French Blue Dresser Makeover

An orange wood thrifted dresser gets a French blue makeover using Fusion Mineral Paint in Champness and Homestead House Wax in Espresso.

Before jumping back into more guest bedroom makeover updates, I have to take a second to give y’all a big ol’ bear hug and say thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of you who have given me encouragement on Facebook and Instagram since announcing our moving news and how emotional it’s been. As of yesterday, Robert and I made an offer on a house! I cannot wait to show it off and share what our new adventure will be, but I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch just yet.

Okay, so back to the guest bedroom. This post contains what I think might be my favorite furniture makeover EVER! And that’s sayin’ something.

I recently scored this beaten up dresser on my local Facebook buy/sell/trade group for $20 !!! It was a total steal. I really don’t think anyone else in that group saw the potential in this little beauty… poor thing.

But do you SEE those pretty side details? I mean… sex-ay!

Supplies Used:  (Affiliate links are provided below convenience.)

• Fusion Mineral Paint in Champness
• Homestead House Wax in Espresso
• Minwax Stain in Weathered Oak
• Mouse sander
• Minwax Polycrylic in matte finish
• Coarse grit and medium grit sanding pads
• Paint brush
• Clean, dry lint-free rags
• Wax brush
• Cast iron hardware

I wanted to get rid of the orangey color on the dresser but still retain some wood tone, so I sanded down the top entirely with my mouse sander, first with coarse grit and then medium grit for a smooth finish.

I wiped away all of the sanding dust and then applied two coats of the Minwax Weathered Oak, following the directions on the back of the can. I loooooove this color of stain. I use it every chance I get. It’s very light but pulls out a lot of the natural shade variations in the wood and adds just a hint of gray.

It’s my favorite part about our dining table that I used it on a few months ago.

On the rest of the dresser, I brushed on two coats of the Fusion Champness. It’s a gorgeous color!

I knew I wanted to give the piece an antique French look, so I toned down the blue a bit by brushing on the Homestead House Espresso wax, working it into the painted finish and details with a wax brush. This is by far my favorite wax to work with. Other dark waxes I’ve used seem to dry much faster and are more opaque. I feel like I have more control with this one.

I replaced the existing hardware with some new knobs and handles I picked up at Hobby Lobby for 50% off, and if I walked passed this little dresser on the street now, I don’t think I’d recognize it.

Helloooooooooooo! Wow.

Hard to believe it was just a junky $20 piece before, huh? It would easily go for several hundred in a boutique somewhere. Paint is just amazing like that.

I’ve got all the heart eyes for this planked detail on the sides.

I left a little extra wax in the corners of the drawers to add more depth too.

And that stain on the top just makes me want to do backflips… you know, if I was more coordinated like that.

Since we’re moving things all over the place right now, I decided my book page botanical prints and $5 thrift store lamp would be right at home here. The rest, I just stole from my mom that she had in other places of her house. Shh… don’t tell. 😉

So here’s where we are with the rest of the to-do list in this space:

• Find and paint an armoire for toy & book storage
• Find and paint a dresser
• Makeover bed headboard/footboard
• Makeover nightstands
• Buy some art
• Update lighting
• Add rug
• Get bedding and pillows
• Make window seat cushion (My mom’s job because I’m a lost cause on sewing skills.)
• Add curtains?

I just picked up the perfect rug along with some pretty pillows, and it’s all coming together PERFECTLY!!!! The rug came from Overstock and the euro pillow and striped pillow both came from Target.

Whatchya think? Looks like something shipped over from France? Maybe? I’m so excited to see how the rest of this room will look in the end.

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*A big thanks to Fusion Mineral Paint for providing paint to sponsor this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.