We're already looking ahead to AT's January Jumpstart 2009 (let's just say we like to plan ahead). So far we've found a side table that has great lines--just a really bad green paint job with 70's inspired yellow flowers. We're definitely looking to update our side table find but wanted to scour AT's archives for inspiration...
6 Ways To Update A Thrift Store Dresser
We could always paint it a solid color and contact paper the front side like this dresser above. We've also seen one that has newspaper or vintage magazine print decoupage that was quite impressive.
Or, for a quite different look, we could always stencil a dresser drawer or two (or go all out and stencil the entire find).
This mirrored dresser is not the easiest DIY but inspiring nonetheless.
This idea is definitely more our speed with a basic paint job of black paint with a clean stencil of simple lines that creates a design that's quite pleasing to the eye.
We always like the look of a few coats of high gloss white paint with an upgrade of hardware to make the most simple change that goes a long way. But then again, we may just strip the green paint on our thrift store find and stain it.
What other ways have you updated your thrift store dresser? Was it an easy DIY or did you feel like you were working overtime?
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[Image on first page from moon angel]
Comments (6)
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Once, I decoupaged a dresser with old paper dolls. The result was cute, but it looked a little "busy".
Now I'm facing a similar question. I have a plain white dresser and I want to give it a facelift. My room has pale walls and the white dresser looks washed out against them. If I pick a color that's too bold I'm worried I'll constantly have to coordinate my bedding and other colors around it.
Any other creative suggestions?
view StudioStarter's profile
I love wood, so I tend to strip bad old finishes off a lot, and it's always a blast. Another option is crackle paint, which works well and gives a nice faux bois look. If you use unexpctd colors, under and over the crackle I think you can avoid the 80's country house look it can connote. Another thing I just did was paint a 1960's wood table bright yellow, then 'drew' big wood grains onto it by scraping lines of paint away with a chopstick, for an effect like this:
http://www.designspongeonline.com/wp-content/uploads/faux-bois-doormat.jpg
It worked very well, in a rough, surrealistic sort of way..
view mskk's profile
I tend to not like graphics on furniture - like the above examples at all. I guess I'm old school.
view mskk's profile
StudioStarter: Paint it yellow. Yellow goes with everything. The shade of yellow is up to you, depending on the kinds of colors you normally use....pastel, primary, jewel-toned, etc.
view ohjodi's profile
If the dresser is low you could get a piece of glass cut for the top and make a collage on the surface.
view Emilymbd's profile
The black dresser with the white stenciling is a great update. I've been trying to figure out how to update some of my apartment furniture, and am pretty inspired by that particular design. It's incredible what we find on Craigslist!
view AmyInLA's profile