Over the weekend I finished my upcycled dresser for the girls’ bedroom reno. This has been on my to-do list for a while and I’m so pleased with the results that I wanted to share.
What is upcycling, you ask? Easy: to upcycle something is to breathe new life into an item you would otherwise get rid of or throw away. In this case, I renovated, or upcycled, a piece of furniture that was in storage. Some people upcycle items that become entirely new items… an old door repurposed into a coffee table, for example. Other times you can simply make an original item better by updating it. Upcycling is a great way to cut down on waste or purchase something new: I used an old dresser instead of buying a new one.
Now, full disclosure: I’m a lady who loves her power tools. I joke that my Dremel is my best friend. I’ve asked for both a drill press and a table saw for Christmas. Still, this project is so easy that, to misquote Downton Abbey, “anyone with use of their limbs” can upcycle.
The Dresser – Before
This dresser is an antique that was sitting in storage. It was actually my baby brother’s as a child, so there’s sentimental value. It makes the girls happy to have something that used to be their uncle’s and keeps him close while he’s away. It’s the perfect size for littles, made of solid wood, and has nice, clean lines and simple details. But the original staining doesn’t work for me. The nursery is “sky” themed. They have white furniture with silver accents, with lots of puffy white blankets and pillows. Blue stars, suns and moons, and constellation artwork accent the room. Peaceful, relaxation, and easy sleep is what I’m going for.
The original orangey colors is terrible for that. But, it’s nothing that a coat of paint and new hardware can’t fix!
Before I Began This Upcycled Dresser Project
Before you begin, there are a few items you’ll need:
- Paint, obviously. I used Behr Interior Paint. It’s an eco-friendly, nontoxic paint and primer mix with no odor. It’s wonderfully durable and safe enough for me to trust it in my nursery.
- Paint brushes or rollers, whichever you’re happier using. I prefer brushes, but that’s my personal preference. I used a 4-inch brush for the body of the dresser and a smaller, 2-inch brush for the drawers and casing.
- Sandpaper, in assorted grits. How much you need will depend on several things. Items with multiple layers of paint, heavy lacquers, or coats of polyurethane will take more work to sand down. You’re going to want medium to heavy-grit to take the original coatings off and work your way down to a fine grit just prior to painting. You can use manual paper or sanding belts if you have an electric sander.
- Towels and a spray bottle of water.
- A screwdriver to remove old hardware
- New hardware, if replacing the old
The Process, Really, is Very Straightforward
Remove the old hardware from the drawers and separate them from the dresser.
Sand everything, either with a sander or by hand. As stated above, you will want to use a heavier grit and gradually move to fine grit for the best, smoothest finish. In between sanding, wipe down the dresser with a damp cloth. I prefer using a damp rag instead of spraying the dresser directly. This helps remove the dust and gives you and idea of what you might have missed. Make sure you don’t begin sanding again until your surface is dry.
Pay particular attention to where the hardware has been; it tends to mark the wood.
Prime, or if you’ve bought the combination, paint the dresser. Use several thin coats instead of one heavy coat. Make sure the coats are completely dry between applications.
Finally, add new hardware and enjoy your new furniture!
I think the end result is much more celestial than the original, don’t you?
What projects are you currently working on? What projects have you upcycled? Leave a comment below!
