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How to Makeover a Kids Dresser – A Full Tutorial

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Making over a dresser is not as complicated as it may look. I actually made over this dresser last year and edited some of the photos to share. However, other posts took priority and I just kept putting off this one. I finally got around to typing up the post to share with you.

How to Makeover a Dresser in a Few Easy Steps - At Home With Zan-

Dresser Makeover - Dresser Details - At Home With Zan

Our little girls’ room needed some extra places for smaller clothing. After looking at various kinds of dressers for a long time, I finally decided on something. I bought one from Craigslist and since I couldn’t find another one of our liking (that was reasonably priced and not too far away), I ended up purchasing a new one.

This is the one from Craigslist. The couple who sold it were decluttering to create more room for their expecting new baby. They were super sweet and I think I paid like $20 or so for it. I gave it a makeover to match the girls room and really love how it turned out. All the steps are explained below.

Dresser Makeover - At Home With Zan

The drawers appear to be a tad stiff to pull out but our daughter handles it well. I told her that if they are too hard for her to pull out then I’ll have to get her a brand new one. I wonder if oiling would work? Either way, the dresser is pretty and so far, it has being great for her.

Dresser Makeover - At Home With Zan -

List of what I used to complete the makeover

  • 1-2-3 Primer (by Zinsser)
  • White Paint (Semi-Gloss by Rust-Oleum)
  • Silver Spray Paint (by Rust-Oleum)
  • Paint Brushes (Large/Small)
  • Tray for Pouring Paint
  • Plastic Protector
  • Screwdriver
  • Painter’s Tape
  • New Drawer Pulls
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Cleaning Products

Step 1: Take the drawers apart and give the entire dresser (drawers too) a good cleaning. I used some homemade cleaner that cleans and disinfects at the same time.

Dresser Makeover - Old Dresser - At Home With Zan

Step 2: If you plan to use new drawer pulls (handles) then remove the old ones with a screw. I went ahead and tossed them when I was done.

Dresser Makeove - Old Dresser Pull - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Removing Old Dresser Pull - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Old Dresser Pulls - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Old Dresser Pulls Removed - At Home With Zan

Step 3: Cover the paint area with plastic protector to keep the paint from spilling over the floor (I actually painted on my porch and cover up the walls). Apply primer to the dresser and drawers and let them dry. I applied about two coats of primer because I did not sand at all. (If you are going to sand, then be sure to do that first). Here are the primer and paint I used shown below.

Dresser Makeover - Primer & Paint - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Applying Primer - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Applying Primer - At Home With Zan-

Step 4: Pour some paint in a tray or old bowl or whatever you can use to hold it. Apply paint, making sure to do a few coats with drying time between each one. I used two to three coats.

Dresser Makeover - White Paint - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Paint Brush - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Apply Paint - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Applying Paint - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Painted Dresser Drawers - At Home With Zan

Step 5: The decorative hinges on the dresser needed a fresh coat of paint too. I didn’t go the extra mile to remove them because I figured some spray paint could make them look new again. But I might have painted over them a little while I was doing the dresser. To change out the look, I tapped off the areas around them with painters tape, sprayed them in silver, then let them dry.

Dresser Makeover - Spray Paint - Metal - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Painting Metal - At Home With Zan -

Dresser Makeover - Metal - Silver - At Home With Zan

Step 6: Once everything is fully dried put on the new handles. I found these on Amazon – our daughter really loves them. In fact, she chose the style and color when I showed her the options online.

Dresser Makeover - Drawer Pulls - Pink - Glass - At Home With Zan

Note: If you painted over the holes where the handles should go, you may find it helpful to use a ruler or measuring tape to measure and help you find the center of the drawers. Don’t forget to measure from both sides, find the central point, drill a hole to put the handle. Drill two holes if the hands are sort of long and require two holes to attach them (I only needed one little whole for each drawer).

Dresser Makeover - Measuring Drawers - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Drilling Hole in Drawers - Drill Bit Siza - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Drill Holes in Drawers - At Home With Zan

Make sure to align the holes in the same way on each drawer. Next put the screws that came with each pull through the drawers (be sure to do this from the inside out). Attach each handle to each drawer pull, then tighten.

Dresser Makeover - Drawer Pull - At Home With Zan

Leaving the drawers off, if handles are in place and everything else looks good to go, place the dresser in the room where it is needed.

Dresser Makeove -Drawers - At Home With Zan

Put the drawers back in, step away and admire your work. Call your kid in to check and test it out and see what she thinks of it. Hopefully, she’ll act pleasingly surprised like she didn’t see it while you were painting:)

Dresser Makeover - New Drawer Pulls - Pink - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - For Girls Room - White Painted - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - Details - Metal - At Home With Zan

Dresser Makeover - White Painted - Girls Dresser - At Home With Zan

All in all, we are pleased with it and although the makeover was not difficult, it did take a few days between kids, home, rain, a holiday, etc., etc., etc.

Dresser Makeover - Girls Room - White Dresser - At Home With Zan

What do you think about it? Have you ever attempted to repaint remake a dresser? How did it turn out? Would love to know your thoughts!!

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