Make thrift store/ hand-me-down furniture your own

If you’ve made the leap from living at home to getting your own place, chances are you’ve probably been given hand-me-down furniture. You know the kind, it was probably super nice back in its prime, very heavy and very dark! It’s made well and has way more sentimental value than monetary but is upsettingly U.G.L.Y. Well guess what…I’m here to tell you that you CAN love that ugly dresser!

Exhibit A. This dresser has been in my family for a very long time! It was handed down to me and I’ve planning to paint it for a few months. Finally, I found myself in desperate need of more organization for my office and decided to set aside time to work on a piece for myself.

I wasn’t sure how to paint it since I have a wood credenza and a similar style desk as well as a blue dresser. I decided to do a faux wood finish and a white body. This would give me a neutral finish to match my other pieces. To achieve this finish, I applied two coats of Dixie Belle Putty and allowed it to dry. Next, I applied in long strokes mimicking wood grain, Brown Best sand wax, accented with gray and black wax then lightly removed excess with a clean cloth. I then went back over it again lightly buffing the wax. Be careful to not over buff, or this will leave you with a sort of bald spot in your finish, making it nearly impossible to add additional wax.

The hardware was an easy update. I just cleaned the handles with barkeepers friend, dried and sprayed with my go- to Rust-oleum Oil Rubbed Bronze.

There you have it! If you have a room full of different color furniture, this is a great neutral to add to your space! Let me know what you think of this transformation below! Also, let me know if you try painting and old piece and how it goes!