Give New Life to Tired Furniture How to Refinish an Old Dresser

When you’re ready to revamp your old furniture, consider refinishing it to give it an entirely new look.  An old dresser that seems drab can look completely new if you refinish it.  The process is relatively simple and you’ll just need a few supplies to get started.  Find a place to work that is well ventilated and gather some stripping agent, a scraper, sandpaper, paint brushes, gloves, stain, and polyurethane.

After placing a drop cloth on the ground to protect it from the stripping agent, put the dresser on the cloth.  First, remove all hardware like handles and dresser drawer pulls.  Now, put on your gloves and apply the stripping agent to the dresser.  Using a paint brush, apply the stripping agent in an even layer all over the wood.  Once the stripper is applied, let it soak in according to the instructions.

Using a paint scraper, remove the stripping agent from the dresser.  You might need a little paint thinner or mineral spirits on a rag to remove stubborn parts of the paint that the stripper is unable to remove.  Now, allow it to dry before you sand the entire surface to smooth out any flaws.  With a paint brush, remove any dust left from sanding so you have a clean surface to work with.

Now, apply the stain to the dresser, followed by the polyurethane to give it a nice shine.  In just a few simple steps, you’ve completely transformed an old piece of furniture.  Refinishing can be a great way to save money on decorating and give new life to old furniture.