DIY Faux Distressed Dresser

Give a dresser a new "old" look.

Dressers take up a great deal of visual space, so make sure that the one that you use reflects your decorating taste. If you love the distressed look or you are shooting for shabby chic appeal, give your dresser a worn appearance. Choose a dresser made out of wood and distress it with paint and sandpaper to give it a well-used, well-loved feel.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Scrub brush
• Soap
• 100-grit sandpaper
• Clean cloth or vacuum
• Spray paint
• Mallet

Instructions

1. Put down a drop cloth to protect your work area.

2. Wash the dresser with soap and a scrub brush, removing all the dirt. Allow the dresser to dry completely.

3. Remove the drawers so that you have clear access to the entire dresser.

4. Sand all the surfaces that you are going to paint using 100-grit sandpaper.

5. Wipe all the sawdust from the dresser using a clean cloth. If you wish to be extremely thorough, suck up the sawdust with a vacuum.

6. Paint all of the surfaces you want to distress using white spray paint and allow the paint to dry.

7. Paint all of the white surfaces with the color that you want to the dresser to be, and allow the paint to dry completely.

8. Rub the wear spots on the dresser with 100-grit sandpaper, scrubbing down to the white paint or even the wood. Some wear spots include the corners, the drawer pulls, the edges of the dresser top and the feet.

9. Hit the dresser lightly with a mallet, giving it dents and bumps.