. #MyRepurposedLife #repurposed #furniture #update #dresser #modern via @repurposedlife

    I love two toned furniture projects using dark stain and almost any color. I'm going to show you how to update a dresser with a two-toned look. It involves navy and Jacobean stain. This month’s power tool challenge post is all about modify—which is what I normally do to all of my projects. But I took a step back this month and made it a little easier, but I am still including lots of tidbits to help you learn something from this modified dresser.

    chest of drawers tall dresser beforeI picked up this dresser, aka a chest of drawers earlier this summer from my hairdresser. It has definitely seen better days. Because the theme this month is “modify” I decided to update this dresser working on the bottom of this piece. It’s a little “dated”, don’t you think?

    So much better, looking a little modern!! Can you believe it's the same piece of furniture?

    Not into wood working, looking for an easy dresser makeover with paint?

    Let's see how to update a dresser . . .

    How to disassemble furniture

    remove bottom trim of chest or dresserI began the modification process by removing the old trim on the front of the dresser. At this point, you must resist the urge to just start prying and hammering the wood trim. You must look for the hidden screws and remove them. After doing so,  all the wood trim will be easily removed.

    1x6 trim for old dresser

    Using a 1x6 in place of the old trim was the plan. I actually wanted to add trim around the front and both sides. However,  the width I needed was a full 6” a 1x6 wouldn’t work, so I just decided to add trim inside the front legs.

    I keep a small piece of sandpaper near my saw at all times so that as soon as I cut a board, I can knock off the splintering pieces.

    *this post contains affiliate links*

    Pocket holes attach new trim pieces

    kreg jigTo attach the 1x6, I used my kreg jig to drill pocket holes on each end of the board, as well as a couple on the width of the board.

    pocket hole screwsHere you can see that I used a right angle clamp and some pocket hole screws in order to attach the 1x6 in between the existing legs of the dresser. Notice right by the trigger of the drill the pocket hole along the width of the board for extra strength.

    new trim for dresserHere is the new 1x6 in place.

    More Ways to Update a Dresser

    sand strip dresser topThe dresser top was in really bad shape, but I figured it would be better to sand the finish off instead of stripping it.

    60 grit sandpaper discsI buy these sanding discs in 50 count because they are so much cheaper that way. I started with 60 grit, then went to 150, then 200.

    Make any necessary repairs

    repair dresser drawersAfter inspecting all the drawers, there were some repairs to be done. I used Gorilla Wood Glue and bar clamps.

    repair dove tail joint with wood glue and clampOne of the dove tail joints had come loose, more Gorilla Wood Glue and another clamp to take care of it. I use baby wipes in the shop for lots of uses, including wiping up glue.

    remove hardwareWhile the glue was setting up, I removed all of the knobs. Only 2 of the drawers needed repairs.

    Refinish drawer fronts

    sand drawer frontsThe same technique was used to remove the finish from the drawer fronts. 60, 150, 220. I actually used citristrip for the small middle piece, then sanded it to finish removing the finish.

    Stain the top and drawers

    jacobean stain Minwax Jacobean stain was used on the top of the dresser and the drawer fronts.

    Prepare to paint the updated dresser

    diy chalky paintI mixed up some diy chalky paint primer using an oops dark blue and plaster of paris. I applied it using a cheap chip brush. Do you know how much I love these brushes? Sure, the first couple of times you use them, they shed horribly, but the more you use them, the better they get!

    dark blue dresserI painted about 3 light coats over the dresser sides and front.

    Things don't always go as planned

    old dresser new lookThis is me anxiously doing a dry run test to see how much I love it. Not so much.

    It is so obvious that the new board was added. So I decide to patch it some more. (I used a little sawdust and wood glue to fill that small gap before I painted it)

    patched trimAt the end of day 1, I used a lot of spackling to patch the seam . . . then I came in and looked at the pictures. I really should do that more often, instead of waiting till the end of the day. I could barely sleep that night for thinking about removing this new 1x6 and doing something different.

    A much better plan to update a dresser

    remove new dresser trimThe very first thing on day 2 I carefully removed all of the screws and pried the newly installed 1x6 away from the front of the dresser. While it was upside down I sanded the plaster and cut four scrap pieces to “beef up” the original sides (legs) To see if it was going to look okay, I clamped the new pieces and set it right side up.

    beef up the dresser legsI used Gorilla wood glue and my nail gun to attach the new pieces of wood. I then used my orbital sander  to make the new piece blend better with the old piece.

    patching and sanding

    There was a lot of patching, painting, and sanding to do to make the two pieces look like one leg. After this photo I also patched the staple dents.

