DIY Dresser Makeover with Chalk Paint

Are any of you obsessed with home makeover shows like Fixer Upper, Flea Market Flip or garage sale shopping in general?  Are you stumped on what to do or how to do it?  No worries, I'll walk you through how to makeover a dresser using chalk paint and drawer embellishments to bring a vintage vibe.  

Chalk Paint   

Normally with chalk paint, you really don't have to sand down the furniture.  This dresser had some large dings and cracks that I fixed with a wood filler.  It's pretty simple to use.  It goes on pink and once it dries it matches the color of the wood.  Sand it down and it's ready for paint.

The chalk paint is the best.  Seriously.

No Sanding

No Primer

Here's what you'll need before you get started

1 Qt. Chalk Paint

Paint Brushes

Chalk Paint Wax

2 Clean Soft Rags

Paint Can Opener

Painters Tarp 

Paint Stirrer

Rubber Gloves

Tools to Remove Hardware

Wood Filler if needed

Ideal location to paint

Ideally, you'll want to work somewhere where it is ventilated well, space should be room temperature and well-lit room.  You'll want to lay down painter's tarp in the area in case of any spills.

Prep Furniture

Remove any hardware pieces

Run your hand across and sand any uneven spots

(no need to sand the entire piece)

Clean any dust or residue with mild soapy water

Make sure it is completely dry before applying the first coat

Use blue tape to cover any areas that will not be painted

Apply Paint

Apply your first coat.  Allowing ample time between your next coat.  Don't worry if the paint dries streaky.  It's pretty normal.  

Apply your second coat.  Depending on the color of the original piece you may need to do 3-4 coats of paint.  

Apply Wax

Distressing your Piece

This was the part I was so nervous about.  I just spent a good few hours painting my dresser and now I'm going to mess it all up!  I'm so glad I took the plunge and got over my fear because it turned out way better than I expected.  I found that using the sanding sponge worked a little easier than a piece of sandpaper.  Distress areas like the corners, edges, and top.  I've always loved the distressed look with a touch of vintage glam.  Simply brush away the dust and wipe down.

Final Step Adding Embellishments

I found these gorgeous knob embellishments at a local craft store that were on clearance.  My dresser did not have any knobs so I actually glued them on with gorilla glue.  Lesson learned you can't put too much because it will start to foam up.  With gorilla glue, it works best when the area is damp and only put a small dab.  One time with a chair I fixed I literally had to saw off a large chunk (we won't talk about the one time I tried to fix a flip flop with it, lol).  If your piece does have holes for knobs simply replace them or add new ones.  

In the end, I was so glad that I took the time to makeover this dresser.  I lined the drawers with scented drawer liners and added this to my bedroom.  Of course, my closet doesn't have any space left so my scarves, jewels, and my entire collection of nail polish collection.  As I mentioned in the stylish decor post I'm slowly trying to transition my home decor to a more rustic vintage feel.  What's your next project you want to tackle?