The Bedroom Dresser Is Painted (Before & After)
I made my paint color decision for the bedroom dresser, and I got it finished yesterday. What I realized when reading the comments on yesterday’s post was that there was no possibility for me to choose a color that everyone would love. The responses were so varied, and everyone had a different idea. Some people loved the idea of painting it coral. Others loathed all color options and thought it needed to be stained wood. Some people really thought it should be green. Others hated the idea of green. Lots of people thought it should just be painted a neutral color, but the opinions on which neutral to use were split. Some thought a light neutral, others thought a dark neutral.
In the end, I just had to decide what it was that I wanted. That’s what we all have to do with our own homes, right? As much as we’d love for everyone who walks through our front doors to oooohhhh and aaahhhhh over every decision we make, we know that it’s impossible to decorate our homes in such a way that everyone will love every decision we make.
With all of that said, I went with green. I tried to match it as closely as possible to this fabric that I plan to use on the bench in the foyer. This fabric is from Spoonflower.
So I ended up choosing this Glidden color called Moss Point Green.
And…I love it. For some reason, it looks brighter in photos than it does in the room. In the room, it looks darker, but not too dark.
I like it from every direction. It will look good with the foyer bench…obviously, since I matched the color to that fabric. You can see the fabric draped over the edge of the bench in the photo below. And the chapel picture has a ton of green in it, also.
And it goes with the green in the bird fabric perfectly. I’ll also be adding some green to the bedding. In fact, I’ll probably be using that green fabric that’s lying on the wallpaper in the photo below.
Here’s what it looks like together from the room entrance.
That fabric that I’m considering using on the bed as an accent is this one, also from Spoonflower. It’s the exact same color as the green cube fabric that I’ll be using on the bench in the foyer.
So, it’s done. And I’m really happy with how it turned out. I know I disappointed a lot of people who thought that green was a terrible choice, but I really do love it, and I think it’ll all work once the room is done.
Also, there’s a lot of that green in the wallpaper in the bathroom…
And that green is also found in the wallpaper in my closet as well.
So here’s a look at the dresser before, when it was in our previous bedroom…
And here’s what it looks like now. I found the new drawer pulls at Lowe’s. I was limited in my options since I had to work with the holes that were already drilled in the drawer fronts, but I thought these were very pretty, and the size was exactly what I needed.
For those of you wondering about the process, I painted the whole thing with a brush (a 2.5-inch Purdy sash brush, because quality matters), and I used Behr Premium Plus paint. Since I was using brand new paint that had never been opened before (except to mix the color in the store), I didn’t add any paint conditioner to the paint. I just used it right out of the can.
To get the smoothest finish possible, I took all of the drawers out so that the drawer fronts would be horizontal, and I made sure to turn off the fan in the room while they dried. The longer the drying time, the more time the paint has to self-level when it’s still wet.
I painted two coats, allowing about an hour of dry time between coats, and then left everything to dry overnight. And then this morning, I put the drawers back in and then put the new drawer pulls on. Since the dresser was previously painted with latex paint, and I was using latex paint this time, I did very little sanding. I only spot sanded areas where I could see imperfections in the previous finish, but I didn’t sand the whole thing.
After I give the paint a few days to cure, I’ll go back and put a couple of coats of clear finish only on the top. And of course, I’ll use my favorite go-to clear coat — General Finishes High Performance Topcoat in a flat finish (affiliate link). If I were painting kitchen cabinets, I would clear coat everything with General Finishes. It provides such a durable finish that I love to use on cabinets in kitchens and other high traffic areas and areas where people gather. But on furniture pieces in areas with far less traffic, I find that the clear coat is only really needed on the top to protect the finish from items that are placed on the top.
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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 it turned out great!
Lookin’ good!
Ditto!
Great choice, Kristi! Your color eye is always stellar, and interesting things happen when you go with your gut.
Great choice!
I personally love blue and green together. It captures the colors in your wedding picture.
Kristi,
I second everything Dottie said! Great choice!!
I just LOVE the green! It’s the perfect shade of green. Of course that’s what I’d been hoping you would choose. I would prefer the bird fabric over the blue geometric for the bed as it feels like too much teal – grass cloth, draperies and bed. After seeing the green fabric on the chair I would encourage you to use that on your bed. It would stand out beautifully against the grass cloth. I loved reading all the responses about the dresser color choices. I love that we are all have such different ideas!
I agree – I am the biggest teal fan you’ll ever meet, but the drapes, grasscloth wallpaper, chair, AND upholstered bed in teal is a LOT. It will all fade into nothing. The green for the bed frame is a great alternative and then you have green on both sides of the room.
I’ve been a follower of this blog since the condo days, and not that people can’t change, but I just wonder if this is TOO much pink/coral without enough of the cool greens and blues and teals that you (Kristi) always gravitate towards. The orange drapery edge or upholstery piping are a lot of trouble to redo if you ever wanted to tone down the orange vibes. A rug or pillows are WAY easier to swap out.
