We’re excited to feature Donna from Do Dodson Designs on the Dixie Belle blog! In her latest project, Donna shares a stunning DIY bleached wood dresser makeover that perfectly blends rustic charm with modern style. Using easy techniques and quality products, she transforms a tired, outdated dresser into a fresh, bright statement piece ideal for any room. If you’re searching for expert tips on how to achieve a beautiful bleached wood finish and breathe new life into your furniture, Donna’s step-by-step guide is packed with inspiration and practical advice. Get ready to learn how to create your own DIY bleached wood dresser makeover with confidence!

(The following is an excerpt from Do Dodson Designs. Read the full article here) 

Hey friends! Have you ever considered bleaching a wood dresser to achieve a brighter, lighter finish? It’s a popular wood finish that is trending in the furniture design industry, and I’m excited to try this new wood bleach kit.

Before and after of a DIY bleached wood dresser makeover showing original dark wood dresser and close-up of the finished bleached wood drawer with floral pattern and wooden knob.

The Right Wood Dresser For Bleaching – Before

Bleaching wood isn’t too hard, but it can take a while, and the outcome might be different depending on the wood. But a bleached wood dresser really shows off the natural beauty underneath.

Today, I’m using a small dresser that belongs to my Mom. The wood dresser has several cigarette burns and numerous surface scratches and gouges on the top, a broken drawer bottom, as well as nail holes from previous repair attempts. That would be my Dad.

The wood is super blotchy with a yellow/orange tone, and I was hoping this wood bleach would tone that down and even out the finish for a beautiful bleached wood look.

Disassembled vintage wooden dresser with drawers and top removed, showing worn wood surfaces and concrete floor, labeled ‘Bleached Wood Dresser Before’.

SUPPLY LIST:

Here are the supplies you will need to bleach a wood dresser.

Removing The Old Finish To Bare Wood – 2 Methods

You must remove the existing finish before bleaching wood, and I see two ways I can approach getting this task done.

#1 Use a chemical stripper to remove the existing finish. It’s a messy process and requires protective equipment—a mask, gloves, and eyewear. Also, you will need to be in a well-ventilated area or do it outside.

#2 Rip the existing finish off with a sander if the existing finish is old and dry. This is my preferred method. Yes, it can be messy too, but very effective if you want a raw wood finish and no chemicals.

I start with a 100-grit abrasive to strip away the first layer. This method is excellent for pieces with extensive surface damage, where you want to remove as much as possible.

Next, use 180 grit, and then 220 grit for the final sanding to get a smooth wood surface.

Hand holding a blue and pink electric sander smoothing a wooden dresser drawer front, showing a clear contrast between sanded and unsanded wood.

Bleaching Wood On A Dresser | Two-Part Method

After I sanded down to bare wood, the dresser top had a lot of dark patches—possibly stains from years of neglect. This will be a good test on this dresser to see if the wood bleach can lighten those spots, too.

Remove any wood dust left over from the sanding. I used my shop vac to make sure it was clean.

STEP 1:

Wear protective equipment! Gloves and protective eyewear. Work in a well-ventilated area. Follow the directions on the bottle for best results.

Pour the solution of Part A into a bowl. Using a sponge, apply it to the wood, making sure to cover it completely.

You will immediately notice that the wood will turn a darker color. That is normal. Allow the solution to soak into the wood for 5-10 minutes, but do not allow it to dry. It needs to be wet to work.

Hand wearing blue glove applying wood bleach with a sanding sponge to a wooden dresser surface next to a purple plastic container and an open bottle labeled ‘Bleach – Part A’.

STEP 2:

Pour the solution of Part B into a clean separate bowl. Do not mix the two parts. While the wood is still wet from Part A, apply Part B over Part A with a clean sponge in the same manner.

I noticed Part B started bubbling right away. I wasn’t sure if this was normal, so I did some research and found that it is normal, but it doesn’t happen to all wood. When bleaching wood furniture, specifically with a two-part bleach, some foaming is expected as part of the chemical reaction.

Leave the product on overnight and allow it to dry.

Hand wearing blue glove applying wood bleach with a sanding sponge to a wooden dresser drawer next to open bottles labeled ‘Bleach – Part A’ and ‘Bleach – Part B’ and a purple plastic container.

The next day, I noticed some lightening of the wood but not a lot. However, I did notice that the wood tone had improved and the dark blotches on the dresser top had lightened significantly. This product can be applied a second time for lighter results.

