Vintage furniture has a way of telling a story, and the right finish can make those details shine. In this guest tutorial, Denise from Salvaged Inspirations shares how she created a beautiful vintage rose finish using layered paint, silkscreen stenciling, distressing, and antiquing techniques. The result is a dresser full of timeless character that looks as though it has been loved for generations. If you’re ready to explore decorative finishes and add depth to your next furniture makeover, this project is full of inspiration and helpful tips.
(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here.)
HERE’S THE STEP-BY-STEP ON HOW TO CREATE A VINTAGE ROSE FINISH FOR A BEAUTIFUL ANTIQUE LOOK
Hi, creative friends, and welcome back to another Furniture Fixer Upper tour. So happy you’re here! While I was away on vacation, I saw a TON of distressed tiles, furniture, walls, and the most gorgeous patinas, which inspired me to try a distressed finish. I don’t do vintage finishes as much as I used to, but I still LOVE an antique look. This is a take two on a dresser I refinished almost 10 years ago, so I can’t wait to hear which paint finish you prefer!
In today’s post, I’m also sharing –
- How to stencil using an airbrush
- A quick and easy way to distress… super fast
- How to antique a paint finish with a water-based product
- And more!
Below is the vintage tallboy dresser I started with. I created this weathered paint finish back in 2017 and used this dresser/mirror in my bedroom for many years. I pulled it out of storage to create another look.
This is an old solid wood piece with great bones. The bottom drawer was a little wonky from years of use. It also looked a little beat up from years of love…and then being in storage. But overall in great shape and nothing we can’t fix up. That’s the beauty of old wood furniture. It can be recreated, restyled, and reinvented over and over again!
SUPPLIES
Vintage Tallboy w Mirror – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Auto Sponge
Sanding Sponge
Two Part Wood Epoxy
Bonding BOSS Clear Primer
2″ Angled Paint Brush
Rebel Yellow Chalk Mineral Paint
Cape Current SILK Mineral Paint
Roses Silkscreen Stencil
Charred Hickory Water-based Stain
Easy Peasy Spray Wax
TOOLS
Timbertech Air Brush Compressor Kit
Plastic Putty Knife
Bosch Orbital Sander
Antique Bronze Teardrop Pulls
CLEAN
To start the prep process, I cleaned this dresser with a heavy-duty furniture cleaner, and a large automotive sponge.
PRIMING & PAINTING
I went ahead and scuff-sanded the entire dresser – including sanding smooth the filled hardware holes. I used a clear primer and then the next day, I came downstairs and picked my base color. The color I chose to paint is this Rebel Yellow Chalk Mineral Paint. I wasn’t too particular about getting a perfectly even coat because I knew I was going to distress this one. I used my 2″ angled paint brush to get into all the details. This paintbrush also gives a nice, smooth finish and is super comfy to use.
SILKSCREEN STENCILING
To add the vintage rose pattern onto this dresser, I used this Roses Silkscreen Stencil. The usual way to use these is to add some paint onto the plastic applicator (provided with the stencil) and run it across the silkscreen design. I used my Airbrushing Kit to airbrush the paint onto the stencil design instead. You may remember I airbrushed this English Ivy Dresser here. Using the airbrush tool for stenciling provides CRISP, clean lines and can create dimension as well. You can spray lightly in some areas and much darker in others. Below, I’m using Cape Current SILK Mineral Paint in my airbrush gun.
SANDING – DISTRESSING
I could have left the yellow and blue rose dresser as is and called it a day. It looked lovely, and the stencil really popped! But last week I wanted to do a distressed finish and changed gear, so this week I thought I’d stick to my original plan. To distress, I started hand-sanding with an 80 grit sandpaper. This works but it’s not as fast as taking an orbital sander to your finish. I’ll admit, this was a little scary after putting in hours of stenciling/painting. But within 10 minutes, I had the entire dresser sanded and distressed.
ANTIQUING WITH STAIN
Once I had the dresser sanded and distressed, it was time to add some serious years on this piece. This is super easy to do and creates a gorgeous aged patina. I used this Charred Hickory water-based stain. I poured some stain into a cup. Then, using a cheap and cheerful chip brush, I brushed a layer onto the drawer. The stain needs to be wet while doing this technique, so I work in small, manageable sections before moving onto the next. I brush the stain on. Then, using a shop towel, I wipe off the excess and then dab-dab-dab to create some variation.
CLEAR WAX & HARDWARE
To protect this patina finish, I used this Easy Peasy Spray On Wax. I opted for this wax because I didn’t want any sheen to this aged look. It’s really easy-peasy to use. Spray on. Wipe off. I used a soft lint-free cloth, but I’ve also used a shop towel. You can wait up to fifteen minutes before wiping it back but I prefer to spray and wipe without any wait time.
For the final detail, I added Antique Bronze Teardrop Pulls. I love the look of them on this finish buuuut, I only had six of them, ugggh. I have to order some more for the bottom drawers.
THE BIG REVEAL…
Here’s the finished look!
I think this is such a sweet floral update for a vintage vibe. It suits this style of dresser perfectly, don’t you think?!
And check out the vintage rose border on the top.
Let’s not leave out the little roses on the harp mirror as well!
Here’s another look at this vintage rose-stenciled tallboy dresser before and after. I hope it’s inspired you and given you some ideas for your upcoming furniture painting projects!
It’s always fun to restyle previously painted furniture. It’s interesting to create different looks using new techniques. This makeover reminded me that creating a pattern with silkscreen stencils can add a ton of character to old furniture!
A heartfelt thank you to Denise from Salvaged Inspirations for sharing this gorgeous vintage rose dresser and the techniques behind its one of a kind finish. From the delicate floral details to the softly aged patina, this project is a wonderful reminder that layering simple techniques can create furniture with lasting charm.
We hope this makeover inspires your next DIY project. Grab your favorite Dixie Belle Paint products, experiment with paint, stencils, and antiquing techniques, and make a piece that reflects your own style. Don’t forget to share your finished project with us on social media using #DixieBellePaint. We can’t wait to see what you create! For another great tutorial by Salvaged Inspirations, check out our blog, How to Distress Painted Wood.
