Bedroom Dresser Color Options
I think I have one more day of working on the trim and walls in the bedroom. Of course, I thought that before heading into last weekend, and we see how well that worked out for me. 😀 But I did end up adding more trim, so that caused a delay. But now that the trim is all on, most of it is sanded, and I just need to finish up the caulking and painting (and I have an uninterrupted work day ahead of me), I really think I can get it done today.
In the meantime, I really need to decide on what to do with this dresser, and several of you have offered various options and opinions. This is the dresser that I’ll be using in the bedroom. It was in our old bedroom, but it’s been stored in my workshop for about a year now.
I wasn’t even sure if I was going to use it in our new bedroom. I considered getting rid of it and buying something new. But the fact is that I can almost never find anything I like “as is” that is also in my budget. All the dressers I like “as is” are well over $1000, and I just simply don’t want to spend that money on a new dresser when I have a perfectly good one already.
I really like the height of this one. I think it’s about 45 inches tall, or maybe a bit taller. I love that it has nine drawers. And I like that it’s not too deep. It’s also pretty heavy and sturdy, so it’s not like a Walmart piece of furniture. I don’t think I’d find a better one in my price range, so I’m sticking with this one.
Anyway, this dresser will go on the left side of this long wall and will be directly across from our bed.
And to the right of the dresser is where I’ll have my reading corner with this recliner from Interior Define.
And then, of course, you know the rest of the plan…
I already have almost everything for the bedroom, including the rug…
And the headboard fabric. I’m going to use that orange/coral solid fabric for the welt cord around the headboard. And then the teal velvet fabric is for the draperies.
As you can see, I have a pretty consistent color palette. Teal is obviously the main color for the room — upper walls, draperies, recliner. The orange/coral color is the obvious secondary color — birds in the headboard fabric, welt cord on the headboard, accent on the draperies, rug, pillow on the recliner, lamps on bedside tables, etc.
So with that color palette, I’m not sure what to do with that dresser. I know that I don’t want more teal. I think that would be teal overload. I had considered painting it a really soft orange/coral color, not nearly as bold as the other orange/corals in the room. But since it’s so large, I fear that it may be overpowering, even if it is a more muted color. Or maybe it doesn’t need to be muted at all. Maybe it needs to be bold orange/coral. Ugh. I just don’t know.
There are also some other colors in that headboard fabric, like that pretty green. But if I use that green on something large like the dresser, I’ll definitely have to balance that out with green on the bed and probably at least one other place in the room.
And then the final option would be to paint it white. But y’all know how I feel about painting furniture white. That’s such a hard thing for me to wrap my head around, and it goes against every impulse I have. White furniture just isn’t “me”.
So I’m not sure which direction to go with this. If I were forced to choose at this very moment, I think I would probably go with that soft green from the headboard fabric, and then work that green into other areas in the room, like accent pillows on the bed.
I don’t want to get into another situation like I did with the closet where I’m testing out 20 different paint colors. I want to make a decision, stick with it, and get it done. I’m just having a hard time envisioning any of these options. It would be so much easier if I had the recliner in hand, but it might be another two weeks before it arrives. So until then, all I have is a small swatch of the fabric.
Anyway, what do you think about that light green? Or would that be too much of a third color? Would that throw off the balance of the whole room and the color palette I’ve got going on for the room? I should mention that there’s no green in the area rug. It does have that same light brown color from the headboard fabric, though. Maybe that’s another option I should consider.
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Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
I think with all the bold colors already, you should paint the dresser a more muted color. There looks to be some nice taupes/mushroom colors in the headboard fabric. Could that be a consideration?
I would consider that! I’m not usually a taupe kind of person, but I really do want this bedroom to be colorful yet relaxing. Taupe might be the way to go. It would look really pretty with all of the teal, too.
What about a neutral with cane on the drawer fronts?
Yes, that was my first thought also. A top or light cream color. You could put some brighter orange trim around the drawers.
That’s my first thought too. Taupe or cream
I think one of the greens from the headboard fabric is the way to go – even a warmer greenish-brown (tan/taupe) as in the branches on the fabric. I’m sure it’s too matchy-matchy for your taste but does the manufacturer or your nightstands offer a dresser? A warm wood tone would look lovely against that wall and next to your blue chair.
A white dresser would disappear on that wall with the white wainscot.
I was thinking g a greeny-taupey color, too…along the same lines as “matching* the tone of the side tables. BUT, I do t know, that just doesn’t seem like you. 😕 I think going bolder. A theme that you seem to use, i.e. the bolder colors of the dresser in the breakfast room, island in the closet, even the new color of the work tables.
