There’s something satisfying about taking an overlooked piece of furniture and giving it a fresh start. In today’s guest blog, Denise from Salvaged Inspirations shares how she turned a $10 waterfall dresser into a beautiful statement piece using just one paint color and a few simple techniques. Whether you’re new to furniture painting or looking for your next weekend project, you’ll find plenty of inspiration and practical tips to help you create a finish you’ll love. The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations.
(The following is an excerpt from Salvaged Inspirations. Read the full article here.)
Hi, creative friends, and so happy you’re here! I was keeping my eyes peeled for a free trashbound find, but instead came across this $10 waterfall dresser at my local Restore. With thrift prices these days, that’s almost free, right?! 😆 But this project became a reminder of why I love restoring vintage furniture of all styles. And why you don’t have to get fancy to create something GORGEOUS. Going back to the basics and using just ONE color can make all the difference!!! I can’t wait to hear what you think of this ten-dollar rescue that nobody wanted.
In today’s post, I’m also sharing –
- A classic new moody color that gives a moody, elegant look
- How to EASILY update vintage hardware
- How to fix wood sliding drawers
- And more!
Here’s the Waterfall dresser I found at my local Restore. It was hiding in a line-up of larger pieces. I’m so glad saw it. I can’t believe all the furniture they have at The Restore Habitat for Humanity. A lot of it is overpriced at $100+ and more, but when they have their 50% off sales, or they price the odd piece that isn’t selling- like this one here, you can get some fabulous deals.
This was a solid piece, and I have to say I’m in love with the art deco hardware! The top two drawers wouldn’t fully close, but for ten dollars, it’s a great piece of furniture.
SUPPLIES
Waterfall Dresser – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Auto Sponge
Sanding Sponge
Bonding BOSS Primer
2″ Angled Paint Brush
Apothecary Chalk Mineral Paint
Gold Gilding Wax
Gator Hide Topcoat
TOOLS
Oscillating Multi Tool
AstroEuro HVLP Paint Gun
Bosch Orbital Sander
PREPPING THE DRESSER FOR PAINT
To start the prepping process, I removed the vintage hardware and tucked it away in a plastic cup so I wouldn’t lose anything. Once all the handles were off, the body and drawers got a good vacuum, and then I cleaned this cabinet with a heavy-duty furniture cleaner and a large automotive sponge. Once I had cleaned the inside and outside of this dresser, it was time to fix the drawers.
SCUFF SAND
To scuff sand this veneer I used a 120-grit sandpaper on my orbital sander. The goal wasn’t to remove any of the original finish, just to scuff it up enough for it to hold the primer and paint. For the burled wood veneer on the waterfall edge, I hand-sanded so I wouldn’t risk any damage.
PRIMING & PAINTING
Once I had the entire piece scuff-sanded, I removed the dust and applied this Bonding Primer using a four-inch roller. I applied one coat and let it dry overnight for 24 hours. I didn’t bother with a second coat because it passed the scratch test with flying colors, and I knew I was going to use a dark, moody color so there would be no issues with staining or bleedthrough.
MOODY CHALK MINERAL PAINT
Now for the fun part – it was time for paint! I ordered a new-to-me paint color called Apothecary Chalk Mineral Paint. It’s GORGEOUS! A dark and moody, rich-looking mahogany color. The first coat looked scary, and that’s normal. A color never really reveals itself until I paint the second coat.
By coat number two, it was looking gorgeous. But there were a few areas that needed a little extra so I let it dry overnight and came down the next day for a third coat. For some reason, when using red paint or paint with red undertones, it sometimes benefits to add that extra 3rd coat for full coverage.
FINISHING TOUCHES
To protect this Apothecary paint finish, I sprayed three coats of Gator Hide. I really like the heavy-duty protection and how fast I can spray three coats. I wait about 2 hours in between spraying so I can get it all finished within one morning or afternoon. And as I’ve mentioned in prior posts, whenever I used an open jar of the topcoat, I strained it through one of these filters.
For the final detail, I gilded the original hardware with this gold gilding wax. I like using an old artist’s brush. I add a little of the wax to the tip and brush it on. Very little is needed, and it dries 100% overnight. The following day, I took a soft rag and buffed it out and then screwed the hardware back into place. Using the same gorgeous hardware in the existing holes is a beginner-friendly way to update your furniture – especially if you have beautiful vintage hardware like this!
THE BIG REVEAL…
Here’s the finished look! What do you think!?
The paint and topcoat give this dresser such a smooth, nice sheen!
And remember how dry and old the top drawer and waterfall feature looked? I’m so happy with how the paint wash turned out. You can still see this beautiful match-booked burl veneer, yet it all ties in with the new modern color.
Here’s another look at this $10 Restore Waterfall Dresser before and after. I hope it’s inspired you and given you some ideas for your upcoming furniture painting projects!
What do you think of this Waterfall dressers’ before and after makeover? For me, this project is a reminder of why I love restoring vintage furniture. Sometimes the best furniture makeovers start with a piece no one else wants, and all it takes is ten dollars and a little patience to put the biggest smile on my face.
A big thank you to Denise from Salvaged Inspirations for sharing another inspiring makeover with us! This project is a great reminder that you don’t need an expensive piece or a complicated finish to create something beautiful. With the right prep, quality products, and a little creativity, even a $10 thrift store find can become a standout piece you’ll be proud of. Be sure to visit Salvaged Inspirations for more furniture painting tutorials, DIY ideas, and creative inspiration.
