How to Paint a Dresser: 2 Methods for Painting a Dresser

A dresser is a chest of pull-out drawers for storing shirts, pants, undergarments, and other articles of clothing. A standard piece of home decor, dressers typically belong in the bedroom. You can find dressers at furniture stores and thrift stores, or you can customize a dresser with the help of a professional craftsperson. Dressers usually contain five drawers to store personal items and clothing. They are often a form of wood furniture, though dressers can be made of various materials.

When you set out to paint furniture, keep these tips in mind to guarantee a smooth process:

1. 1. Always use a drop cloth. Painting furniture can be messy work. Wear comfortable clothes you don’t mind dirtying. Place a large drop cloth under your work area to keep your floors clean as part of your prep work. Lay your paint tray on a smooth surface on the cloth.
2. 2. Open the windows. If you’re painting indoors, paint fumes, especially those from oil paint, can be strong and induce headaches. Work with the windows open on a dry day. This can also increase the speed of drying. You can bring a fan into the space to keep the air fresh and moving.
3. 3. Test out your colors. Before you paint your entire dresser, take your paint brush and paint just a little bit, perhaps on the backside of your furniture. See how it dries to ensure you like the color before you move ahead using the rest of your paint.

The type of paint you choose for your dresser makeover will have as much impact as the paint color itself. There is not so much a “best paint option” as there is multiple choices that offer different styles:

1. 1. Acrylic paint: Acrylic is water-based paint that offers a smooth finish and saturated colors. Acrylics are long-lasting, but you will need to apply a primer to ensure the most substantial results. Acrylic paints dry quickly, are easy to clean given their more watery solution, and are relatively stain-resistant. Often sold in smaller containers, acrylic paint works best on smaller pieces of furniture, like nightstands.
2. 2. Chalky paint: Chalky paint, or chalk paint, offers a more subdued color that can give pieces of furniture an aged or vintage look. A water-based paint, chalky paint is known for its clean finish and quick drying. That drying speed can be a plus, but it does mean each brush stroke needs to be intentional and precise.
3. 3. Latex paint: A go-to for DIY projects, latex paint is a popular choice for furniture makeovers because it offers different finish options (including flat, satin, and full or semi-gloss) and is easy to clean (with water and a little bit of soap). Latex paint is available in a whole spectrum of colors. However, the paint can chip if bumped, and it may wear down with frequent use.
4. 4. Oil paint: Oil paint gives a highly sturdy finish, and you can use it on almost all surfaces. Oil paints have a longer drying time (up to a full day) and require strong ventilation while painting (because of the high density of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs). Oil paints can also be pricier, a cost associated with their more durable finish.

Painting furniture allows you to create a unique piece tailored to your home’s design aesthetic.

1. 1. Remove all of the hardware. To accomplish an even paint job, remove drawer pulls or knobs, and store them in a safe place.
2. 2. Start by sanding. Drawer fronts, the tops of dressers, and dresser legs easily get nicks, dents, and other blemishes. Wipe your dresser clean, then use medium grit sandpaper (150-grit) on a sanding block to get rid of any rough edges. It’s easier for the paint to adhere to a sanded, smooth surface. Clean up the sandy bits with a damp tack cloth, then let the dresser completely dry.
3. 3. Follow up with priming. Priming is kind of like a reset button: It gives your dresser a blank first coat. It also helps the next layer of paint stick more easily.
4. 4. Apply the first coat of paint. Use a foam roller, paint brush, or paint sprayer to apply a top coat of color to your dresser. Rollers can be good for the backs of dressers, while brushes work better on legs, inside drawers, and other hard-to-reach areas. Synthetic brushes will give a smooth finish, while those with natural bristles give more texture.
5. 5. After drying, apply a second coat of paint. Drying may take anywhere from a few hours (with acrylic and chalky paint) to a full day (with oil paint). Once the dresser is fully dry, you can adjudicate if you want another coat of paint. Most dressers will require two coats of paint to achieve the desired color.
6. 6. Add varnish. If you want extra protection, add varnish or lacquer after your dresser is dry to strengthen the surface. This hard coating will make your furniture less susceptible to chips and dents.
7. 7. Replace the hardware. Once your dresser is fully painted and dry, carefully and securely reassemble any removed hardware, and then enjoy your newly painted dresser.

Old painted furniture requires sanding, but if you bought a fresh dresser and it just needs a new paint job, follow these steps:

1. 1. First, clean the dresser. Even if your dresser doesn’t have any chips, it may have stains or oils on it. Spray a thin coat of a cleaner compatible with the material of your dresser, and gently wipe all the surfaces and inside the drawers. Open the drawers, and let the dresser air out and dry for thirty minutes.
2. 2. Add a stain blocker. If you are going from a dark wood color to a lighter one, a stain blocker will help keep color bleeding to a minimum. Similarly, if the facade shows many knots or different gradients of color, the stain blocker will keep your paint job uniform over time.
3. 3. Start with a primer. Since you’ll be changing the color of the entire dresser, start with a primer to give you a blank canvas and allow your paint color to come through more clearly.
4. 4. Add two coats of paint. Paint your dresser with a roller, brush, or spray paint. Depending on the type of paint, the dresser can take up to a day to fully dry. Then repaint, adding another coat as needed. If you are adding different colors to create a pattern, use painter’s tape to section off areas.
5. 5. Paint the insides of drawers. Depending on how detailed you want to get, you may want to paint the inside of your drawers. Use a brush to get into the corners, and start with the bottom drawers—leave those open to dry as you work your way up the dresser.
6. 6. Add varnish. If you want extra protection, add varnish or lacquer after your dresser is dry to strengthen the surface. This hard coating will make your furniture less susceptible to chips and dents.

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the MasterClass Annual Membership and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Corey Damen Jenkins and Kelly Wearstler. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.