So thrilled with this weekend’s project! Have you ever thought how you could paint stripes on a dresser? I wondered about it but never tried it until…
Okay, I actually started this makeover last weekend, but ran out of painters tape Sunday and that brought things to a screeching halt. Don’t you hate when you are working on something you are super excited about and have to stop early?! I had to look at the bright side- the suspense of finishing would be prolonged, and therefore would make the final result more awesome! Right? Okay, maybe that is really reaching to see the bright side, but you get the idea!
One Saturday morning during the summer of 2015, a friend posted to Facebook she was getting rid of two dressers- free for the taking, just haul them away. After a pitstop at Starbuck’s, the hubs and I stopped by her home, loaded up these awesome finds, and we were on our way. One dresser got an immediate white wash makeover and the other went in the garage. And there it sat- until last weekend!
GETTING STARTED
A quick mix of plaster of Paris and water into a can of white paint in the garage, to make chalk paint, and I was on my way! Here is my favorite recipe for making chalk paint:
- one cup latex paint
- 1-1/2 tablespoons water
- 2-1/2 tablespoons Plaster of Paris (found here)
Step one of the project is to paint everything white- the drawers and the base of the dresser. I used a roller brush, as the surface areas were smooth and easy to roll over. The top drawer is smaller than the rest, so I decided a solid gray might look best. I like contrast in my paint work, and gray and white is one of my favorites! This is the only part of the dresser that I did not paint white.
Two coats seemed to do the job, but you may want to consider an extra coat if the coverage after two coats is not how you want it. Chalk paint helps the paint adhere to furniture better. Also, when I wait longer between each coat before applying the next, I find the paint sticks better and is less apt to scratch.
BEGIN TO PAINT STRIPES ON A DRESSER
My love of stripes knows no bounds (click here to see my post on how to paint stripes on a wall, and here to watch how to paint stripes on curtains), so here I go, taping off three of the four drawers to create gray and white awesomeness.
Looking for really cool painters tape that does not bleed? Honestly- NO BLEEDING! Click here to check out the details.
I prefer chunky stripes, so I thought four big stripes would look nice. Also, I wanted to make sure as I paint stripes on a dresser that the stripes lined up when the drawers are in the dresser. I measured one of the drawers and determined 3.5 inch stripes would provide equal spacing.
Extra hint: A straight edge can help you place the tape in a straight line!
I press the edges of the painters tape to really solidify it for the lines. Once your lines are taped off, you can start painting your beautiful stripes.
A friend told me that if I remove the tape on my projects while the paint is still wet, it reduces the likelihood the paint will come off with the tape. It worked! I am really pleased with how crisp the lines are on the drawers.
The top drawer is smaller than the other three, so I painted it solid gray. Two coats did the trick! I also painted the top and all 8 knobs gray.
FINISHED PRODUCT
So happy with the final product! I hope this post inspires you to use paint to spruce up an old dresser or similar piece of furniture!
…however, I wish the wall behind it was a lighter color. We just painted this foyer last Christmas and already I want a different color! So it goes, right?!
What projects have you conquered lately?