Whatever you decide, it’s always fun to see the process and vision come together!
Another excellent choice. Thanks for sticking with your gut!! And kudos to Mom as well.
Perfect choice👍
Love it!
Love it! Green was not my choice, but it just looks perfect. Looking forward to your updates. It’s amazing how far you have come. I like that you reuse your furniture, changing the color as needed. I have a giant bookcase from when I was a teenager (back when dinosaurs roamed) and I will never give it up-LOL
I didn’t think green would work; but as usual you are right, and I love it. 🙂
As a green enthusiast, I love it!!!
LOVE it! Green or orange were my choices, but I knew green would be just perfect! I can’t wait to see your whole room come together.
Well done! Love the color and the pulls/handles. In fact, I am going to get those same handles for a project I’m doing. Keep swimming!😊
Now that is a lovely green. I think it is perfect for the dresser and how it will tie in so many other colors throughout the suite. You Rock Kristi!
Cheers to you, Matt and to Team Fur!
That looks great! I love how everything is coming together.
As I’ve said, green is my favorite color, so I love this shade! My biggest problem with figuring out what to do color-wise was because it had to work with the blues and the wainscoting, while still trying to incorporate one of the other colors in the design choices. What a headache! My only thought, finally, was to choose an almost overlooked black that showed up in the rug. I knew it was a big NO, but thought if it were a dull charcoal, it could work. I look forward to seeing this all coming together.
It looks really good – perfect color!
Excellent choice!
You knocked it out of the park again! I was in the ‘some kind of wood tone camp’, but I love the green! I think it will look fantastic in the finished room!
Love it! What’s next?
Good question! My headboard and bench fabric won’t be here until Friday. Still waiting on the recliner. It seems like the only thing I can work on is the grasscloth wallpaper. I might go ahead and do it even though some of the paint hasn’t had 30 days to cure yet.
What about taking a rest now before you start on the soft furnishings: drapes, bedding, bench, etc.? Perhaps there is a great fall event near you that would recharge the creativity batteries.
Could you work on the drapery next?
Turned out amazing…….as usual. 😁
I love the green so much! I love how it balances the room, with the green on the headboard and the green dresser on the opposite sides of the room.
Yasss, that’s it! The green works perfectly!
I Love it!! So beautiful and it works perfectly.
It looks perfect!!!!
I’m happy to see that you made your choice and finished your project! I love green, but I gravitate more towards the blue side of green rather than yellow. Moss Point is close to Leaflet but has more yellow in it from what I can see. However, the dresser looks really nice in your suite.
One more step towards Finished is behind you! Keep on keeping on; you’ll be done before you know it!
Beautiful green with enough intensity to balance with the grasscloth but soft enough to not be “in your face.” Love it.
After all is said and DONE, Kristi….This is YOUR HOME…. Where you will ALWAYS be the final “Decider”…. And I say… “You go girl!”
Green is still one of my favorite colors to play with. The colors you previously mentioned weren’t the right hue/tone/mix. Colors aren’t inherently bad, but they can be in the wrong place very easily.
Green wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t the RIGHT green for your room.
Now it is!!
That’s the perfect color! It goes beautifully with everything. Your suite is going to be glorious.
It’s beautiful! And given that Matt doesn’t care for pink and I presume that includes coral too, this is a beautiful and respectful choice! It’s perfect for the space!
Simply. Perfect!
I love that color! It’s perfect.
I love it. It’s perfect.
I LOVE your green. The room is gorgeous so far! So exciting to watch your process.
It’s perfect! Well done!
SOoooo happy you chose that green!! Perfect choice on my eyes 👀 😍
GO Kristi!
I love green; it is my favorite color. I was hesitant, admittedly confused, and frustrated as I read your previous posts about the colors and the suggestions from others. I can imagine how it was the same for you, as usual, though you pulled the rabbit out of the hat and chose what was right for you. I am in love with the whole room and especially the dresser, Kristy. Love and prayers for you, Matt, and the critters. Great job!
It’s gorgeous!
No complaints from me – after all, my whole house colors are a slightly more muted take on this same teal, green, and terracotta palette (on a base of creams and woods).
I was one in the camp of a wood tone for the dresser, but the green is growing on me. Once you get the headboard done, the greens will balance nicely. I do still think there needs to be some wood tone on the dresser side of the room to balance the wood tones in the nightstands and blinds. Were you considering anything for that? I am still amazed whenever I see this room and remember everything you’ve done in there, from the floors to the wainscoting to the trim on the walls to widening the doorway to removing the closet to adding the safety door; what a difference!
I’m sure I’ll bring some wood tone(s) to that side of the room, even if it’s just a side table and basket by the recliner.
It looks great! I was in the camp with your mother but what you chose is close to that and suits you. Blues with Greens are two of my personal most favorite color combinations, so at least one of us out here loves what you did!
Not that it matters, but I LOVE the green you selected. I think it really ties everything together.
What is the surprise in the closet you have been talking about?