I think a light brown color that blends well with the brown of the nightstand would be the best option. With so many bold colors, I think adding more, even in a muted tone, might be too jarring in a bedroom. I know choosing something neutral goes against everything you do, but I might keep the focus on the other pieces in the room(like the headboard) that should command all the attention. Good luck!
I’m liking the brown idea or even stripped and wood tone.
I came here to say just that!
Why not see if you can get GP Chat to give you a mock up using each of those colors to help you make your decision.
Great idea!
I say go all in with the coral!
Weren’t you thinking about seeing if it could be taken down to the wood? I think another suggestion was to make it look like wood, maybe matching your side tables. Are those options out?
It might be worth reselling that dresser and getting one in wood that matches your side tables. I think a wood look is your best option. None of the colors you seem right.
What about the cream color in the headboard with gold accenting/highlighting to give it shimmer? Not hard edging, but a soft rub/touch.
Not white, i realize that’s not of interest. But I think the cream color with gold would create balance and not take away from the headboard. That’s such a beautiful print. I would bring out the birds in small detail that’s not immediately visible and even the vines in unique places. Inside drawers, edges corners of outer drawers, etc.
I was thinking the same thing – a rich cream colour
Your dresser is very nice and I would definitely keep it. I previously suggested a shade of green for your dresser. One of the more muted shades of green. I don’t think brown would work well with your stained nightstands. Adding a few pillows in various shades of green or possibly a stripe including green would tie it in nicely.
Sounds like solid wood dresser based on weight so I suggest stripping and staining to match the nightstands. If not solid wood or other issues with it, take drawer from nightstand to Lowes or Home Depot and let them color match. Buy just a sample size so you can paint a drawer or two to be sure you are satisfied with the color. Tie the color of the night stands to the dresser and bed frame you plan to build.
I agree with revealing the natural wood if possible – staining it the same shade as the nightstands and the base of the bed will provide a cohesive and elegant appearance, IMHO.
I love the idea of matching the nightstands.
I agree with your last thought. I think a blonde wood look would be pleasing, without requiring lots of new color connections.
I actually think wood could be great. Any chance it could be stripped? This room is going to be so pretty!!!
suggestion for the dresser – a slightly darker version of the wainscoting (so ivory or cream) with some light antiquing (or, alternatively, some antiqued gold) to bring out the lovely detailing/moulding on the drawers and echo the lovely hardware.
Why not ivory? It’s in the headboard fabric. It’s not white, and it’s a calm color.
Why not paint the drawers in a contrasting color to the color of the dresser? It will break up the color if you, say, paint it coral. …or cover the drawers with wallpaper…or something like that?
I’m with everyone else who wants it to be like the other wood furniture in the room (that was my first thought before reading comments). However, because your floor is light, I’d go with a brown to match the woven shades. You need something neutral but also darker to give weight to that side of the room. You also don’t want to put a dark TV above a light piece of furniture. I can’t remember what your TV frame is like, but if it’s wood you could maybe paint that frame coral with gold accents and have the dresser look more like a wood tone.
I would paint the dresser body teal and the drawer fronts a soft muted coral with the decorative framing on the drawers cream to match the background color of the headboard fabric. Give the whole thing a harmonious pop of color.
What do you think about going with the same color as your nightstands?
Just a thought as you always find the perfect solution! I can’t wait to see what you decide!
I think a cream, taupe or a brown/wood look would be the best. I saw you commented you had the faux wood paint kit. Maybe you should sample that first. This way it would balance with the nightstands.
My thinking is to match or go one shade darker of the coral colored fabric you have. I think it would add weight to that wall and that will disburse the color palate around the room.
A light brown/taupe color is what I was thinking the whole time I was reading your post.
Navy blue or lighter blue to coordinate with your chair
LOL, that green in the headboard fabric was exactly what I was going to say. Yes to picking up that green in pillows, etc, it will be beautiful.
I was thinking, a medium green light sea two sprigs of green in the fabric you show. Of a tunnel depth that will just slightly be darker than the recliner. Once you get it. Or the same depth of color. For some reason, a wood tone will just bring more of the same in and that’s not like you. Surprised that there aren’t a lot more folks supporting the green option.
what if it coordinated with the nightstands? There’s a product called Retique It that adds a wood finish back to furniture. If you could get the same tones (they have a lot of kits) as the nightstands, it might be cohesive without adding more color? The videos I’ve watched on it show some really amazing refinishes.
