Drawing inspiration from the colorful flag wall I hung in the boys’ bedroom, I finally painted a faux bamboo chest that had been sitting in our garage from a Craigslist haul several years ago.
The laminate top and smooth finish on this vintage Thomasville faux bamboo piece made it easy (and fast) to spray paint.
I used a couple of coats of Valspar’s Flat Caramel Honey—a deep, golden yellow.
Have an old piece that you want to paint but don’t want to invest more money in new hardware? Try painting all of the handles and pulls the same color as the furniture. I think it gives it a more modern look, and you don’t have to remove any hardware or buy anything new.
(These wall lamps were less than $40.)
My next project is to finish the bedding. I’m using the pinstripe duvets that I wrote about here and am working with Karrie to add some extra color at the foot of the beds.
Love where this is headed! What a cutie too :)
I love a can of spray paint (maybe I should have been a graffiti artest.) I know some people don’t think very highly of it but when done right it’s the best choice for 3D details like this. I love that dresser, so cute in yellow!
The room is coming along so good! I have the same lights in our master bedroom and I love them, very nice quality especially for the price! Unfortunately a little one in pjs and rubber boots are always going to steal the show though! (: <3
Agree! He follows his momma from room to room, which is why he’s in a lot of my pictures…
I agree! He is too cute! That color yellow spray paint is perfect- not too bright or pale.
Looks amazing! How many cans of spray paint did you use?
Two, I think. I finished this back in Oct./Nov. #delayedblogging :)
I love it! LOVE. I’m getting ready to work on a dresser that the previous owners of our new house left behind. Hoping mine turns out as well as yours!
When spray painting metal knobs does it rub off easily?
And do u have any tips or advice when using spray on furniture? (ie: laminate, solid naked wood etc)
This dresser has been painted since Fall and so far, so good on the hardware.
I decide what how to paint a piece based on the amount of detail, surface, etc. It’s kind of a case by case basis. This chest was very flat/smooth so it was easy to spray.
I am a new reader here and am really enjoying your site! Just wondering where you find your cute vintage pieces…
Craigslist, flea markets, thrift stores… You kind of have to love to hunt :)
JoLyn,
Emily is the best real life blogger out there. You’ll be so glad you found her!!
Awesome – just love it :)
Really liking all the colors and prints mixed in so far.
Love the color, Emily! Great job.
Love so much about this room! Please share where the pillows are from??
I had them made–Premier Prints Raji fabric.
I think the room looks fabulous! And I am digging the pajama/rainboot combo too! He is one stylin kid!
Why not, right?! :)
Perfect! Everything about this is so great!! Do you use a special tool for spray painting or just go with the can? I can use all the encouragement I can get to just paint. :)
I just have one of those inexpensive spray gun attachments that fits right on top of the can.
Cool, thanks!
I’ve been adding some yellow touches to my home also. Maybe it’s because it feels like Spring.
Did you make the headboard? It’s cute.
No way :) Joss & Main.
When you paint a dresser, do you remove the drawers first?
Do you paint the inside of the dresser? The drawers?
I’m going to attempt to paint mine soon, but I don’t know where to start!!!!
I do remove the drawers, and normally don’t paint the insides of them if I can help it :)
Such a great piece, and I love the mirror!
Love the way the yellow makes that dresser so much more fun! Did you coat it with a protectant like a polyurethane? I am about to spray 3 IKEA stools black. Amy black brands or colors you have used and liked in the past?
Looks fantastic. I love spray painting furniture. The room looks great.
The yellow looks GREAT with the navy. I really do LOVE it!!
Very cute, I like the shape of the dresser. Good color pairings.
Emily, I am in love with this space. And that mirror. . .can we talk about the mirror?! My son has the same duvet. Big favorite of mine!!! xo
Love how your son’s “outfit” coordinates with his room. I have the same exact wall sconces in my boys’ room. Can’t beat the price. Did you need to apply a polyurethane on top of the paint? Great dresser find.
I didn’t use anything on top of the paint.
I have a vintage dresser with a laminate top that I’m dying to paint and I didn’t know you could just spray paint over it. Did you prep it at all?
Nope–just wiped down.
This looks great! I am no good at spray painting. I wonder if I would have better results with a different brand of paint. I’ve only tried twice, and used two different kinds of Krylon. I spray painted a medium sized lamp with Krylon Bright Idea yellow, and it took two cans. There’s got to be something wrong with that since it only took you two cans to do an entire dresser! Anyway, I have spray paint envy. ;)
Valspar from Lowe’s is an awesome paint. I did an arm chair for a guest room with it and the finish looks professional.
I have a dresser for my son’s room that I also spray painted yellow but I didn’t paint the handles. What a great tip! It was a cheap piece of furniture and would have really benefited from being spray painted all over.
The dresser looks great! I picked up that exact same yellow Thomasville dresser a few years ago from Goodwill. I planned on painting it but it sat in my garage for years and I eventually threw it out. I gasped when I saw it as “vintage” on OKL a few months ago and they wanted $1,200!!!
I have an old side table downstairs with a laminate top that may be getting all gussied up this weekend! Great inspiration. Can you tel me keywords you use to look up pieces like the one you featured here. I get bogged down when I just search “dresser” or “side table” when I am looking for specific items but I don’t always know the exact name of the style I am searching for. A blog post maybe????
Just goes to show that my philosophy is right: never throw away a piece of furniture! You should see our basement, because it looks like a junk shop! But I love wood furniture! Good luck in the future!
We made over a triple bamboo dresser that my in-laws had gotten rid of 20 years ago. We took the drawers out of one end and put shelves in the holes and painted it all black for a TV stand. We did add some awesome new black knobs but all together it cost $30, paint, knobs, wood and all. It turned out great and a year later I still love it!
What type of blanket do you use to stuff your duvet? I love that it’s not too bulky.
I used a lighter weight down comforter that I found at TJMaxx.
emily – your blog is my inspiration always. thanks for showing quick and affordable ideas. i read lots of decorating/lifestyle blogs – yours is my favorite.
Thank you, Elizabeth! I love to hear that :)
Emily….it’s fantastic!!! I love watching you create spaces…they are always spot-on. What is the wall color? So warm and subtle, but still clean.
Thank you :) It’s the same white I’ve used throughout–Shoji White by SW.
Lovely room, I too love spray painting furniture for an inexpensive and modern update. I love Valspar spray paints and even used it on our kitchen table! Can’t wait until spring really arrives here in Chicago!
I love spray paint!! I do wish there were a wider range of colors. I’ve learned to do several very light coats to avoid drips.