DIY SOUTHWESTERN DRESSER

A step by step of how to transform an old dresser into a beautiful Rustic gem with painters tape.

Yes you read that right I said tape. This has been something I have wanted to do for a while now. Taking an old dresser and transforming it,  with a little bit of tape and my own creativity! It is definitely something I would call abstract furniture art! I thought this was going to be a  time consuming project but I was actually super happy with how easy it  turned out to be. 

I started out with just your average jo dresser, nothing fancy, nothing crazy, just an old dresser that needed some new love. This is what it looked like before:

To get the best finish I always start out with a good sand. The sanding process for this piece was actually quite simple for a change, thankfully! Sanding just happens to not be my favorite part of this job. With the vision I had for this piece the frame only needed to be scuffed up because I knew I was going to be painting it.

 With the drawers it was easy again because there was no veneer on top  to chisel away. My dream come true!  (If you follow me on instagram you probably know about my lack of love for veneer. Especially when it hides real wood. Anyways that’s a rant for a different day)…. Lets get back to the drawers.

They only had a bit of old stain to be removed before that beautiful natural wood came shining through! 

Here are some pictures of my sanding process:

With the first picture you can really see that for the frame I didn’t try to get all the old stain off, I really was just making sure it was all even and ready for painting.

Once I had the natural wood exposed now it was time to get creative. I used thin green painters tape to create the design I wanted. I went with a herringbone style, because it went with the southwestern vibe I was creating.

 When I was happy with the design I made sure the tape was good and down and stained the drawer fronts with Early American by Miniwax. Brushing right over top of the painters tape with an old cloth or paper towel and wiping away any excess. 

Here are some videos of the process:

When you go into something without high expectations, sometimes you end up really surprising yourself! I am so happy with how the designs turned out. This may not be everyone’s style but I am confident it will attract just the right person! 

Alright time for Prime Time! 

My all time favorite go to primer is Zinsser’s Shellac based primer. I prefer to buy dollar store paint brushes when I prime, because it is impossible to wash out. So I just toss the brushes in the garbage  when I am done, and it comes with the added bonus of only costing me $1.25. Which makes me and my thrifty personality very happy! 

Here is a picture of the whole frame primed and ready for painting:

For paint I love using Country Chic Chalk paint! For this beauty I used Rocky Mountain and both rolled and hand painted on three coats.  I then sealed it with Dixie Belle’s Best Black wax to give it the definition I was looking for and create this beautiful layered finish. Here is what it looked like: 

This picture is after three coats of Rocky Mountain Country Chic paint. 

And this is the finished frame with it waxed and sealed.

Now for the finishing touches and putting it all together. I found these awesome gold handles and they are perfect! I really think they help bring out the drawer art without stealing the whole show. I also did a mild distressing at the end with a fine coarse sanding block. It really added to the rustic southwestern look. All in all I am so happy with how this project turned out. It is the perfect blend of modern and rustic with that southwestern aztec vibe. 

Here is the final product: 

If you have made it this far thank you so much for your support! I really hope you enjoyed following along with me and this  dresser transformation. It really just goes to show creativity can come from anywhere. Even tape!  If you have any questions or comments I would love to hear from you. Also for more transformations and inspiration please follow my instagram @flop.or.not.  I hope you all have a nice day, and are able to explore your creativity in what ever ways you can. 

Take care, 

Allysha