Distressed Re-Do - DIY Dresser

This dresser was a lot of work but I could not be more excited about the way it came out. I absolutely LOVE when something comes out the way I imagined! Here's HOW TO DIY for those of you who are looking to refinish something of your own....

:: Before Picture ::

I wanted to reuse the original hardware so the first thing I did was remove the hardware and place it in (labeled) plastic baggies. If you're not sure what you want to do, I recommend keeping the old hardware until after you've finished and then decide what you want to do.

After removing the hardware I covered the entire dresser in Old White Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan. This dresser took about two coats of paint, which is a lot when using Chalk Paint. This paint dries pretty quick, so there's not a lot of waiting time in-between coats. If you're impatient like me, that's the best part about this paint!

 

After the paint has dried, take a fine sanding sponge and lightly sand over the edges of the dresser. I do not recommend using sandpaper or a sander around the edges. However, a hand sander might be nice for the flat surfaces. 

I always like to finish  my dresser with a light coat of clear wax and an even lighter coat of dark wax. The clear wax helps to seal the paint, and the dark wax helps give it that aged & distressed look. This process can be a little tricky. If you're interested in trying it out, I recommend practicing on some scrap pieces of wood first. One of these days I'll get around to posting a tutorial and show you how I use the wax.

DIY: Nightstand Makeover

BEFORE...

OK, I forgot to take a before picture but luckily I caught myself just as I started the first coat of paint.

Step 1. I covered everything in Pure White by Annie Sloan. Originally, I wanted to leave the color of the wood for the top of the nightstand, but after some time I decided against it.

Step 2. Next I applied my second coat of paint using an alternate color. I used my absolute favorite.. Duck Egg Blue! I left the top and bottom white and brushed a very small amount of blue overtop to make sure it blended well together.

Step 3. Using a low grit sanding sponge (pictured below) I started to sand around the edges of the nightstand. I've found that using a sanding sponge helps create a more natural distressed look.

This next step is totally optional. I used a cheap kitchen sponge (pictured below) and cut it in half. I dipped the sponge into water and lightly ran it across the top of each drawer. Do NOT press down hard. The water will immediately take away the top coat of paint, revealing the white coat underneath. Pat the area dry using a clean rag.This is called a "washed look".

Step 4. Last but not least, I covered the entire nightstand in a light coat of Annie Sloan's clear wax. When waxing, I recommend doing small sections at a time, using cheesecloth to lightly buff until it no longer feels tacky. 

Next, I coated the drawers and the edges in a dark wax. I always use a clear wax before my dark wax because I like the way it lightens everything back up. Again, apply this in small sections, using the cheesecloth to buff away anything that feels tacky. 

I added some new hardware to finish off the look and here you go.... 

Distressed Style

DIY: Nightstand