Although I haven’t darkened the doors of a baby furniture store in quite a few years, all I have to do is look in my closet to bring back the memory of shopping for our first child’s nursery. It was a truly magical time of dreaming how our lives would be with our darling newborn, before the realities of poo and spit up and colic bothered to cross the threshold of our dreamy little room.
My husband wisely suggested we choose a dresser with sturdy drawer slides that could double for a changing table, with the simple addition of a cushioned pad that lay on top. I’m still getting mileage out of that dresser, far after the kids have cast it aside.
Reclaiming the Dresser
I realized it was the perfect size for my closet a few years ago and hastily covered it with some dotted wrapping paper affixed to the front of the drawers with spray adhesive. Of course, I had every intention of painting it long before now. But in the throws of sports games, permit driving, and first dates; the dresser project got pushed to the bottom of the list.
When we recently staged our home for sale, I noticed the shabby dresser with fresh eyes and determined to get to it. Instead of buying pricey chalk paint, I decided to mix my own with leftover paint from our dining room update.
Supplies
Benjamin Moore paints have long been my favorites (a topic for another post), and this color is one of my all-time favorites, Pashmina. I made my chalk paint by mixing 1 Tablespoon plaster of paris, 1 Tablespoon of diatomaceous earth and 1 Tablespoon of warm water. To that mixture, I added 1 cup of the latex paint and mixed very thoroughly.
This project required 2 batches, with just a little left over. It covered nicely, even without prepping the surface. Those of you who are chalk paint fans know that the secret is in the wax finish applied after the paint has dried thoroughly. I used “Daddy Van’s” brand Unscented Beeswax with a heavy hand and polished away the excess with a cotton rag, in a circular motion.
I feel like my little changing table, like me, is all ready for a new chapter! You probably have some furniture that could use a fresh coat of paint. Surprise yourself by repurposing an attic treasure into a fun, new update for your home.