    TIP: use a scrap piece of wood with your sandpaper to get a flatter, smoother finish when sanding.

    A vintage dresser is updated into a more modern style

    looking better with plan bI personally think it is much better, but anything was a huge improvement over the original dresser trim.

    Dark wax tones down the color and helps seal

    black wax heirloom traditionsOops! I know this isn’t a blue dresser, it’s actually a red library table that I got the same day as this dresser. But I forgot to take a picture of the jet black wax I used on the blue dresser to tone down the color a little. It wasn’t as deep as I had wanted it to be. This wax and sponge are fromHeirloom Traditions Paint.

    Hardware jig makes installing new knobs easy

    how to use kreg hardware jig for drawer pulls

    How to use the Kreg cabinet hardware jig

    • Adjust the drill guides and the edge guide for your handles
    • Clamp the jig in place
    • Drill through the guides
    • Sand the rough edges
    • Attach hardware
    • Smile!

    A video about using a hardware jig

    Wait! Don’t think it’s that easy? I made a video . . .

    This jig is so much easier than the other jig I’ve had for years. Not only that, it’s small and compact, and it’s not that expensive. It will save you time and trouble, believe me I know. I have installed this kind of hardware before on my Cord Clutter post. One of those pulls still has one screw missing because the handle is crooked when installed.

    Navy Blue and Stained Modified Dresser

    navy blue stained chest of drawersI really thought I was going to be able to complete this project in one day. Because of the EXTRA modifications, it took 2 days, but I’m so glad I made the extra effort. You may be wondering about the original KNOB holes. I left them. Because I was able to very strategically place the new pulls, they are not visible.

    Old Dresser Updated

    ugly dresser makeover navy jacobean MyRepurposedlife.comLook at those perfectly spaced bin pulls from D. Lawless Hardware. I bought them a couple of years ago, and have just been waiting for the perfect piece to use them. I’m so glad I waited till I got that new Kreg Hardware Jig.

    Did you notice the new faux whitewashed floor?

    pin it
    ugly dresser makeover with paint stain hardware modification MyRepurposedLife.com

    I’m seriously loving how this free dresser turned out with a little modification. Winking smile   I think you will LOVE the other projects from my friends, they are such a talented bunch!

    modify-power-tool-challenge-team-projects-2

    Modified Leaning Ladder Storage By Designed Decor

    How To Resize A Wood Picture Frame By Her Tool Belt

    Ikea Moppe Hack Apothecary Cabinet by Interior Frugalista

    Portable Craft Table By Create and Babble

    Grown Up Jewelry Box By Kim Six

    Modified Dresser By My Repurposed Life

    Bed Spindle Candle Holders By H2OBungalow

    Ammunition Crate Table by Virginia Sweet Pea

    Ikea Wardrobe Update By Domestically Speaking

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
      Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
    • Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench
      Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench
    • How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After Photos
      How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After…
    • Chest of Drawers Makeover
      Chest of Drawers Makeover
    • Repurposed Furniture Old Dresser Ideas and Makeovers
      Repurposed Furniture Old Dresser Ideas and Makeovers
    • Chest of Drawers Bookshelf
      Chest of Drawers Bookshelf

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. girlfromwva

      May 11, 2021 at 11:54 am

      love this look! fresh and would compliment alot of design choices!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        May 12, 2021 at 8:35 am

        Nova,

        So happy I kept working on it till it was JUST right!

        gail

    2. Elizabeth

      May 30, 2020 at 11:36 am

      Loooovvvve this! So gorgeous!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        June 02, 2020 at 3:54 pm

        Thank you Elizabeth. It was a chore... but I too, LOVE the updated look!

        gail

    3. Sam

      October 07, 2019 at 9:03 am

      Do you have a link to the exact blue paint you used?