There was noticeable grain swelling (opening) of the wood from the product. This, too, is normal. The wood grain will swell and open up when it becomes saturated with water or water-based products.

To bring the wood back to a smooth state and to close the grain, I used a 220-grit sandpaper and lightly sanded the surface smooth again. This is when I noticed that the wood had lightened even more.

Box of Dixie Belle Wood Bleach standing on a freshly bleached wooden dresser surface with ‘After!’ text above the box.

How To Decoupage Furniture With Rice Paper

Now that the wood bleaching is complete, I decided to add a beautiful rice decoupage paper to the fronts of the dresser drawers using Dixie Belle’s Clear Coat as my decoupage glue.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to turn out (I never really do), but I knew that if I used a water-based top coat, it would bring some wood tannins to the surface of the drawers. Usually, that’s a bad thing, but this rice paper is thin, and I was hoping that the wood would be visible through the paper, and I was right!

I applied one coat of the clear coat (satin finish) over both drawers and allowed it to dry.

Next, I applied the second coat liberally, making sure to add more to the edges so the paper would adhere well.

I lined up both drawers (in the same order as they were in the dresser), one on top of the other, to avoid wasting the paper. Starting from the middle of the drawers, I laid the paper across half of both drawers. Once attached to the drawer, I applied a clear coat on top of the paper. Using my fingertips, I smoothed any bubbles or wrinkles on the paper.

While the paper was still wet, I used a sanding block to gently rub along the edges to trim the paper around the drawers for a perfect fit. I used an exacto knife to cut the paper between the two drawers.

After the top coat had dried, I applied one final clear coat to seal the paper.

It was easy to line up the pattern on the paper, and I had paper left over for another project. I used two sheets of the Daintily Botanical Decopage Rice paper for this project.

Four images showing a DIY dresser makeover process: applying floral decoupage paper, brushing Dixie Belle Creme Clay onto a wood surface, painting over decoupage, and sanding the edges for a smooth finish.

Bleached Wood Dresser With White Wax

To seal the bleached wood dresser, I used Dixie Belle’s Best Dang Wax in white. It’s easy to apply.

Hand applying white Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax with a round brush onto a wooden surface in a workshop.

Grab a wax brush and apply it in a circular motion, making sure the wax penetrates deep into the wood grain. Working in small sections is best. Immediately buff any additional wax away with a soft cotton cloth for a buttery smooth finish..

Hand applying white Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax with a round brush onto a wooden surface in a workshop.

Nothing feels better in my honest opinion than wax over bare wood. If you know, you know.

Lastly, I added touches of black wax in the corners and areas where I wanted it to look a bit dirty and worn.

If you need extra protection on the dresser top, after the wax has fully cured, you can apply a topcoat over it. The wax is a water-based product and is formulated to work with Dixie Belle top coats.

Hand applying black Dixie Belle Best Dang Wax to the edge of a bleached wood dresser drawer using a small round brush, with an open wax tin on the floor.

DIY Bleached Wood Dresser Makeover AFTER!

It’s vintage perfection! The bleached wood and the vintage rice paper worked so well together on this little dresser. Don’t you think?

Close-up of a bleached wood dresser with floral decoupage drawer fronts and a wooden bead garland on top, featuring the Do Dodson Designs watermark. Bleached wood dresser with floral patterned drawer fronts, one drawer open, topped with a small potted plant on books and a wooden bead garland, with Do Dodson Designs watermark. Finished bleached wood dresser with floral decoupage drawer fronts, decorated with a bust sculpture, a small potted plant on a book with wooden beads, and a framed painting, next to a tall potted olive tree.

A big thank you to Donna from Do Dodson Designs for sharing this gorgeous DIY bleached wood dresser makeover with us! Her expert tips and clear instructions show just how achievable it is to transform furniture with a bright, natural bleached finish. Whether you’re updating a dresser, table, or other wood piece, Donna’s project highlights how the right techniques and products can revitalize your space with timeless style. Be sure to visit Do Dodson Designs for more creative furniture makeovers, and don’t forget to share your own DIY dresser transformations with us. Happy refinishing!

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About the Author

Do Dodson Designs

Donna, also known as Do, is a decorative furniture artist, photographer, DIYer, author of Do Dodson Designs Blog. Do's true passion is attached to the paint brush and encouraging women. She has a successful online group where she teaches women how to merge their passion for furniture painting with business growth.

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