Friend, it’s Themed Furniture Makeover Day, where my blogging friends and I each update a piece of furniture with the same theme. This month’s theme is “bright.” With sunny days here and winter finally behind us, I could definitely use a little cheering up with bright and fun makeovers.
When I bought this waterfall vanity at a yard sale last year, it was already painted white. However, it was painted sloppily with latex paint and I could easily chip it off with my fingernail.
This post contains some affilliate links so you can easily find the products I use and recommend. Discover al my favorite brands and tools for doing DIY makeovers here.
I sanded the piece first, and then brushed on some Provence Chalk Paint randomly over certain areas, mostly the lines and edges. (You can see it if you look closely at some of the pictures below.) I wanted a gently layered look.
Overall I liked the look of the original white, so then I painted the entire thing in Old White Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan.
I taped around the edges of the drawers with FrogTape and then sort of freehand-painted panels of English Yellow Chalk Paint (see below). Then I distressed them with sandpaper.
On the sides of the drawers I used a stencil to add a fun surprise! (It’s a Moroccan stencil turned sideways.)
Finally I had to drill holes for the new glass knobs I bought from Hobby Lobby, and I protected the vanity with Annie Sloan’s clear wax. (The yellow varies slightly in the pictures due to the lighting of the area I was in at the time.)
I started this makeover last summer and got stuck – so it sat untouched all winter in my garage until I was confident in the design. (Originally I used a much paler yellow and it could barely be seen, and I had polka dot yellow and white knobs from Anthropologie but they were way too small for this piece.) I’m glad I waited. And my husband will be glad that I’ve finally cleared some space out of the garage. 🙂
And here it is all finished…
Below you can see some of the Provence paint peeking through.
And possibly my favorite part is the peekaboo stenciled drawers! I love how they turned out.
I hope you’ve liked this tutorial for how to paint a waterfall dresser.
Please visit my friends’ projects by clicking on the images below and show them some love too! -Jen
Therese @ Fresh Idea Studio says
Hello happy vanity! Stenciling the drawers is such a great idea Jen! Gushing over the drawer pulls too my friend.
cheers
Beth says
This is so pretty! I love the surprise on the drawers! Great job!
Blessings,
Beth
Kathy, Petticoat Junktion says
Oh my gosh Jen, those drawer panels were such a surprise! Love them. The desk looks much better now.
Meegan says
Oh my goodness! Love love love it Jen. The drawers are a great surprise! Pinned.
Nancy @ artsy chicks rule says
Oh how fun!! Love the stencil on the drawers! I have a waterfall dresser that I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do with! Love your vanity!
Nancy
Crystal says
Love it!! The pattern on the sides of the drawers just adds a surprisingly fun look. Love it all! Great job!!
Paula@SweetPea says
I love the yellow and white combination and especially love the detail you added to the drawers. My grandmother had a vanity very similar to this in her guest bedroom and I always loved it’s funky design. Are you keeping this or selling it?
Christy@Confessions of a Serial Do-it-Yourselfer says
OMGosh I love the peek-a-boo drawers!! What a fun makeover and a lucky find!! XO
Cindy Davis says
I have this exact same vanity. I bought it for $40 when I was just out of college and had no other furniture. Yours is in better shape than mine. There is a layer of veneer on the top of the center portion and it has bubbled. I painted it black long ago bc I didn’t know what else to do about the veneer. I was trying to hide it. I lived in a small apt complex and the rental company would always ask to show my apt. They told me the vanity and huge round mirror always made a good impression. I lined the drawers painstakingly with fabric and that has held up. I really don’t use it except to store stuff. I’d like one of my girls to put it in their rooms but it takes up so much space with not a lot of storage. Your paint job made it much more lovely. I may give that a try and see if they’re interested. I would hate to see it go.
Jen says
Cindy, it may just need a fresh coat of paint to find a new home in one of your girls’ rooms. 🙂 You could also remove the mirror and just use it as a desk. I hope you’re able to find a place for it and keep it!