What about a wood tone for the dresser?
You could go with all in one paint Heirloom Traditions Paint brand. They have stain colors that you can use right over paint and you wouldn’t have to take it back down to bare wood to get a stain color. I love using their paint.
Could you sand it down and lightly stain it? A light wood color perhaps?
Can you sand it and match the stain color of your nightstand tables?
I agree with several comments suggesting you match to the nightstands. You could sand the dresser down to the wood and stain or simply paint it. I would not paint the dresser any color which causes it to stand out and take away from the rest of your plan.
Could you sand it down and stain it to match the side tables?
To give balance to that side of the room, I would attempt to strip the dresser down to the same light wood finish as your end tables. If that’s not possible, paint it the either of the wall colors so it will essentially disappear into the wall. Looking forward to seeing your final choices!
I’m on team coral – but more like one of the coral on the birds’ tails in the headboard (muted and a little darker rather than the brighter that is on the lamps). Definitely not white. I see someone mentioned taupe and you’ll just want to see if that makes it just look like a natural wood tone. Since you already have two bedside stands that are natural wood tones, do you want the dresser to be similar to those or do you want it to stand out? I think it will work either way. Light green is always pretty, but I do think you’d need to add a few more light green accents around the room, too.
I agree with using the light green
I like the idea of tying in the end table color to that side of the room, but I also like the soft green idea ( I’m a green lover!) SO, I have a thought to throw out: green for the dresser, but if you could do the insert areas of the drawer fronts in natural caning! the caning would tie in to the end tables, and the green would pull out the green in the headboard fabric. Is that crazy, or could it even be done? What do you think?
What about an oatmeal/tan color? Like a background color but with some depth.
I’m not sure if you meant the same white as the walls or the white-ish color of the headboard material? That might be a nice compromise? Or is it possible to sand it down and stain it instead?
It’s a great dresser. I’d drive from Arizona to fetch it if you had it for sale!
And I even like the current color though it would not go well with the grasscloth. Be careful with the green you choose. Definitely test it against said grasscloth too. I was thinking of a coral color too but not a bold
or bright coral. Good luck with this one. I’m not that great coordinating colors, at least in a room.
I’d vote to leave it the color it currently is. The blue would coordinate nicely, if not perfectly, with the rest of the room. You’d save time, and you could always change it down the road if you decide.
Coral seems like too much with coral being so dominant in the rug. I echo the comment about a dark wood tone to tie in the shades. Or simply match the nightstands and bed. My second choice would be a very browny green. Something that doesn’t command a lot of attention. Is a tv going above it or art? That could influence your decision.
Or simply wait until the room is put together. Maybe you will love its present color!
I am boring! I LOVE your color choices but wonder, what would it look like if it matched the bedside tables?
Looking forward to your decisions!
Hi Kristi: i like the idea of the brown / taupe family. Since you already have a lot of teal and orange in the room and you want a peaceful vibe in the bedroom, consider grounding it with a brown to match your blinds and then accent the inside of the drawer front trim with some caning, stained to match the nightstand color. It would provide a balanced and cohensive look to tie in with the various elements in your room. It would also have a calming nature look. Definitely not coral for a man’s dresser. It is coming along great! The trim looks fabulous! Thanks for sharing your journey!! 🙂
Maybe sand the dresser down to the wood, use a bown stain to match the look of the blinds and insert stained caning within the drawer front to match the dresser color.
What about stripping it and staining it to match the night stands? Just a thought. I’m a “wood loving” person when it comes to anything with drawers! And I love color too!! Whatever you decide will be perfect!!
It might be worth reselling that dresser and getting one in wood that matches your side tables. I think a wood look is your best option. None of the colors you seem right.
Why not wait until you have everything else in the room finished and then make a decision then?
My first thought was that you have some great color and color accents in the room. The headboard & bed/ rug will be the feature. I would paint the dresser white with coral, blue or gold accents on the drawers. It won’t take away or dominate but just be an accent. The white will help it blend into the wainscotting but the accents will pull it forward & make it sparkle.
With all the color in the room, it seems that wall needs some wood tones to balance/ground them. It wouldn’t have to be a perfect match to the nightstands, blinds, or even the floor, but something that would coordinate with them.
My first thought was to paint it a light, clear, not muddy, green. But now that just seems like way too many colour’s bouncing around your room. My opinion now would be to have the dresser or replacement in a wood tone to blend with your bedside cabinets and floor.