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 07, 2019 at 2:14 pm

        No, I'm sorry. It was a mis-tint or OOPS paint from The Home Depot. It's really similar to Naval (sherwin williams) or Dark Denim (behr). Did you know that your Home Depot can make other brand's colors? I have used both of those colors on other furniture pieces.
        https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/?s=naval
        https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/?s=dark+denim

        I hope that helps!
        gail

    4. Britt

      November 27, 2016 at 10:12 am

      This is sooooo beautiful! I absolutely love the color and the pulls. I'm inspired now to find a junky old dresser and give it a makeover.
      Thank you for your wonderful blog.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        November 27, 2016 at 4:02 pm

        Ohhh Britt, I so appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment about my blog. 🙂 I love mixing paint and stain to do two-toned furniture.

        gail

      • Jenn

        April 07, 2017 at 8:05 pm

        Gail -

        I am about to recreate this makeover, and I can't wait! I got a navy flat paint that I will mix my own chalky paint, but I'm curious if the wax is necessary or just a preference of finish? This piece will go in my sons room and I want to be sure I follow the directions so it looks good and holds up well. Will any wax finish do if the paint color is what I want? My local store only has a neutral wax.

      • Gail Wilson

        April 08, 2017 at 8:50 am

        Jenn,

        Sealing is a must when you use any type of chalk paint. It's very flat and needs protecting. You can use any wax or poly product. I used the dark wax to tone down the blue. 🙂

        I hope this helps, I'm here if you have any other questions.

        gail

    5. DeDe Designed Decor

      October 03, 2016 at 4:53 pm

      Gail, you know how to give every piece that perfect finish it needs! I love the stain with the paint, this is my favorite way to finish a piece! It looks great!

      Reply
    6. Amy

      September 30, 2016 at 9:09 pm

      I love the new look of that dresser! The dark blue and stain are perfect together and I love the new legs, definitely brings the look up to date. Beautiful work.

      Reply
    7. Waco Bayless

      September 30, 2016 at 7:47 pm

      I was so glad to see this post! I recently bought all new hardware for my kitchen cabinets and have been laying awake night wondering how to put them on straight. After seeing the Kreg cabinet hardware jig in this post I'll be able to sleep knowing there is an easy solution to my dilemma! Thanks for the tutorial!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        October 02, 2016 at 9:18 am

        I'm so happy you saw this tutorial! It really is soooo incredibly easy. Be sure to use a clamp, and you'll have them perfectly done in no time. 🙂

        gail

    8. Paula

      September 29, 2016 at 6:36 pm

      This looks like a completely different piece and it's new look is just wonderful. I love the color combination that you used and how you updated the base of this piece.

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 6:54 pm

        Thank you Paula, I wish it had come together without the plan B 🙂

        gail

    9. Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer

      September 29, 2016 at 4:23 pm

      The modification to the bottom of this piece was perfect. Now it's beautifully updated!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 6:54 pm

        Thanks Christy! If only I had thought of it BEFORE adding the board. 🙂

        gail

    10. Maryann @ Domestically Speaking

      September 29, 2016 at 12:46 pm

      That blue with that stain is PERFECTION!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 7:00 pm

        Thank you Maryann. I love doing wood tones with painted colors.

        this was a fun challenge.

        gail

    11. Marie from The Interior Frugalista

      September 29, 2016 at 11:55 am

      Hello is right...Hello, this is a beautiful makeover! Yes, beefing up the legs definitely is much better than the original base and the modified one. Love the stain color and that gorgeous blue paint but the pulls are the icing on the cake! I need me a Kreg hardware jig! Gorgeous makeover Gail! Pinning and sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 7:01 pm

        I never, ever give up Marie... I keep going until I get it right. 🙂 YES, you do need that Kreg hardware jig. It's soooo easy to use.

        thanks for stopping by, pinning and sharing!

        gail

    12. Mindi

      September 29, 2016 at 9:27 am

      Wow it looks stunning! The legs turned out perfect, I would never know that it wasn't one piece of wood! Amazing job Gail!

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 7:02 pm

        You're too kind Mindi! If only I hadn't wasted time, effort and more on that first plan. Sometimes I just can't "see" the outcome until it's right in front of my face!

        gail

    13. Wendi@H2OBungalow

      September 29, 2016 at 7:26 am

      Love what you did to this! I agree the bottom made the dresser look so dated. I like it better without the plinth base too. The airy legs update the whole feel of the piece. I learn something new every time I read one of your articles! Pinned 🙂

      Reply
      • Gail Wilson

        September 29, 2016 at 7:04 pm

        Thank you for your sweet comment Wendi. I try to share every small thing I learn that might make it easier for anyone reading my blog. I appreciate you putting this challenge together.

        gail
        ps thanks for pinning!

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure