Empire Dresser Makeover with Milk Paint

It’s been awhile since I have shared a furniture makeover here on the blog, and I am so excited about this one! Here’s the before photo of a great empire dresser I found at the Goodwill last week.

Before

As I was at the Goodwill contemplating whether or not to buy this one, I ran into one of my sweet blog readers.  She convinced me that I really should get it, and I am so happy I did.  Thank you, Julie!

I know it doesn’t look too bad in the “before” photo, but the top was pretty worn.  The wood grain on the veneer was nice, and many times I refinish the wood.  But, I really wanted to give this one a fun layered milk paint look with cottage style.  And, it’s been awhile since I’ve painted a furniture piece blue. So, that’s what I did!

After

A little vintage, a little cottage, and a little beachy all rolled into one piece.

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Materials Used

• Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint in “French Enamel”
• Old Fashioned Milk Paint in “Soldier Blue”
• Miss Mustard Seed Hemp Oil
• Miss Mustard Seed’s Bonding Agent

Steps

I prepped this dresser by removing the hardware, vacuuming out the interior, and then cleaning it inside and out with Krud Kutter. It had a little bit of O.D.S. (“old dresser smell”) so I sprayed it with disinfecting spray and let it sit in the sunshine for a few hours to air out. Nice and fresh smelling now.

I gave it a quick sanding with 120 grit sandpaper to smooth it out a bit and remove the glossy finish.  I didn’t want to have random chipping which can happen with milk paint, so a quick sanding/deglossing can help to prevent that.  I wiped it down again to remove the dust.

I mixed up the first layer of milk paint using Miss Mustard Seed’s milk paint in “French Enamel.”  It’s a great bright blue that I wanted to peek through the final finish.  I added bonding agent to improve adhesion and prevent chipping.  I brushed on a light layer letting some of the wood show through.

For the second layer, I used Old Fashioned milk paint in “Soldier Blue.” You can see how Soldier Blue looks on its own here.  It’s a mid tone blue that leans toward navy blue. I brushed in on in long strokes blending back and forth as I went.  I let areas of wood show through the final paint finish for a weathered, rustic look.

Once dry, I sealed the dresser with a coat of hemp oil using a sanding sponge to wet sand.  This creates an unbelievably smooth finish. To wet sand, I use a paint brush to brush on a thin layer of hemp oil. I then lightly sand (like wiping a counter with a sponge) the oiled area with a 220 grit sanding sponge. Then wipe the excess oil with a dry rag.    That’s it!

I decided to use the original wood knobs. I like how the wood contrasts with the blue. There is a lot of movement going on with the finish, so I think simple knobs work best.

Have you tried milk paint?  It’s so wonderful for creating a vintage look.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I love being able to share with you all.

Susan