Strip it, make it wood tone, even if you have to faux stain it. Wood goes with everything.
Could you color match the wood of the nightstands? I think it would pick up the brown from the headboard fabric, too.
What about the darker olive? It would read as a more neutral color and wouldn’t necessarily need to be echoed elsewhere.
I am unsure of the quality of the wood…can you strip the dresser and stain to match the bed and the nightstands?
So maybe my suggestion is too out there, but if you have enough fabric left over from the headboard, would it be possible to mud-pudge the fabric onto the drawers, have the trim around each drawer the coral of the welt cord and have the dresser itself the cream color of the background of the fabric? And maybe strip the top only to wood, so it’s not a huge block of cream color?
I agree with others about wood. I think something similar to the nightstands would add an “air of sophistication”. 🙂 Just my 2 cents.
Im not sure you necessarily need to strip the dresser. Im think8ng a light tan to match your side tables, then find some really cute orange or green drawer handles and a colorful dresser scarf or decor on the top?
Maybe it’s just the color display on my screen, but the chair and dresser look like a similar light blue. I’m going to suggest you leave it as is and let it blend with your other shades of blue!
I think the sage-olive green would look nice with the teals. I think it would also go well with your bedside tables. And maybe you could incorporate that color on the lamp shades as well.
Can’t decide for you.
I would absolutely wait until everything is in the room and then decide. Much much easier to know and get it right doing it that way! You could then even drape it with large pieces of cloth in prospective colors to get a visual.
Taupe seems like the way to go. Any other color would take away from your color plan.
If solid color seems too flat you could soften it by doing a very light dry brush of a slightly darker taupe over the base paint. Very light dry brush adds depth and dimension without being harsh.
I did this with my new house build kitchen cabinets. The cabinet color was a taupe cream but it was too flat. I experimented with an extra cabinet door already painted the solid color and did a very light dry brush using the color (called racoon fur) from my island cabinets. It was perfect and softened the cabinets and tied it in with the island. Took the sample to my cabinet maker so they could replicate it.
I have a suggestion you might like. I follow Christy of “Confessions of a Serial DIYer” and she redoes furniture and has a store in South Carolina. She uses Decoupage Paper and her pieces are just gorgeous. I use some of her transfers on smaller pieces that I make but I have also checked out the Decoupage Papers that she sells and other places on line and I think I saw something that looks like your headboard fabric. I also saw a transfer that had branches with birds in just gold that were very striking. Hope you see something that you might like. Happy Hunting!!
The coral of the bird tails.
You already have blue in your recliner and in the headboard fabric why not just keep the dresser as is for a while. I think it would fit in nicely and you can always paint it later if you decide it doesn’t work.
I think a light to medium taupe color would work well. I think a neutral piece is more adult looking, versatile and restful. You can add accessorys to add interest and tie it into the the rest of the color scheme.
Well, I know you like to have all your ducks in a row when the idea of a change ignites in your mind, but, I suggest if you just wait until everything but that dresser is finalized, the appropriate color or finish will be very apparent to you. You won’t need anyone’s advice. None of us can take in the whole of what you are working with nor ‘feel’ what you do when you walk through the room or visualize it.
If you give it time, you will know and avoid the regret of something decided on early that may not work out. I know you might say, “it’s only paint” but a redo requires time, money, and a more effort. I don’t think that would matter to you even though you have tons of projects yet to tackle. We are all so different in how we see things. Maybe a lot of the fun is mulling and letting others weigh in.
I read all the suggestions so it will interesting to see what you decide.
What about a very deep Terracotta – darker tone that in the carpet? But to be honest – agree with a few other’s suggestions – take it back to wood if possible
I agree with many others about it being a wood color to bring wood onto that side of the room to balance the room out. I also like the idea of caning the drawer fronts. Wood doesn’t necessarily need to match… look at nature and you see all colors of wood and they just all seem to go together.
I know you don’t want to hear this (or maybe you do) but I see your bedding is cream, there is cream in the headboard fabric so why not cream (other than it would sit against white waisnscotting which might look weird)? otherwise, if it were me, I would skip color all together and go back to the natural wood tones – you are covering up so much of the floor, you have wooden side tables so it might tie in to have this wood tone as your “3rd” place… just my two cents!
With your love of colour….you don’t seem like the taupe/cream kinda gal! Personally….coral or the green from your headboard fabric would be my choice. But like you….I prefer colour…..and lots of it.
I know whatever you choose….will be gorgeous.
With all the color in the room, I’d match it with the nightstands.