Sometimes just a bit of paint can make a dramatic difference on a piece of furniture. A case in point is this rather plain vintage wood dresser. A stencil and a small amount of white paint gave this geometric dresser makeover a fun boho vibe transformation.

The 5-drawer dresser was gifted to my family over three decades ago. It has bounced from one house to another over the years when it recently landed on my doorstep. If you stand still long enough around here, you'll get painted and that's exactly what happened to the dresser.

Geometric Stenciled Dresser Makeover

I'd like to thank the folks at Stencil Revolution for providing the Geometric Wall Stencil for today's makeover. It came at a perfect time because today is our monthly Furniture Fixer Upper Day.

We are a group of furniture painting friends who come together each month to breathe new life into furniture. I've included links to all the makeovers further down in the post. Last month I gave an antique oak bookcase a Red Farmhouse Cabinet Makeover lined with fabric from the dollar store.

This is what the dresser looked like before the makeover. Plain, a little battered, and in need of some TLC. 

And here it is after the makeover. See what I mean about how the stencil made a dramatic difference?

Here it is from another angle before the makeover.

And here it is again after the makeover. You can see the whitewash paint finish on the side, which I also did on the top.

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of this stenciled wood dresser, almost all of the DIY projects shared here at Interior Frugalista have step-by-step tutorials so why not get your budget DIY on and subscribe. You can also follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

What You'll Need To Make It

This post contains affiliate links so you can see what products I used or recommend for this project. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Supply List

• Raw Silk Fusion Mineral Paint
• Provence Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
• Geometric Wall Stencil Stencil Revolution
• Special Walnut Minwax Wood Finish
• Paper Plate
• 4-inch Foam Paint Roller
• Stencil Spray Adhesive
• Multi-Surface Painter's Tape
• Wood Glue
• Woodworking Bar Clamps
• Best Dang Wax Dixie Belle Paint Company
• Small Round Wax Brush (for clear wax)
• Horsehair Shoe Shine Brush (for buffing wax)

Here's How I Did It

Some Minor Repairs

From all that moving house-to-house over the last three decades, the dresser was coming unglued at the seams. I don't blame it, I would too. 😉 Nothing that a little wood glue and bar clamps can't fix.

A Pop Of Color

While waiting for the glue to cure I added a pop of color on the side of the drawers with a fresh coat of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the color Provence. I had just enough paint leftover in the can from the 70s Coffee Table Upholstered Bench and the Faux Tin MCM Tables for my son and daughter-in-law's home.

Normally I line the drawers with pretty paper but I ran out of time. I'm on the hunt for just the right scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or pretty drawer liner.

Geometric Stencil

Now for the fun part, adding the wow factor to the old dresser with a Geometric stencil and Fusion Mineral Paint in the color Raw Silk.

Pro-Tip

It's much easier to stencil the front of a dresser if you put the drawers back in and lay the dresser flat on the floor.

• Just like when stenciling a wall, it is a good rule of thumb to start the stencil from the top center and work your way down vertically.
• Find the center of the dresser and line up the center registration mark on the stencil. In the photo below the stencil looks offset but it's actually centered with the pattern.
• Use painter's tape or spray adhesive to hold the stencil in place.
• Load a paper plate with paint and stencil with a 4-inch foam roller.
• Offload the excess paint onto a paper towel first.
• Use light pressure on the roller to avoid paint bleed.
• Wipe any paint that transferred onto the back of the stencil with a damp cloth before moving onto the next stencil.
• Once you have finished the first vertical row, go back to the top and stencil horizontally from the center outwards.
• To avoid having to wait for the paint to dry between stencils, alternate the stencil from each side of the center. By the time you finish one side, the opposite side is dry enough to apply the next. I hope this makes sense!
• Continue in this fashion until you've completed the remaining rows.

For tips on how to stencil a wall see my 12 Helpful Tips On How to Stencil A Wall tutorial.

My Big Oops!

Here's where I'm going to keep it real friends. It wasn't until writing this post and revisiting Stencil Revolution's website that I realized I stenciled the striped diamond pattern upside down.

I considered keeping my oops a secret but decided to come clean so you don't make the same mistake. I don't think anyone would have noticed had I not pointed it out.

While I've stenciled furniture many times, this was my first attempt at doing an all-over stencil. I have nothing but positive things to say about the quality of the geometric stencil but it would have been helpful if there were directional marks.

Whitewash Paint Technique

I was quite pleased how the stencil alone completely transformed this old dresser and considered keeping the rest of the dresser stained wood. The top was showing a lot of wear and would have required sanding so I opted for a whitewash distressed finish instead.

For a whitewash paint finish, thin the paint with two parts paint to one part water to a milk-like consistency. Brush the paint in the direction of the grain with long brush strokes. Immediately wipe the paint with a lint-free rag in the direction of the grain.

Repeat this process until you like the look. You can go as opaque or transparent as you like. It took three washes of paint to achieve a semi-transparent finish where just a bit of the dark stain shows through.

Distressed Finish

This step is optional but I knocked back more of the whitewash once it was dry with 220-grit sandpaper.

I also lightly distressed the stencil details with 220-grit sandpaper. To protect all the painted surfaces I applied two coats of clear wax with a round wax brush.

Refreshed Stain

The stained wood on the front of the dresser and around the drawer fronts was looking faded and worn. To give it a quick refresh, I used Minwax Wood Finish in the color special walnut with a 2-inch foam brush. After five to ten minutes I wiped the excess stain with a lint-free rag.

Adding Furniture Jewelry

The drawers are a seamless finger pull style and don't require hardware. I wanted a little jewelry to dress up the cabinet and so I added two square knobs on the top drawer only. I've had these knobs in my hardware stash for a few years. I think I got them during my Canadian girl's maiden voyage to Hobby Lobby a few years ago.

I used my handy Kreg Cabinet Hardware Jig to align the holes on the drawer fronts so they are perfectly aligned. I love this thing!

I could have sanded the scuffs off of the feet and refreshed them with stain but decided to give them a whitewash finish like the top. And as you can see in the photo below, I also distressed the paint for a time-worn look.

I'm so pleased with how a stencil completely transformed this old dresser. Now it has a new lease on life and can be enjoyed for another thirty years in our family (fingers crossed).

Maybe, just maybe, I can find a spot in our home for it. Oh, Mr. Frugalista will be thrilled to hear this as we are bursting at the seams in this small humble abode. 

Curious minds need to know, did you notice my mistake with the direction of the stencil before I pointed it out?

Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today! I hope you were inspired by this stenciled dresser makeover. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comment section below or the Contact Me tab at the top to drop me an email. I love hearing from you!

If you enjoyed this modern geometric dresser makeover, I'd be so thankful if you shared it with a friend and pinned it to your Dresser Makeover Ideas or Stenciled Furniture board on Pinterest.

Click on the links below to see how my talented friend's in our Furniture Fixer Uppers Group transformed these furniture pieces.

Girl In The Garage

Confessions Of A Serial DIYer

Petticoat Junktion

Prodigal Pieces

Just The Woods

The Interior Frugalista (that's me)

I share my projects at these inspiring link parties.