Easy Dresser Makeover with Fusion Bayberry

In this post, I show you how I transformed an old, tired, damaged dresser into a fresh, beautiful dresser that is full of character and charm. Fusion Mineral is one of my favourite paints for refreshing old pieces of furniture and Bayberry is a colour I’ve wanted to work with for a long time. This easy dresser makeover with Fusion Bayberry is a project you can complete in one day for about $30. Everything you need to know to do this yourself is included in this post.

The Dresser

This dresser has a history. And it’s been a part of my life since I was born. However, it has been through about 10 house moves in my lifetime and was quite a bit worse for wear. It had numerous cracks, broken wood drawer pulls, and a very uneven, damaged finish. I had thought of purchasing a shiny new dresser on numerous occasions, but I couldn’t let go of this piece. It was my mothers and I could never part with something that was hers.

It took me a while to get up the nerve to paint this piece because of its age, but the drawer pulls needed to be replaced (as several were broken) and after searching unsuccessfully for replacement drawer pulls, I knew the piece needed to be refinished. I rarely strip items and re-stain them because of the amount of time and effort required. Additionally, I try to limit exposure to chemical strippers and sawdust from old pieces. I also really wanted a pop of colour in our neutral farmhouse style bedroom.

Fusion Mineral Paint

If you are unfamiliar with Fusion paint, then you may want to read my blog post, When to Use Chalk Paint, Fusion Paint, and Milk Paint. I cover all the basics in that post. To summarize, it’s a water-based paint that requires little prep and has a built-in topcoat. I also love that you can achieve a really smooth finish as the paint has self-levelling properties.

Paint Colour and Style Details

I chose Bayberry because our master bedroom is so neutral and I wanted to add a touch of colour. However, I didn’t want to limit my future options for bedding too much. This beautiful shade of greens works so well with other colours and it will look great at all times of the year (can’t wait to decorate it at Christmas).

I choose white ceramic drawer knobs after being inspired by my friend Kelly’s beautiful green dresser with white knobs. She painted her dresser with MMS milk paint in Boxwood. You can read her post over at The Tattered Pew.

Supplies for my Easy Dresser Makeover with Fusion Bayberry

• Trisodium Phosphate (TSP)
• Rubber gloves
• Clean cotton cloths
• 220 grit sandpaper and face mask
• Homestead House salad bowl finish or a beeswax stick (optional, if you want a distressed look)
• 500 mL Fusion Mineral Paint in Bayberry (I used about 2/3 of the container)
• 2” angled paintbrush (Fusion Brand is my favourite)
• Drawer knobs or pulls (Embossed ceramic sunburst knobs) and screwdriver
• A drill is needed if you need to create new holes for drawer pulls or knobs

Directions

Preparation

• If the piece is damaged, then make the necessary repairs first. I didn’t fill larger cracks because I wanted to retain some of that aged character.
• If you need to drill new holes for the drawer pulls or knobs, then measure, mark, and drill the holes now.
• Clean the entire piece with TSP and a damp cotton cloth (old dishtowels work great for this!). I couldn’t believe how dirty this piece actually was.
• Use 220 grit sandpaper to lightly sand all the surfaces you will be painting. Only the lightest sanding is required. If it takes you more than five minutes to sand the entire piece, then you are sanding more than is required. The purpose of sanding here is not to remove the finish, rather it is to scuff the surface a little to give the paint something to grab onto. Always wear a face mask when sanding an old piece to avoid breathing in the dust.
• Wipe the piece down with a damp cloth one final time. Wait a few minutes before painting to ensure the piece is completely dry.
• Remove the drawers.
• Apply salad bowl finish to raised and textured areas that you’ll want to distress later. Alternatively, you can use a beeswax stick. This makes the process of distressing easier since Fusion has such good adherence properties. I applied the salad bowl finish to all the edges, corners, trim and details, and drawer pulls.

Painting

• Paint the dresser starting at the top and working your way down. I love my Fusion 2” angled brush and use it for most of my projects as it produces a smooth finish. Allow to dry for several hours.
• You can sand very lightly before the second coat of paint if the finish is not as smooth as you’d like it. Sometimes, painting a piece can slightly raise the grain of the wood and produce a little bit of texture. However, I didn’t find that to be the case with this piece, likely because it’s a hardwood (oak) and it’s old. Brand new pine furniture always seems to require a light sanding between coats.
• Apply the second coat of paint and allow to dry. My finish was perfectly smooth and I didn’t need to do any sanding. However, if yours isn’t as smooth as you would like, I recommend sanding with a 320 grit or higher sandpaper.

Finishing

• After about two hours, you can use 220 grit sandpaper to distress the areas you previously coated with salad bowl finish or beeswax. Start with light pressure and increase until you get the desired look. Wipe paint dust away with a damp cloth.
• Wait until the next day to add the drawer pulls and to reunite the drawers with the dresser. If possible, don’t subject the piece to heavy use for one to two weeks to allow the finish to cure and become durable.

Styling

I think the area above the dresser is now a prime spot for seasonal décor. I would love to hang some vintage window frames here, but for now, I added a pretty butterfly tapestry from Homesense. On the dresser top, I added some vintage blue-green glass bottles, candles, and a vase of hostas from the garden. I love simple, easy styling in the summer.

Summary

I hope you have enjoyed my easy dresser makeover with Fusion bayberry. If you have a piece you’ve been wanting to refresh, now might be a good time to make that vision a reality.

Looking for other Fusion Mineral Paint project ideas? Check out these posts:

How I Painted my Piano with Fusion Mineral Paint

Vintage Sofa Reupholstery of a Family Heirloom

DIY Easter Egg Vase Display

Easy DIY Wood Clipboard

DIY Painted Doormat IKEA Hack

Home Office Refresh with Wallpaper

Easy DIY Painted Terra Cotta Pots