A painted dresser will add charm and extra storage to a bedroom, living room, kitchen, or dining room. Whether you choose to purchase a painted dresser or to give a thrift shop find a DIY makeover, your choice of color, finish, hardware like drawer pulls, and details like stenciling or adding trim or decorative details can transform the look in an instant.
Check out these painted dresser ideas in a range of colors, styles, and settings for inspiration.
Paint Options for Refinishing a Dresser
You can use a variety of paint types to refinish furniture such as a dresser, including oil-based, latex, acrylics, mineral paint, or milk paint, or chalk paint.
Acrylic is user-friendly, easy to clean, and affordable for painting a dresser. Water-based chalk paint is easy to use and will lend your dresser a distressed feel. But it does tend to scratch easily and show visible brushstrokes, so use it to impart vintage charm rather than achieve a polished look. High-gloss paint will give your dresser a glam feel, but it shows every brush stroke and blemish, so it’s best to leave it to the pros for a flawless finish.
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of 35Fluted Painted Dresser
A fresh coat of paint brings out the texture in fluted drawer fronts. This London bedroom dresser from Studio Peake has a scalloped bottom edge that gives it a graceful feel. The white paint helps the nearby radiator disappear and allows color accents and wall decor to shine.
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of 35Chalk Paint Inlay Effect
Use paint to create a decorative finish. Paint and color expert and chalk paint creator Annie Sloan gave this bedroom dresser and matching armoire a faux bone inlay look with a pearl glaze for a decorative feel.
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of 35Sage Green Painted Dresser
A coat of paint can turn a thrift store find or family heirloom that’s been hiding out in the attic into something you’re proud to show off. Thistlewood Farms gave this $45 thrift store find a DIY coat of sage green paint and spray painted the original hardware gold for a brand new look on a budget.
Do you need to sand a dresser before painting it?
You don’t have to sand every dresser before painting it. A dresser that has been varnished will generally require sanding first. But a natural or painted wood dresser in good condition—with a smooth surface free of dings, scratches, or chips—can simply be cleaned, primed, and repainted without sanding first.
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of 35Blue-Black Painted Dresser
A hand-painted wash of blue-black paint will add texture to a classic dresser. Becca Interiors placed this painted dresser next to the bed so that it doubles as a nightstand, styling it with a table lamp and neutral decor objects.
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of 35Striped Painted Dresser
Customize a dresser with stripes to add visual interest. Britt Design Studio chose a mix of thin vertical and horizontal strips to add movement, with orange-brown trim that matches the drapes for a cohesive look in this primary bedroom.
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of 35Pink Sideboard Dresser
Paint a living room or hallway sideboard in a bold and daring shade of hot pink to brighten up your space. Annie Sloan paired fuschia chalk paint with gold hardware and trim, and colorful lamps and candles in this eclectic space.
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of 35Traditional Navy Dresser
Complement a traditional interior with a navy painted dresser. Britt Design Studio finished this hallway piece with gold hardware and a white marble top for a crisp and slightly coastal feel. The top is styled like a console table to make the hallway feel finished and inviting.
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of 35Milk Paint Dresser
Use milk paint to give an old wood dresser a shabby farmhouse feel. My 100 Year Old Home gave this dining room dresser a makeover with milk paint, replacing the old wood knobs with mercury glass knobs for a touch of vintage bling.
Every surface of the original dresser was sanded to remove any trace of paint or vanish so that the milk paint would stick.
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of 35Painted Dresser Hardware
There are other easy low-lift ways to give a plain dresser a makeover besides paint. A Beautiful Mess upgraded a simple white IKEA dresser with the addition of Lewis Dolin bar pulls in a shiny brass finish. Then they added an extra flourish with decorative 2-inch corner braces that were spray painted to match for a higher-end look.
25 IKEA Dresser Hacks That Anyone Can Do -
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of 35High-Gloss Paint
Choose a dresser with a high-gloss paint finish to add glamour to your living room, dining room, or foyer. This dresser from Mary Patton Design has a high-gloss lacquered finish that highlights the streamlined design.
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of 35Painted Farmhouse Dresser
A mini dresser works well as a nightstand for a vintage look. Liz Marie Blog painted this one with very pale mint green on the drawers and soft white on the legs and top, pairing it with bronze accents in this bright farmhouse bedroom.
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of 35Indian Damchiya Cabinet
Choose a mix of stained and painted wood with a piece of furniture like a dark walnut Indian Damchiya cabinet with painted details in primary shades of red, blue, and green. Erin Williamson Design styled the piece with vintage accents for an eclectic feel.
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of 35Weathered Paint
Give your dresser an antique feel with a weathered paint finish. This entryway dresser from Becca Interiors has a stone washed denim effect finish, styled with natural decor elements for an effortless coastal-inspired feel.
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of 35Black Stenciled Details
Add interest to a stained wood dresser with paint detailing. This London landing from Studio Peake features a simple antique dresser that adds storage for linens and hides clutter. Painted black details add character while preserving the style of the original.
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of 35Scandi-Style Painted Dresser
Give your dresser a Scandi-inspired feel with a coat of white chalk paint, like this little bedside dresser from Annie Sloan. Edge the top, hardware, and decorative details with soft gray to add subtle dimension.
