Refinishing Furniture - Is it Worth it or Not?
Being an artist and all-around creative, I love to make things. But over the years, I have come to the realization that some DIY projects are just not worth the time or money. This was ALMOST one of those projects.
If you are new to DIY or a seasoned pro, these three questions are helpful when taking on a project.
1. Is the amount of money you save on this project or item worth your time?
2. Is the project or item something totally unique that you won’t be able to buy?
3. Will you enjoy making this project or item so much that the money and time are totally worth it?
I would have to say this dresser project started out as a YES for #1 ($15), quickly became a NO to all three, and luckily became a YES for #2.
It was never a YES for #3 because quite honestly, the project had quite a few hiccups!
When I bought the piece, I thought I was so clever to have noticed that most of the paint on the drawers and top had already been stripped. Less work for me!
However, I should have been more discerning because it is obvious, from the picture above left, there were at least FIVE layers of paint on that bad boy! I used Citristrip Paint and Varnish Stripper in several applications to get the paint off!
Had I had a crystal ball… hmmmmm…
I expected the drawers to be a light wood finish but when I tested them for sealing (by wiping water on them), they were dark black walnut! Grrrrr! I needed to make a decision. Abandon the project? Come up with another plan?
Have you ever been so many hours into a project that giving up doesn’t seem like a viable option? Well, this was one of those times.
When I realized the rest of the dresser was made of maple, I was relieved and decided to keep that part natural wood and paint the drawers – the exact opposite of what I was going to do originally!
I am still in the game so next problem - the feet. They were WAY too small. I wanted to replace them with some tall raw wood legs. However, during Covid, wood legs were expensive and hard to come by, so I cut off a set of feet from an old oak piece.
At this point, I officially named the project Frankendresser. It was pieced together with maple, black walnut and oak!
It would have been a heck of a lot easier but I was determined NOT to paint the whole thing! I wanted to keep part of the wood showing!
I used Annie Sloan chalk paint but after the first layer, a brown oil-like stain appeared on all the surfaces. I tried another layer and STILL, something was bleeding through the paint! Are you kidding me? I tried a Kilz Stain Blocker Primer for the third layer and then ONE MORE layer of chalk paint and that finally did the trick.
See? Hiccups. Frankendresser was starting to get on my nerves!
I waxed the entire piece with Annie Sloan Furniture Wax and the maple wood took on a beautiful honey color.
I added some modern black knobs and it was finally done.
What I like about the dresser:
1. The overall modern-vintage look
2. The raised lip framing the top
3. The cut-out detail on the bottom edge
4. The framed sides
What I don’t like about the dresser:
1. The time it took to strip and paint the piece! UGH!
2. I think I would like it even better if the feet were light maple (maybe a project for later?)
But for now, I’M DONE!
TIME AND MONEY BREAKDOWN:
Dresser - $15
Supplies for refinishing - $65
Time commitment - 10-15 hours
As you can see, refinishing furniture, and any DIY for that matter, is always a gamble. Sometimes the gamble works out and sometimes it doesn’t.
Was this project worth it? In the end, absolutely. I could paid for a dresser of the same quality and it would have cost me $600 - $900. But frankly, I’d never be able to find a piece like it because character cannot be manufactured. It is truly one-of-a-kind.
Are you ready to refinish a piece of furniture? Shoot me a question if you have it. And GOOD LUCK!
Happy Creating!
Amy