T
The Daily Insight

How do you redo your chest

Author

Victoria Simmons

Published Mar 31, 2026

1 Clean the Chest Up. Place the chest on a work surface at about waist height. … 2 Remove the Hardware. Use a screwdriver to remove hinges and latches. … 3 Repair Cracks + Splinters. … 4 Fill Dents + Scratches. … 5 Sand the Chest. … 6 Nooks + Crannies. … 7 Final Sanding. … 8 Wipe On, Wipe Off.

How can I refurbish my chest?

  1. 1 Clean the Chest Up. Place the chest on a work surface at about waist height. …
  2. 2 Remove the Hardware. Use a screwdriver to remove hinges and latches. …
  3. 3 Repair Cracks + Splinters. …
  4. 4 Fill Dents + Scratches. …
  5. 5 Sand the Chest. …
  6. 6 Nooks + Crannies. …
  7. 7 Final Sanding. …
  8. 8 Wipe On, Wipe Off.

Can you Restain a cedar chest?

However, as they move from household to household and generation to generation, cedar chests can become worn, scratched or coated in paint and other finishes. Refinishing a cedar chest brings back the natural beauty of the wood and can be accomplished in a few easy steps.

How do you sand back a drawer chest?

Fit a power sander with 80- or 100-grit sandpaper and sand the outer surfaces of the chest and the drawers. Use gentle, even pressure, hold the sander flat, and sand with the grain of the wood. If possible, reposition the chest and drawers so that the surface you are sanding is horizontal.

How do you clean an old wooden chest?

Wash wooden antique trunks and leather handles or decorations with a mixture of warm water and three capfuls of saddle soap in a bucket. If the interior of the trunk is lined with paper or has any paper decorations, avoid cleaning those areas with the saddle soap solution.

What can I turn my chest of drawers into?

  • Sandwich Station.
  • Under Bed Storage.
  • Bathroom Cabinet.
  • Drawer Ottoman.
  • Porch Planter.
  • Entry Hangers.
  • Picture Frames.
  • Jewelry Organizer.

What can I turn my dresser into?

  • Space for a Sink. 1/11. Make a big splash in the bathroom by repurposing an old dresser as a vanity. …
  • Dressed for Dinner. 2/11. …
  • Drawer Decor. 3/11. …
  • Spring Wardrobe. 4/11. …
  • Tune In. 5/11. …
  • No Monster Under the Bed. 6/11. …
  • Open to New Possibilities. 7/11. …
  • Approach the Bench. 8/11.

How do you make an old dresser look more modern?

  1. Step 1: Remove Hardware. Modern Painted Dresser. …
  2. Step 2: Remove Old Finish. Modern Painted Dresser. …
  3. Step 3: Create Design With Tape. Modern Painted Dresser. …
  4. Step 4: Cut Away Gaps for Dresser. Modern Painted Dresser. …
  5. Step 5: Add Tape to Drawer Edges. …
  6. Step 6: Paint. …
  7. Step 7: Remove Tape. …
  8. Step 8: Seal Exposed Wood.

How do you refurbish a dresser?

  1. apply wood stripper. Apply Wood Stripper. Remove hardware from the dresser and place in a safe spot. …
  2. scrape off paint. Scrape Off Paint. …
  3. remove residue on dresser. Remove Residue. …
  4. sand dresser. Sand Dresser. …
  5. stain dresser. Stain Dresser. …
  6. apply polyurethane to wood. Apply Polyurethane to Refinished Dresser.
How do I change the color of my chest of drawers?
  1. Self-adhesive Paper. The quickest and most easily reversible way to change the color of your dresser is to cover the whole thing with good quality self-adhesive paper. …
  2. Varnish. Tinted varnish adds a hard sheen and a touch of color to any project. …
  3. Paint. …
  4. Stain. …
  5. Bleach.
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How do you upcycle chest of drawers with wallpaper?

Roll wallpaper facedown on a flat surface and place a thick piece of cardboard underneath. Position the first drawer facedown on the paper, lining up one side of the drawer with the edge of the paper to ensure a straight cut. Use an X-Acto knife to cut the wallpaper around the drawer. Repeat for all three drawers.

What kind of paint do you use on a chest of drawers?

I chose a latex satin paint, but you can paint furniture in any finish you like. Satin, semi-gloss, or gloss will give you more of a polished look – satin the least shiny – gloss the most shiny.

Can you spray paint a chest of drawers?

The best trick I have found to paint spraying drawers is to always keep the drawer inside the piece of furniture. Very rarely do I need to take it out. Mask 3-4 inches of the drawer sides. This way you are able to paint your drawers from different angles, without the trouble of masking the entire sides.

How do you prepare a chest of drawers for painting?

  1. Step 1 – Clean And Lightly Sand. I did give these painted boys drawers a light sand and a good clean before re-painting. …
  2. Step 2 – No Undercoat Or Primer Needed. Just Paint. …
  3. Step 3 – Distress (Optional) …
  4. Step 4 – Add Handles. …
  5. Step 5 – Apply Sealer.

