Maybe my new word for 2016 should be embrace. It could be used for many different situations, scenarios, and goal achieving moments. Or maybe it could be used for embracing a DIY flop. Remember that time I shared my DIY Entertainment Center? Yeah, me too. It wasn’t until sitting here a few months ago that I realized that our “rustic” dresser suddenly looked like camouflage. Imagine my head dropping down into my hands as I say, “Ohhh no, no, no!” That’s what prompted an immediate dresser makeover.
Here’s what we were trying to achieve after seeing pieces of furniture out and about but not wanting to pay the price:
Close but not close at all it seems. Here’s what I want you to know though. DIY projects and home projects are meant to be messy. They are meant to not go right because that is the only way that you’ll learn. There are times that projects work out beautifully and that’s what gives you motivation to keep going. What’s even better about a DIY that’s gone wrong? It was a do-it-yourself project!! You can create a new project all over again!
I brainstormed, read magazines, and tried to give Joanna Gaines a call {I wish} about what I could do to the dresser to completely turn it around. I finally decided on a white chalk paint, copper handles, and stain. And my goodness did it make a difference and it only took two afternoons to complete.
I started by taking off the handles and sanding down each drawer to the bare wood. This took a little elbow grease but the natural wood was beautiful!
I found a stain, Ash by Varathane, that was the perfect color. I didn’t want to go light but not too dark either. It was meant to be when I checked out at Home Depot and the stain was on clearance for $2!
Next up? Transforming the handles. This dresser has 12 handles and it would have been way too expensive to buy all new handles. The alternative? Purchase copper spray paint for $6 and create my own copper handles. It was a lengthy process to spray paint all of the sides evenly but the result was worth it!
While the drawers and handles were drying, I tackled the rest of the dresser. I already had a quart of white chalk paint which is UH-MAZING! No sanding, not stripping of paint, no nothing! Just evenly apply the paint. I had to apply 3 coats of paint for a solid, bright white.
Once everything was placed back together, I was {and still am} one happy gal! By making over a makeover with brighter hues, it completely transformed not only the look of the dresser but the feel and look of our living room. I. Can’t. Stop. Staring. My husband was happily shocked, my mom instantly fell in love with it when she came over, and most of all I’m not greeted with camouflage anymore.
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What do you think? Does this inspire you to transform a piece of furniture? I hope so because it’s such a rewarding feeling. Thanks for checking it out!
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