Instructions
Authentic Woods
1. Determine what material the dresser is made from. Pull out a drawer in your dresser and look at a cross section of the wood. If it appears to be made of particle board topped with a laminate, you will have to use a different painting process specific to laminate. If your dresser is, however, made of finished or painted wood, proceed with the following steps.
2. Remove the drawers. Keep them separate from the body of the dresser for ease and to ensure that you don't miss any spots.
3. Apply a stripper to remove current stain or paint. Select a stripper approved for use on wood and follow package instructions. While specifics vary from product to product, generally you apply stripper generously with the grain of the wood. With this stripper applied, the stain or paint will bubble up and pull away from the wood, allowing you to scrape it off with relative ease.
4. Remove any remaining paint or stain remnants with fine-grit sandpaper. Carefully inspect the entire dresser, sanding it from top to bottom until it is completely free of paint or stain.
5. Apply a layer of primer intended for use on wood. Apply this primer with a paint brush moving with the grain of the wood. Allow the primer adequate time to dry -- generally around 24 hours -- before proceeding.
6. Paint the piece with an oil-based paint. Using a brush on or spray on enamel, coat the entire dresser with two even coats of paint. Allow the paint to dry completely before proceeding.
7. Add decorative painting. If you wish, use a detail brush and add vines or flowers to the dresser, giving it even more aesthetic appeal.
8. Apply a clear polyurethane. Because you will likely use the dresser heavily, this final coat ensures that the paint can stand up to the wear and tear associated with this use. Brush this clear top coat with the grain of the wood, taking care to apply it evenly and avoid dripping. After you finish applying this polyurethane, look over the piece carefully for drips and smooth them out with a few swipes of the brush.
Laminate Wood
9. Rough up the surface of the laminate using a 220-grit sandpaper. Because your laminate surface is sleek and smooth, it likely won't hold the paint if you don't first mar the surface. Rub the sandpaper in small circles all over the piece until you have created scratches that will help your paint adhere.
10. Apply a primer. Select a primer approved for use on slick surfaces and apply it to your laminate. Move in one direction when applying it with a brush, following what would be the grain of the wood if your piece were made of real wood. In doing so, you can create brush strokes that look similar to wood grain and give the piece the feel of an authentic wood dresser. Allow the primer to dry.
11. Brush on two coats of paint. After applying your primer, you can use any paint you wish on this dresser. Select a finish that suits your taste, selecting a glossy finish if you liked the sheen of laminate but not the color, or a matte finish if you want a piece that is a bit less bold. When brushing, move in the same direction as you did when applying the primer, continuing to create these artificial grain lines.
12. Finish with a clear coat of polyurethane. Conclude your painting with a clear finish that will protect the piece and prevent that paint you have applied from chipping. Apply this final coat in the same manner as the paint, moving once again with what would be the grain of the piece.
Tags: grain wood, with grain, with grain wood, Allow primer,