How do you freshen up a cedar chest?

Wet a lint-free white cloth with white vinegar, wringing out excess moisture. Wipe down all interior surfaces of the chest, then let the chest air dry while open. Repeat if needed to remove any remaining spots or slight odors.

What can I use to stain an old cedar chest?

Oil is Everywhere Oil-based stain is one of the best options for finishing a cedar chest. Oil stain penetrates deep into wood fibers to bring out grain patterns, no matter what the species.

Is Murphy Oil Soap safe for wood furniture?

A safe, natural cleaner based in vegetable oil, such as Murphy® Oil Soap, can be used after one pass of polish without worrying about residue. You’ll also want to consider how versatile the wood furniture polish is. … If you do choose to use wax on your wood furniture, use only a damp or dry cloth to clean it.

How do you clean the inside of your chest?

For medium cleaning, use white vinegar or Murphy’s Oil Soap and a lint-free cloth. For the toughest jobs, add 3 tablespoons of bleach into 1 cup of water and wipe the surface; rinse with clean water and dry off with a clean cloth.

How do you get rust out of an old trunk?

Rub the rust in a circular motion with steel wool, remembering that steel and tin, which are harder, may require a wire brush, while brass, which is softer, might be quickly restored with steel wool. Still, a heavy buildup of rust on brass might require the wire brush.

Can you use a chest of drawers as a sideboard?

In the Dining Room or Kitchen You may think a chest of drawers only works in a farmhouse or cottage-style kitchen, but the look works for just about any style space, even a contemporary design. … Use a long, low chest in the dining room as a sideboard, using the top for serving buffet style.

How can I reuse a dress?

  1. Hem It Into A Crop Top. This one is my favorite go-to move because it solves so many ailments. …
  2. Turn Into Into A Skirt. …
  3. Add A Sleeveless Shirt On Top. …
  4. Create New Proportions. …
  5. Layer Two Of Them Together.

How do you refurbish a wooden chest of drawers?

Apply a coat of paint or varnish to all exterior surfaces of the dresser and drawers. If the drawer knobs or pulls are made of wood, paint or varnish them as well. Use a brush for applying paint or a sponge brush if applying varnish. Allow the paint or varnish to dry according to manufacturer’s instructions.

How do you refinish a dresser without sanding?

  1. USE A MINERAL PAINT. Mineral paint is very similar to chalk style paints in that no prep or prime is required. …
  2. USE MILK PAINT + BONDING AGENT. As I already mentioned, the antique desk in this post was not prep-sanded. …
  3. USE A BONDING PRIMER. …
  4. USE A LIQUID SANDER/DEGLOSSER.

How do I Modernise my bedroom furniture?

  1. Add Furniture Wax. If you have a piece that is stripped already or just could use new wax, consider adding a darkened wax to it. …
  2. Clean It! Sometimes, all your next project needs is a good scrubbing. …
  3. Spray Paint Secondhand Furniture. …
  4. Add New Hardware. …
  5. Swap Out the Legs.

What is chalk paint?

Chalk Paint® is a decorative furniture paint specifically designed by Annie Sloan to be easy to use, quick, and reliable. Chalk Paint® very rarely requires any preparation, such as sanding or priming, and can be used indoors or outside, on just about any surface.

How much paint do I need to paint a chest of drawers?

How Much Paint Do You Need? A quart of The Spruce Best Home Chalky Finish Paint will cover 60 to 100 square feet. That is enough paint to cover an average dresser with two to three coats.

How can I change the color of my furniture without paint?

  1. Update Furniture with Washi Tape. …
  2. Use Furniture Tacks or Nailheads to Update Furniture. …
  3. Use Fabric or Paper to Update Furniture. …
  4. Use New Hardware to Change the Look. …
  5. Use Baskets (or Accessories) to Update Furniture. …
  6. 10 Dollar Tree Craft Supplies You Need.

Can you use peel and stick wallpaper on furniture?

Peel and stick wallpaper can transform a room or a piece of furniture almost instantly. You can install peel and stick wallpaper in minutes and remove it just as easily, without damaging the surface beneath.

Can you paint over varnished wood without sanding?

Can you paint over varnished wood without sanding? Yes. … The oil based primer will stick to varnished or sealed wood. And then you can paint over it with latex paint.

Can I spray paint wood?

Luckily you can simply spray paint it. As a whole, spray paint can be used on wood. … But most spray paints will stick to wood and the results are just as good as with regular paint. There are some things that you need to keep in mind regarding the project that you want to paint with spray paint though.

How do you paint a chest of drawers without sanding?

  1. Step 1: Prepare the Surface. Wipe the dresser and drawers down thoroughly with warm, soapy water to remove the grime and oils. …
  2. Step 2: Apply a Stain Blocker. …
  3. Step 3: Paint. …
  4. Step 4: Seal and Protect.