If you’re stuck with an unattractive dresser that you can’t afford to replace, consider giving it a make over with fabric and paint. Dressers are great storage pieces, but are expensive to purchase new. Save money by keeping the old dresser and use paint, fabric and creativity to transform it into a one-of-a-kind furniture piece. It doesn’t require special skills, but it does require time and effort. It’s well worth it though, because the makeover turns the dresser into functional art.
Decide on the color palette for your dresser and find inexpensive fabric remnants. The amount of fabric needed depends on how much dresser surface you want to cover. I used six different fabric patterns for each drawer front that are 7″ by 23″ wide. Most fabric stores have clearance sections or bins with small fabric remnants that are bargain priced. Auction sites are another good option. It’s easy to find several coordinating fabric patterns from the same seller for a few dollars. I used a black and white theme for my dresser because it works with the bedroom’s color scheme. Choose fabrics you like and pick paint colors to coordinate.
Gather basic supplies for the project, such as latex primer, fine grit sandpaper, tack cloth or rags, paint brushes, foam rollers and decoupage medium. Inexpensive white school glue can be substituted for decoupage medium. I used glue because It’s just as good and dirt cheap. You don’t need a brand name glue either. I purchased several bottles at a dollar store and still have leftovers. Simply add a small amount of water to thin the glue, then apply with a small paint brush.
Cut the fabric to the size needed for the drawer fronts. If your drawers have recessed panel fronts, then cut the fabric to fit in the recesses. For raised panels, mark the fabric to cover the raised portion only. Use sharp scissors or rotary cutting tool for best results. If threads begin to unravel, don’t pull them! Handle the fabric pieces as little as possible until it’s time to glue them down.
Take the dresser drawers out and remove the hardware. Apply two coats of latex primer over the entire dresser’s surface, including the drawer fronts, allow to dry between coats. This step eliminates the need to sand the dresser if it has been previously stained or painted.
Paint the dresser in the color or colors of choice. It’s not necessary to paint the areas that get covered with fabric. The primer is adequate coverage under the glue and fabric. Apply as many coats of paint as needed to get a smooth surface over the remainder of the dresser. The sides of my dresser only needed 2 coats, but the top of the dresser required at least three coats of paint. Let each coat of paint dry thoroughly before applying the next.
Once the paint is completely dry on the drawer fronts, it’s time to apply the fabric pieces. Apply glue on the drawer front with a small sturdy paint brush. Position the fabric on the glue surface, slowly and carefully smoothing the fabric as you go. There’s plenty of time to correct mistakes when using white glue. Now paint an even layer of glue over the entire surface of the fabric. Be sure to take the glue slightly past the fabric’s edge.
Don’t stretch the fabric out of shape while it’s wet with glue. Trim any long threads that unravel, being careful to not pull the threads. Don’t worry about trimming short threads from the fabric at this point, because it’s actually much easier after the first coat of glue is dry. The lose thread is easier to trim and the fabric doesn’t unravel so easily.
Once the first coat of glue is dry, it’s time to check the fabric for bubbles. Use the point of a razor blade to lightly prick any air bubbles in the fabric, then apply a small dab of glue or decoupage medium. Hold it down with your finger until it lays flat. Once the fabric dries and appears to be bubble-free, you’ll start repeating the process. The more coats of glue or decoupage medium that’s applied, the stronger the fabric becomes.
Use a fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand the dry glue on the fabric. It begins to feel rough after two or three coats of glue, but take care to not sand through to fabric. Wipe away the dust and apply the next coat of glue. Continue this process until the fabric is thoroughly covered with a smooth and durable layer. The edges of each fabric piece also feels smooth and secure when you’ve applied enough layers of glue. I think I applied at least ten or eleven coats of glue to the fabric on my drawer fronts. It’s amazing how sturdy the fabric feels after this many layers of glue.
Once the drawer fronts are completed, replace the hardware. I painted the wooden knobs to match the dresser, then applied a coat of clear sealer. When you reach this step, you realize the fabric covers the original holes for the drawer pulls. Simply insert the pointed tip of the screw to break through the stiff fabric and replace each drawer pull as usual. Now a once ugly dresser has a new lease on life, but for a fraction of the cost of a new one.