Welcome to today’s guest post featuring the creative LeeAnn from Creative Moments! LeeAnn has a special way of breathing new life into vintage pieces, and this antique dresser was no exception. Using Dixie Belle Paint products, she gave it a beautiful warm white finish that pairs perfectly with a deeper stained top. If you’ve been looking for a project to spruce up a favorite old dresser, get ready to see how LeeAnn’s step-by-step process can help you achieve a fresh, stylish look for your own furniture. 

White painted dresser with brown stained top sitting in front of a white wooden wall with a plant sitting on top

(The following is an excerpt from Creative Moments.  Read the full article here.)   

A valued customer entrusted me with restoring an antique dresser she found online. It was in a much rougher shape than advertised when she picked it up, but I believe I transformed it to match her vision. With its classic warm white finish and a darker stained top, it now has the timeless charm she envisioned. 

"Before" picture of brown wooden dresser sitting on a gray cement floor

Supplies:

Clean and prep work:

A hand holding a jar of Pristine Clean over a red bucket filling with water

To get started, the first step is a very deep and well-needed clean. I mixed this cleaner in a bucket of warm water. 

A red bucket full of soapy water sitting next to a wet drawer A red bucket full of soapy water sitting next to the dresser

Using a scrub brush, every surface inside and out was scrubbed until clean and then rinsed thoroughly. Look at how dirty the water is coming off in the left photo. 

Sanded wooden dresser with no drawers

The dresser was in rough shape, causing many repairs to be done before painting. Check out the repair and sanding progress so far. It has come a long way, but all these steps are super important to complete before the next painting steps.

Apply paint and stain:

3 dresser drawers painted with Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint, and one drawer that has not yet been painted

After all repairs were completed and the dresser was cleaned, Drop Cloth Dixie Belle Chalk Mineral Paint, a favorite warm white was brushed on the drawer fronts. Perfect. 

An open can of No Pain Gel Stain sitting on top of sanded dresser

Next, the top was stained. The client specifically requested a medium stain for this piece. 

An open can of No Pain Gel Stain sitting on top of dresser; the top of the dresser has been half stained

To be sure the bare wood did not absorb the Walnut too dark, I first applied a coat of Golden Ash No Pain Gel Stain. It looks darker above on the half it went on. 

No Pain Gel Stain being applied to the top of the dresser

Next, while the golden ash was still wet, I applied a coat of Walnut No Pain Gel Stain over top and wiped it back as well. 

Dresser top that has been stained with No Pain Gel Stain

After the top had another coat of Walnut No Pain Gel Stain applied, it was left to dry 72 hours minimum before sealing. 

Front frame of dresser has been painted with Sand Bar Chalk Mineral Paint, side of dresser has not yet been painted front and side of dresser have been painted with Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint Dresser has been painted with Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint; top is done with No Pain Gel Stain

The warm white Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint was now brushed on the base. 2 coats of Drop Cloth Chalk Mineral Paint were applied. After each coat, the paint was sanded, which distressed the edges.

Add an additional layer of protection:

Easy Peasy Spray Wax being sprayed onto dresser

To add a bit more protection and seal the Chalk Mineral Paint, I used Easy Peasy Spray Wax. 

Dresser sitting on wooden table with No Pain Gel Stain and brushes sitting on the table next to the dresser

The clear spray wax also makes the next step easier. This step is to make the piece look old again. However, the details give it a worn appearance. Thus, it keeps its vintage charm.

Brown Best Dang Wax was brushed in the nooks and crannies and edges with a  French Tip brush. It was then wiped back to create an aged look. 

Close up of dresser edges showing Brown Best Dang Wax applied Front of dresser showing Brown Best Dang Wax applied to the edges

The dresser edges were worked on next. You can see above how it makes the warm white paint look like it has been on the piece for years.  

Rejuvenate drawers:

A hand holding an open container of Big Mama's Butta and a paintbrush in front of a dresser drawer

These old dressers have very dry wood, so to rehydrate the wood and allow the drawers to slide easily, I applied Big Mama’s Butta with a dedicated La Petite brush. The excess was then wiped with a lint-free blue shop towel. The inside rails were done, as well as inside the drawers themselves. 

This Big Mama’s Butta comes in different scents, which helps with stuffy antique smells too. 

Replace hardware: 

White painted dresser with brown stained top sitting on a brown wooden table

Finally, the last step is hardware. Consequently, I found four knobs in my stash that match the existing pulls. However, I’m not sure they were original. Regardless, they can be changed easily in the future. For now, the dresser has functioning hardware.

White painted dresser with brown stained top sitting in front of a white wooden wall with a plant sitting on top White painted dresser with brown stained top sitting in front of a white wooden wall with a plant sitting on top

And there you have it—a wonderful way to give your furniture a clean, warm white appearance with a rich, contrasting top. We hope LeeAnn’s process sparks plenty of ideas for your next DIY adventure. For more tutorials, tips, and inspiration, be sure to check out LeeAnn at Creative Moments. Thanks for joining us on this makeover journey—now it’s time to pick up your paintbrush and dive into your own furniture refresh! For another neutral makeover by Creative Moments, check out our blog, Bedroom Set Makeover with Silk All-In-One Mineral Paint.

Bedroom, Guest Author, How To

About the Author

Dixie Belle Paint Company

Dixie Belle Paint Company provides a line of chalk mineral paint that is high quality, easy to use, and most importantly priced so every DIYer can create and discover the joy of painting.

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