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of 35Colorful Midcentury Modern
Turn a dinged, chipped, unloved midcentury console into a modern piece of furniture on a budget with a DIY paint job. Thistlewood Farms patched up the original $15 rummage sale find, repairing the top and the sides, sanding it to remove the old finish, priming, and painting it in a fresh coat of blue for a brand new look.
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of 35Textured Black Dresser
Matte black paint will bring out the texture in a dresser with carved details. This hybrid dresser and nightstand from Britt Design Studio has matte black drawer fronts and a smooth satin top to add dimension to a simple piece.
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of 35Salt Wash Finish
Give your dresser instant patina with a salt wash finish. Liz Marie Blog aged this simple dresser by mixing paint with a salt wash product, then sanding it to give it a chipped appearance that complements this all-white farmhouse living room.
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of 35Two-Tone Painted Dresser
Give a vintage dresser a high-contrast feel with two-tone paint. K Shan Design chose cream and black to make this small dresser-style nightstand blend in with the palette of the room.
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of 35DIY Dresser Makeover
Use both paint and custom detailing to give an old dresser a DIY makeover. A Beautiful Mess turned a modern black dresser from black to white using non-toxic lacquer paint before gluing halved spray painted wood stars to the tops of each drawer to personalize it.
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of 35Lacquered Black Dresser
Pair a lacquered black dresser with bold gold hardware for a sophisticated feel that can work in any space. This London bedroom from Studio Peake pairs the dark painted dresser with a modern white lamp for a high-contrast look.
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of 35Coastal Dresser
Give an old dresser a new look by leaving the top natural and painting the drawers and sides. Finding Silver Pennies painted the dresser blue and added white stencil detailing to complement the coastal style of the living room.
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of 35Painted Laminate Dresser
Modernize a laminate dresser with paint. The Merrythought turned the brown finish into a clean white, leaving brown diamond details to shine through. To change up the look, repaint the diamonds.
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of 35Grecian Blue Dresser
Give your kitchen dresser or hutch a weathered feel with Grecian blue chalk paint like this piece from Annie Sloan. Allow some of the natural wood to shine through to give it the appeal of a well-worn patina.
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of 35Coral and White Dresser
If you’re an avid DIYer, take an unremarkable pine bookcase and give it a personal touch with paint, hardware, and extra features. Thistlewood Farms painted it coral, added a bookshelf attachment on the side, and decorated it with white trim, new knobs, and washers from the home improvement store for a graphic touch.
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of 35Navy Painted Dresser
Add a subtle dose of color in a neutral foyer with a navy painted dresser. Britt Design Studio styled it with decor objects and hung a mirror on the wall above to create storage and display space in this transitional entry.
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of 35Stenciled Dresser
Purchase a stencil to add subtle detailing to a plain dresser. Thistlewood Farms painted a formerly white dresser light gray, then used acrylic white paint and a floral patterned stencil to add some delicate detailing.
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of 35All-White Dresser
Give an old dresser, hutch, or china cabinet a refresh with all-white chalk paint for a timeless feel. Style it with colorful dishware and plants, like this piece from Annie Sloan.
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of 35All-Black Dresser
Emily Henderson Design / Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp
An all-black dresser with matching drawers and pulls can add storage in any style space. Emily Henderson Design added a black dresser to this bedroom for overflow clothing storage from the small closets.
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of 35Christmas Dresser
Give an old dresser a holiday makeover with a few cans of chalk paint and a festive design that’s abstract enough to work year-round. Annie Sloan styled this Christmas bedroom with a green, cream, and red dresser gussied up with a wavy pattern that gives it a whimsical appeal.
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of 35Light Wash of Black
Modernize a vintage-style dresser with a light wash of charcoal black paint. Becca Interiors paired the dresser with vintage floral wallpaper and a midcentury lamp for a timeless feel.
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of 35Painted and Waxed Dresser
A tall and narrow dresser can be styled to fit into any space, from the living room to the bedroom. Liz Marie Blog gave an inexpensive dresser some character with French blue chalk paint. The surface was lightly sanded once dry to achieve an aged feel, then brushed with dark wax that was wiped off with a rag to seal and deepen the color.
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of 35Textural Painted Dresser
Painting a dresser made from mixed materials or featuring details such as carving, caning, or wicker and rattan in a single color will allow different textures to reveal themselves. Annie Sloan painted this sideboard dresser in a rich blue and styled it for a celebration with bright pink and green accents.
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of 35Sunny Yellow Dresser
Turn a drab dark wood dresser into a colorful focal point with sunny yellow paint. Finding Silver Pennies transformed a damaged oak dresser with chalk paint mixed with a bonding agent for a smoother feel. Simple white DIY hand-painted details on the drawers echo the detail at the top to make the piece feel more custom.
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of 35Thrifted Painted Dresser
Modernize a vintage dresser with an all-white paint job that will allow details to stand out while allowing the piece to blend into the background. Liz Marie Blog placed this white painted dresser between the French doors of this all-white farmhouse living room, styling it here for spring.