How to Update a Dresser With Paint and Stain

Some furniture makeovers need more than a new paint color. This free dresser had good bones and plenty of storage, but the heavy trim across the bottom made the whole piece feel dated. I decided to simplify the base, repair the loose drawers, and create a two-tone finish that would allow some of the original wood to remain visible. Navy paint, dark Jacobean stain, and new bin pulls gave the dresser a cleaner look while keeping its vintage character.

I love two-toned furniture projects using dark stains and almost any color. I will 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 to “modify,” which I usually do for all my projects. I took a step back this month and made it a little easier, but I am still including many tidbits to help you learn something from this modified dresser.

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

It’s so much better; it looks a little modern!! Can you believe it’s the same piece of furniture?

Are you not into woodworking or looking for an easy dresser makeover with paint?

Before You Modify an Old Dresser

Before removing decorative trim or changing the shape of a piece, take a little time to study how it was assembled.

• Look carefully for hidden screws before reaching for a pry bar.
• Clamp replacement boards in place before attaching them.
• Photograph the furniture from several angles during the dry fit.
• Complete loose drawer and dovetail repairs before sanding.
• Test your paint and stain combination on an inconspicuous area.
• Use a hardware jig when installing pulls that require two holes.

A few extra minutes during the planning stage can save a lot of patching, sanding, and frustration later.

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

How To Disassemble Furniture

I began the modification process by removing the old trim on the front of the dresser. At this point, you must resist the urge to 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.

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

I always keep a small piece of sandpaper near my saw to knock off the splintering pieces as soon as I cut a board.

Add New Trim With Pocket Holes

To attach the 1×6, I used my Kreg jig to drill pocket holes on each end of the board and a couple on the width of the board.

Here you can see that I used a right-angle clamp and some pocket-hole screws to attach the 1×6 between the existing legs of the dresser. Notice the pocket hole along the board’s width for extra strength right by the drill’s trigger.

Here is the new 1×6 in place.

Sand the Dresser Top

The dresser top was in terrible shape, but sanding the finish off would be better than stripping it.

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

Repair Loose Drawer Joints

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

One of the dovetail joints had come loose, and more Gorilla Wood Glue and another clamp were needed to take care of it. I use baby wipes in the shop for many uses, including wiping up glue.

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

Strip and Sand the Drawer Fronts

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

Stain the Dresser Top and Drawers

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

Prepare the Dresser for Paint

I 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!

I painted about three light coats over the dresser sides and front.

When the First Modification Does Not Work

This 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 decided to patch it some more. (I used a little sawdust and wood glue to fill that small gap before I painted it)

At 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 barely slept that night thinking about removing this new 1×6 and doing something different.

Rebuild the Dresser Base

The very first thing on day 2, I carefully removed all of the screws and pried the newly installed 1×6 away from the front of the dresser. I sanded the plaster while the dresser was upside down and cut four scrap pieces to “beef up” the original sides (legs). To see if it would look okay, I clamped the new pieces and set it right side up.

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

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

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

Paint and Wax the Dresser

Once the new pieces were attached, patched, and sanded, the front legs looked wider and more substantial. This gave the dresser a cleaner profile without bringing back the original bulky trim that had made it feel dated.

Dark Wax Tones Down The Color And Seals The Finish

Oops! I know this isn’t a blue dresser; it’s 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 slightly. It wasn’t as deep as I had wanted it to be. This wax and sponge are from Heirloom Traditions Paint.

Install New Bin Pulls With a Hardware Jig

How to use the Kreg cabinet hardware jig

• Adjust the drill guides and the edge guide for your hardware
• 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 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.

What I Would Do Differently

I should have clamped the 1×6 in place and photographed the dresser from several angles before attaching it. The board looked good in my head, but it stood out as an obvious addition once I saw the entire dresser. A thorough dry fit would have shown me that the simpler modification was the better choice.

Navy Blue Dresser Makeover Reveal

This dresser did not go exactly as planned, but that is often how furniture makeovers work. The first replacement board looked too much like an add-on, so I removed it and tried a simpler way to build out the legs. That extra effort made all the difference. Between the cleaner base, warm stained wood, deep navy paint, and bin pulls, this dated dresser feels useful and current again. Would you have removed the original trim, too?

I thought I would 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 could place the new pulls very strategically, they are not visible.

Related Content: Navy Blue Furniture Projects

Old Dresser Updated

Look 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?

I love how this free dresser turned out with a bit of modification.    I think you will LOVE the other projects from my friends; they are such a talented bunch!

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