Project Recap: Navy Painted Dresser with a Stained Mahogany Top

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In these quick guides, I walk through the steps I took and the products I used for a particular makeover. Interested in learning more about a particular step or process? Check out the links at the bottom of this post where I go into greater detail on each step.

Steps I took to create this look:

  1. Cleaned the entire piece with this degreaser.
  2. Fixed lifting veneer with wood glue. These blunt-ended syringes are really helpful for getting the glue in hard-to-reach areas (like under veneer).
  3. Removed an old lock from one of the drawers, then filled the hole with Bondo. I also used Bondo to fill hardware holes on the top drawers and fill other smaller imperfections on the body of the dresser.
  4. Scuff sanded the body and drawers of the dresser with 220 grit sandpaper.
  5. Primed body and drawers with shellac.
  6. Painted body and drawers with Lilly Moon Paints in the color Stargazer.
  7. Removed the finish from the top with my carbide scraper. Then sanded the remaining finish off with my orbital sander and these hand sanding tools. There were several holes toward the back of the top from an old mirror. I filled these with Bondo as well.
  8. Stained top with a combination of Varathane Aged Barrel and Minwax Dark Walnut oil-based stains.
  9. I let the stain dry for several days and then taped off a small strip toward the back to paint the same color as the dresser. This paint covered the mirror holes I had filled with Bondo. After this I sealed the entire top with a waterbased topcoat.
  10. I added peel and stick wallpaper for drawer liners and new Hepplewhite hardware.

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

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4 Comments

    1. Yes you can! Just be sure to make sure the stain has fully dried. I like to give it 2-3 days just to be safe.

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