Nov 2

Nov 2 Thrifted Dresser Flip

Ahh I love a good furniture flip. I did it on the dresser in my own bedroom and I always recommend it for clients who either want to stick to a tight budget, or have a bit of a vintage flair. For Angela and her Studio Apartment, she falls into both categories! I knew this would be the perfect dresser solution.

We headed to St. Vincent De Paul’s (one of my favorite furniture thrift stores in Los Angeles) and combed the warehouse for a dresser that was in good condition, but perhaps could use a little bit of love. And we scored big time:

A dark wood dresser from the thrift store

Doesn’t look like much now, but I could see the potential. And it was only $50! A tip for when you are looking: find a dresser with functioning drawers, solid footing, and the right size for your space. That’s literally the only criteria. Don’t worry about how it looks now - think about what it could look like after a little TLC.

Scuff sanding a dark wood dresser from the thrift store

First things first is you’ll want to sand it. If you’re using chalk paint (like I did!), you don’t have to worry about sanding down the original finish. One of the beauties of chalk paint is that it adheres really well to most finishes. For this dresser, all I needed to do was a scuff sand. Get the scratches buffed out, and get the shine of the top coat knocked off. Wipe off the dust with a damp cloth, and you’re ready to move onto the next step!

I decided to go with Timeless Blue by Behr. I’ve used Behr chalk paint for most of my furniture flips and each time I am impressed with the quality of the product. I highly recommend going with Behr for your chalk paint needs. (This isn’t even sponsored - I just really like them!!)

Make sure you pick up the finishing wax - I used clear but there is a white and a black option as well.

Angela is a world traveler, so any time I could incorporate a travel-vibe, I jumped at it. HOW CUTE ARE THESE CERAMIC KNOBS?? I love that they give a Greece/Morocco vibe, and just from a color perspective, the teal is an unexpected POP from the blue of the dresser.

A can of blue chalk paint with patterned glass knobs

Remember to apply the finishing wax once the paint is dry - another plus for chalk paint is that it dries extremely quickly! Add the knobs and you are done. The total cost came in right around $100, which for a completely customized dresser is realllllly good.