White Washed Dresser Makeover

Jenni Jarvis • April 22, 2021

Dresser Makeover

I normally end up painting old furniture, but I've been itching to try sanding and staining an older piece so I jumped on it when my in-laws said they were getting rid of this dresser.  It's a classic style in good condition and I could see the potential.  
dresser before

Plans

I didn't love the current finish, so I decided to sand everything, including the knobs, so I planned to used them again.  It sanded down beautifully, but I did run into one small problem--the top was veneer/plastic!  Ugh!  I almost broke down and painted the whole thing, but I didn't want to give up my dream of having gorgeous bleached wood, so I pressed on. 


I patched the corners of the wood veneer top where it was chipped or peeling with stainable wood putty, then sanded it with my electric sander.

patched corners of veneer top
Sanded dresser drawers
Once I sanded everything, I put a layer of wood conditioner on everything before applying a very transparent aged wood/gray stain.  Then, I used Varathane's Wood Stain White Wash.

I could have probably gotten by without the stain or wood conditioner with this product.  It goes on very opaque, so after it's painted on, you go back with a rag (or paper towel) and wipe it away until it has the look you are going for.  I rubbed pretty hard to get mine off, because I wanted to see some of the color of the wood through the stain.  I loved how it got into the grain so well; all the areas on the wood that were darker in the grain were not white.  You can still see the color of the wood through and it almost has the effect of pink from far away.
white washed dresser drawers

Veneer Top

I thought about using Minwax Gel Stain with white wash on top to mimic the look of wood on the dresser top, but I was worried that the stain would be too dark in contrast with the light wood, so I decide to paint it.  I used chalk paint I already had in a very light grey and brushed on two coats.  I finished with a layer of white wash on top of the paint and it actually blends very well with the rest of the piece.  I'm so glad I found a solution to dealing with the veneer top!

DIY Varathane white wash dresser makeover

Seating Area

I pulled everything together with this 5x7 black and white striped rug  by Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart for $49.98.  I can't wait to try out more carpentry projects!

little girls room with white washed dresser

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