$30.00 Dresser Makeover To Card Catalog Beauty: Painted Blue + New Top

I wanted to share a project that I have been working on for the last two days.  My project is a $30.00 Dresser Makeover.

Here is the dresser.  She was pretty beat up.  The top was in horrible condition, with a piece of the trim missing.  The bottom trim pieces were in bad shape as well.  However, the drawers were all functional and were in pretty decent shape.  She was missing a piece of hardware, but that’s an easy fix. 

After pondering for a day or so, I knew the dresser would be a perfect candidate for a faux card catalog look because of all the drawers and the different sizes. 

$30.00 Dresser Makeover

The paint color I chose was Summertime Blue, by General Finishes.  This is a very light blue, cool color.  When I opened the can I could hear the waves hitting against the rocks.  Well, maybe not, but one can dream!

Before I started the makeover, the Hubs did a few repairs for me (gotta love him!).  He removed the old molding on the bottom and the sides and replaced it with new wood. 

New Wood Top

He then, with his woodworking superpowers, built a new top for the dresser.  The new top was attached to the existing top with finishing nails.  He also had to cut thin strips to go along the outside of the new top and added a piece to the back.  He is such a genius!  Here is what it looks like, I am so googly-eyed! 

He then cut strips to replace the bottom and sides.

I then decided to add feet to the bottom to lift it off the ground slightly.  The Hubs constructed wood squares out of 4×4’s that we would attach the feet too.  I chose a small bun foot.  I did not want extreme height, just a slight rise off the floor. 

Here is the dresser with the feet added.  

I gave all the new wood a good sanding with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth it out.  I gave the dresser a good cleaning using my Dixie Belle White Lightning Cleaner.  This stuff is amazing at removing all the grime and grit.  Just follow the directions on the container.  

I decided to use English Chestnut as my stain choice for the top.  I did not want it too dark since I was going for the coastal look.  

While waiting for the stain to dry, I removed all the hardware from the doors.  The hardware I chose were found at D. Lawless Hardware.  They have amazing prices and an amazing selection.  I chose the card catalog hardware and four of the pumpkin bronze knobs.  These only come in a dark color, so I painted all the hardware white using General Finishes Chalk White. 

I gave the dresser two coats of the Summertime Blue, allowing 24 hours to dry in between coats and then lightly sanded and distressed around the drawers and sides.  The topcoat I used was General Finishes Flat Out Flat Water Based Top Coat.  I attached the hardware and was super excited about the way it turned out!  A $30.00 dresser is now beautiful again!  

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”

Christina

Looking for more furniture makeovers ideas?

Check our Chest of Drawers Makeover and this Repurposed Hutch Top

More inspiration:

Vintage Dresser Makeover – Blue and Raw Wood Geometric Patterns Antique Mirror Dresser Makeover: Two-Toned Black & Wood Vintage Dresser Makeover: Painted Two Toned – Green and Wood Black Painted Dresser + Yellow Drawers