MCM Chest of Drawers Painted in Navy

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This small chest of drawers was on the curb. I almost didn’t stop becuase it didn’t look like anything special, and I guessed it was made of cheap particle board. But boy, and I’m glad I did! It was solid wood, with minimal damage, and all of the drawers worked well. So it came home with me, and after a few small repairs, some fresh paint, and new feet, it’s looking better than ever!

In these quick guides, I walk through the steps and products I used for a particular makeover. Interested in learning more about a particular step or process? For more information, please refer to the links at the bottom of this post, where I provide detailed tutorials on these steps.

Makeover Steps:

1. Cleaning. I cleaned the exterior of the piece with a degreaser, using these ScotchBrite pads to really scrub off any dirt and grime, then wiped it back with a microfiber cloth. Then I cleaned the interior, bottom, and back with a mixture of water and Dawn dish soap. Finally, I’ll wiped back the piece again with water and a clean microfiber cloth.
2. Repair work. There was a missing chunk of wood from the middle drawer, but thankfully, it had been saved and was in the drawer itself. I used wood glue and clamps to reattach this piece. I also used Bondo to fill a missing chunk on one of the handles and fill some gaps left on the sides from water damage.
3. Sanding/Scuff Sanding: After allowing the Bondo to dry, I sanded those areas smooth. Next, I scuff-sanded the entire piece with 220-grit sandpaper using my SurfPrep sander. However, you don’t need a fancy sander to do this step! Hand sanding works fine – you aren’t trying to remove the finish, just scuff up the existing finish to help with primer and paint adhesion.
4. Prime. There were a bunch of stains (even after sanding and cleaning) that I wanted to be sure were sealed, so priming this one was a must. I used shellac as a primer.
5. Paint. I painted this dresser in the color Classic Navy by Melange Paints.
6. Topcoat. I sealed this piece with one of my favorite topcoats, General Finishes High-Performance Topcoat in Flat. I use this Zibra brush to apply. The combo of these products gives me a smooth and reliable finish.
7. Drawers: I added this peel-and-stick wallpaper as a drawer liner and used this slide lubricant to ensure smooth drawer sliding.
8. Adding Feet: Finally, I wanted to elevate this piece off the floor just a bit, so I added these feet I found on Etsy.

Want to learn more about each step? Check out the links below:

• How to Prepare Furniture For Paint
• Hand-Painted Furniture: How to Get A Flawless Finish With a Brush
• How to Seal Painted Furniture: Protecting With a Top Coat
• How to Line Drawers The Easy Way!