Learn how to strip paint from an antique dresser. Restore the original wood with a little paint stripper and a lot of elbow grease.
Several years ago I stumbled upon a pretty little antique dresser at a garage sale. I liked the chippy paint and (surprisingly) the teal color. At $75, it wasn’t exactly a bargain, but I loved the shape.
For a long time it hung out in the kitchen. I kept unsorted mail and homeschool stuff in the drawers, and stored dried food on top. The only photo I could find of it in the kitchen was on IG, so pardon the screenshot.
After a while, I got tired of walking around it in the kitchen and felt like we would be better off without it. So, I moved it into the living room where it hung out, in all its teal glory, for another year or so.
For risk of making the painted dresser story way too long, I’m going to jump to the end. The teal color no longer worked. It drove me crazy every time I looked at it. It totally messed up the flow of my minimal style living room, full of wood, wicker, white, fresh greenery and natural tones.
Plus, I think natural wood is making a comeback. All that gorgeous wood grain and deep color that comes with age.
The bright color had to go, but I still loved the little dresser.
So, just like with the antique door that I decided should be stripped down to its original wood, I put my husband to the task.
I’ve got the ideas and he’s got the muscles. Know what I mean?
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How to Strip Paint from an Antique Dresser- The Process
We bought a fresh new bottle of Citristrip ,the same product we (I should say, he) used to tediously remove the paint from our front door during our farmhouse front porch renovation.
We hauled the dresser our to the garage. Citristrip is supposed to be less toxic, but you can never be too careful with stuff like that.
He removed the drawers and pulls, and then coated everything with a layer of the paint stripper. He let it sit for about an hour. Then he scraped on it with a paint scraper. In a perfect world, it would have just came right up and the whole process finished up in a day.
Not the case.
It needed several more paint stripper treatments.
After he removed as much as possible with the paint stripper he went at it with a sander. Around the knobs, corners and legs, he just used some sandpaper and sanded it by hand.
The beauty of the wood underneath was finally revealed.
The After
Still, after a whole lot of time and elbow grease, the paint wasn’t 100% removed. If you look closely you can still see some tiny bits of teal paint.
But, it looks 200% better!
I love the uneven color of the wood and the way it complements the natural textures of jute and wicker in our living room.
Maybe someday I will finish it with some wax, but for now I’m loving the matte look of the raw wood.
What do you think of the after?
Read about how we stripped paint from our 1920’s farmhouse front door HERE. That process was even more tedious, but well worth the final product!
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Thank you so much for stopping by the farmhouse!
Nancy says
I love it like it is with his matte finish and imperfections. You can see or imagine the history it has.
Kerri says
I love raw wood. I use hemp oil on my raw wood pieces; it deepens the brown, brings out the texture and the grain, and protects the surface. Tung oil adds more protections, and both Hemp Oil and Pure Tung Oil are non toxic, and very easy to use.
http://homesteadhouse.ca/blogs/tung-oil-vs-hemp-oil/
Lisa says
Thank Kerri! I will try that. Do you think it would be good for our front door too?
Kerri says
Both produccts would be great for the front door, however, the Tung oil will offer more protection. This video explains how to apply the two. .https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkQbBtbI78s
Both products can be used straight, but it is recommended that, for the first application of tung oil, it be cut 1:1 with their odorless solvent, which will thin the tung oil to allow it to penetrate better, and speeds up the trying time. Both products require reapplication over time, depending on the environment, and how much use the piece gets. For me, it’s a small price to pay for an all-natural and non toxic lifestyle. As an added bonus, most hemp oil is produced in the USA. Be sure to purchase from a trusted source, as your local paint/hardware/home improvement stores usually only carry the ones with added polymers and toxic thinners or driers. I would suggest the ones used in the video link above and in the link from my earlier comment. For coating vertical pieces, like a door or cabinet, just pour the product on a cloth and rub in, or dip a brush in and wipe on. I hope this helps, Lisa. I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.
Annie says
Hi Lisa
Love your stripped dresser and front door. Natural wood is so beautiful and stunning on it’s own.
I agree with Kerri on either using hemp or tung oil to protect your dresser and door. The wood needs to be protected to keep it’s beauty and condition.
Nothing worse for raw wood than grimy, pb&j hands all over it or dust, dirt and moisture (humidity) on that amazing front door. Over time, these things will deteriorate the wood and cause the drawers to not close properly and the door will “swell” which will make it difficult to open and close.
Thanks again for sharing your home, family and treasures you pick up along the way.
Lisa says
Thank you so much for the info! I will try that this spring. 🙂
Sarah says
My hubby loves it when I give him tasks like this?not! He looks at me as if to say ‘oh no what does she want doing now’? They’re never simple tasks. ‘Anything to keep you happy ‘he says. It’s so nice having a partner who’s willing to have a go at these things. I know plenty of husbands who do nothing. We are lucky x
Lisa says
Yes, we really are lucky our husbands go along with the craziness! Ha! 😉
Brittany says
Love it! I recommend Modern masters dead flat finish! I used it on my dining table bc everything else changed the color of the raw wood except this! It dried completely flat and looks just like an RH finish but with protection unlike theirs!
Sherri says
I’m so glad I subscribed to your channel. I can’t get enough! Your decorating is attainable and beautiful. God bless your little family.
Lisa says
Thank you so much Sherri! 🙂 🙂
Sherri says
And also I use Orange Oil and Bees Wax from Home Depot. It’s wonderful for wood and gives a lovely patina.
Karen Kish says
Hi Lisa,
I love the look of your dresser but I would definitely put a top coat on it.
I have heard about hemp oil on Miss Mustard Seed’ s site and it does bring out the beauty of the wood as well as nourish it. It needs one month to cure through completely but with care you can use your furniture in a day. It xan be buffed to a soft lustre. Hemp oil absorbs into the wood whereas Tung oil stays on the surface.
My choice would be Hemp oil or even a poly with a satin finish.
I would not want natural wood to be flat as it would give it that dried out appearance.
Hope this helps!
kay donbrock says
hi lisa. do you have anything on dying fabric. 97 % polyester 3 % spandex. ? looking to dye slipcovers. thank you
Pam says
Hi, I live in a 200+ yr old house and when we bought it 30 yrs ago, it had several cupboards stored in a back room. They were this same teal color! Must have been a popular color at some point in the past!!
Pam says
Hi, I live in a 200+ yr old house and when we bought it 30 yrs ago, it had several cupboards stored in a back room. They were this same teal color! Must have been a popular color at some point in the past!! They are still sitting in that back room!
Cheryl says
Important. Lead paint on much antique or old furniture. Protect yourself. Gloves, mask, goggles. Lead is toxic and can be absorbed through the membranes of the eyes, air and skin. I have a really pretty shaped tall dresser that my parents found abandoned at the dump 65 years ago when my brother was born. They were very poor and so thankful to find it. My brother and sister came bringing it to us when our first child was born. I’ve moved it many times. Been offered several thousand for it by an antique dealer, but cannot let it go. It has all,but 1,bake lite handle intact. Many many layers of white paint on that oak. Someday I will strip it. There is a heat gun that I have seen that removes paint but does not release lead.
Ginger K Evans says
Love the patina of the old wood, really lovely