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Emily A. Clark

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Adding Color: Spray Painting A Dresser

March 18, 2015

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.

blue and navy boys' bedroom

 

 

The laminate top and smooth finish on this vintage Thomasville faux bamboo piece made it easy (and fast) to spray paint.

faux bamboo chest

 

I used a couple of coats of Valspar’s Flat Caramel Honey—a deep, golden yellow.

valspar-yellow-spray-paint 

 

quick_tip

painting dresser hardware 

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.

 

Yellow faux bamboo dresser (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.

boys bedroom dresser

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Filed Under: boys bedroom, DIY, kids' spaces, our home, painted furniture, Simple Design Ideas Tagged With: boys bedroom, furniture, painting

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Beth Barden says

    March 18, 2015 at 7:51 am

    Love where this is headed! What a cutie too :)

    Reply
  2. Maggie @ Maggie Overby Studios says

    March 18, 2015 at 8:58 am

    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!

    Reply
  3. Laurie at Laurie Jones Home says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:08 am

    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

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:43 am

      Agree! He follows his momma from room to room, which is why he’s in a lot of my pictures…

      Reply
    • Megan / Honey We're Home says

      March 21, 2015 at 12:19 pm

      I agree! He is too cute! That color yellow spray paint is perfect- not too bright or pale.

      Reply
  4. Brooke says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:42 am

    Looks amazing! How many cans of spray paint did you use?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:42 am

      Two, I think. I finished this back in Oct./Nov. #delayedblogging :)

      Reply
  5. Katherine @ Grass Stains says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:50 am

    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!

    Reply
  6. Jules p says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:52 am

    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)

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:42 am

      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.

      Reply
  7. JoLyn says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:07 am

    I am a new reader here and am really enjoying your site! Just wondering where you find your cute vintage pieces…

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:40 am

      Craigslist, flea markets, thrift stores… You kind of have to love to hunt :)

      Reply
      • Kathryn Wilkerson says

        March 18, 2015 at 6:08 pm

        JoLyn,

        Emily is the best real life blogger out there. You’ll be so glad you found her!!

        Reply
  8. Kelli Fox says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:15 am

    Awesome – just love it :)

    Reply
  9. Tiffany says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Really liking all the colors and prints mixed in so far.

    Reply
  10. Marlene Scoville says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:46 am

    Love the color, Emily! Great job.

    Reply
  11. Stephanie says

    March 18, 2015 at 10:47 am

    Love so much about this room! Please share where the pillows are from??

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 10:51 am

      I had them made–Premier Prints Raji fabric.

      Reply
  12. barbara says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:02 am

    I think the room looks fabulous! And I am digging the pajama/rainboot combo too! He is one stylin kid!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Why not, right?! :)

      Reply
  13. Carrie says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:10 am

    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. :)

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 11:13 am

      I just have one of those inexpensive spray gun attachments that fits right on top of the can.

      Reply
      • Carrie says

        March 19, 2015 at 12:19 pm

        Cool, thanks!

        Reply
  14. Mary says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:12 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 11:13 am

      No way :) Joss & Main.

      Reply
  15. Melanie says

    March 18, 2015 at 11:20 am

    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!!!!

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 12:39 pm

      I do remove the drawers, and normally don’t paint the insides of them if I can help it :)

      Reply
  16. Gwen, The Makerista says

    March 18, 2015 at 1:12 pm

    Such a great piece, and I love the mirror!

    Reply
  17. Stacykg says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:00 pm

    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?

    Reply
  18. Megan @ Our Pinteresting Family says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:23 pm

    Looks fantastic. I love spray painting furniture. The room looks great.

    Reply
  19. Sammy says

    March 18, 2015 at 2:32 pm

    The yellow looks GREAT with the navy. I really do LOVE it!!

    Reply
  20. Clever Girl Reviews says

    March 18, 2015 at 4:22 pm

    Very cute, I like the shape of the dresser. Good color pairings.

    Reply
  21. courtney {a thoughtful place} says

    March 18, 2015 at 4:32 pm

    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

    Reply
  22. Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says

    March 18, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 19, 2015 at 9:12 am

      I didn’t use anything on top of the paint.

      Reply
  23. Torey says

    March 18, 2015 at 5:10 pm

    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?

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 18, 2015 at 5:24 pm

      Nope–just wiped down.

      Reply
  24. Jenny B. says

    March 18, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    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. ;)

    Reply
    • Lana says

      March 19, 2015 at 8:16 am

      Valspar from Lowe’s is an awesome paint. I did an arm chair for a guest room with it and the finish looks professional.

      Reply
  25. Jennifer @ Brave New Home says

    March 18, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    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.

    Reply
  26. Katie Larsen says

    March 18, 2015 at 7:20 pm

    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!!!

    Reply
  27. JennyBC says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    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????

    Reply
  28. Esther Horvath says

    March 18, 2015 at 9:51 pm

    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!

    Reply
  29. Lana says

    March 19, 2015 at 8:12 am

    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!

    Reply
  30. Kim says

    March 19, 2015 at 9:42 am

    What type of blanket do you use to stuff your duvet? I love that it’s not too bulky.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 19, 2015 at 9:55 am

      I used a lighter weight down comforter that I found at TJMaxx.

      Reply
  31. elizabeth says

    March 19, 2015 at 2:10 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 19, 2015 at 2:11 pm

      Thank you, Elizabeth! I love to hear that :)

      Reply
  32. cassie {hi sugarplum} says

    March 20, 2015 at 9:04 am

    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.

    Reply
    • Emily Clark says

      March 20, 2015 at 8:01 pm

      Thank you :) It’s the same white I’ve used throughout–Shoji White by SW.

      Reply
  33. mary beth @ www.mbzinteriors.com says

    March 26, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    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!

    Reply
  34. Robert Burris says

    April 26, 2016 at 12:10 am

    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.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Friday Eye Candy | Blogger Projects says:
    April 30, 2015 at 11:33 am

    […] classic way. I am LOVING how her boys’ room is coming together. How great is this? See more of the details and her painted dresser here. Studio McGee can do no wrong. Everything they touch turns to gold. And did you know they are […]

    Reply

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