Tips on how to refinish old furniture.

[ValiantSeraphim]

When I moved into my new house, I managed to get my grandparents old dresser and vanity (couldn't find the vanity mirror, though). They were both made in maybe the 50s, and while my mom would love for me to keep them the original color, I've reached a point in my home life where I want my rooms to match color wise (really it all started with the baby's room, which is the best matched room in the entire house and it's driving me crazy. Our bedroom is the next closest, since I can't tear down the wall paper in our rental house).

Anyway, the dresser and vanity are both a yellowy- sort of brown, and I'm thinking of repainting them either white or black (though I'm leaning towards white). I have no idea where to start with this project, and I don't want to do anything wrong since I loved my grandparents very much and would hate to destroy their furniture (even though they're not using it any more).

I'd love to see some completed projects so that I know what to do... I'm more of a visual learner anyway. Thanks!

[kaz814]

Hmm, I'd say you should start with either paint remover or some sanding, if you're trying to remove the old paint.  If there isn't paint on it, what sort of material is it made out of?

Or, if you don't want to strip it, you could just paint it?  You'd probably need primer first, then the paint, to make sure you cover the old color.

[MiLady]

This is basically what I'm doing with a dressing table I bought for £30 from a charity shop in a topic a couple of posts down, there is a craftster who has given me some awesome advice.

[Nobodyhasthisoneyet]

I've just repainted a dresser, so this is fresh in my mind.

Mine was wood with a gloss paint, so some or none of this might be relevant to you...

I didn't strip back the whole thing, just sanded it to roughen the surface up so the paint would stick, and smoothed out a few chipped bits.  I used basic interior housepaint, because I wanted to recreate the look of the furniture my grandfather painted years ago, which was pastel with a very low-sheen finish.  (Also, I got some mistints really cheap.)

I applied it with a brush, it did leave brushmarks but they're not noticeable, and it's part of the look I was going for anyway.  I needed two coats - even with the sanding the first coat turned out a bit streaky. 

Finished it off with some brass-looking knobs, and it looks a treat.