A Bump Grows in Brooklyn • DIY Dresser

DIY Dresser

So, I knew I wanted a teal dresser for Max’s nursery. But after a ton of searching and pondering, I knew I’d have to tackle it myself. Time to roll up the sleeves and get crafty.

It all started with a funky dresser purchased off Craigslist. I love how the top has delicately curved lines.

Of course, no funky dresser could be complete without grandma-papered drawers…

… and gnarly wooden drawer pulls.

First, came a light sanding to rough up the bare wood…

… but not without some interference from a certain someone. Ahem.

Skipped a few pics, but here’s two coats of paint in. We went with a non-VOC Benjamin Moore semi-gloss in a deep, vibrant blue green to complement our grey, black and white color scheme.

I took my cues from blog love (and long lost buddy) Leena of Bye Bye Brooklyn to apply paper-thin coats, sanding between each. By the third, all my brush strokes were evenly covered. Then, it was time to tackle the drawers. I wanted to avoid any PVC and nasty chemicals (and absolutely LOATHE the look of contact paper), so I opted for some bright paper from Papersource, measured carefully and cut with an Exacto blade.

Next, I put a thin layer of Mod Podge on the drawer and slid the paper on, trying to move quickly to remove any air bubbles. Not quite so successful with that, unfortunately, as rigorous rubbing ripped the paper in a few spots, but I’m still very happy with the outcome.

My favorite part? Opening the drawers for that unexpected flash of color! POW!

I still need to sand the key holes for more character. I’m not sold on the brushed bronze drawer pulls and am considering white porcelain ones to make the whole piece pop a bit more.* What do you think?

* Note: the dresser will have a white changing pad try on top of it that matches our black and white crib.