Antique Dresser Makeover with Jolie Chalk Paint

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Are you wondering how to use chalk paint to update an old dresser? I’m sharing one of my favorite chalk paint brands with you here today with this antique dresser makeover.

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What is Jolie Chalk Paint?

Jolie is a chalk paint brand made right here in the USA.  It requires minimal prep, is quick-drying, and easily adheres to a whole bunch of different surfaces. 

What sold me on Jolie was its smoothness . . . It did not have that thick, textured feel that I remember chalk paints having.  It smooths out so well as you brush it onto the surface, and feels butter smooth to the touch once it’s dry. 

The line includes paste wax (in multiple colors) for sealing the paint, as well as an acrylic Varnish for a more water-protected topcoat. 

The colors are stunning, and the price is comparable to other furniture paint lines

Painting an Antique Dresser with Chalk Paint

I had tested Jolie out on a few small side tables, but wanted to use it on a bigger makeover to really give it a go. When I saw this antique dresser at a flea market, I knew this was the piece.

All of those carvings and details would look fantastic distressed, with a dark waxed finish, which is a look that is so easy to get with a chalk paint.

The color I picked is called Deep Lagoon. It’s a deep, darker blue that would make a bold, but elegant statement on this piece.

How to Prep the Dresser for Paint

To prep the piece for painting, I cleaned it with a degreasing cleaner.

Jolie recommends that you still clean your pieces first, using a mild, biodegradable cleaner that won’t leave any residue.

I sprayed the piece down and scrubbed it with my Dobie sponge, then wiped it off with a rag.

What I noticed when I wiped back after cleaning was that this piece is a bleeder!

See all of that on the paper towel? That’s not dirt, but the wood tannins seeping out of the paint.

This dresser is made of mahogany, which is notorious for bleeding through paint. But since I was using a dark color, I didn’t have to worry too much.

However, if you ever see this as you are cleaning a piece you’re about to paint white . . . you MUST apply a stain-blocking primer before you paint, or your white paint will turn pink.  You have now been warned 🙂

After I cleaned it, I sanded smooth some of the drawer fronts because the old topcoat was a bit flaky. This would help keep my final painted finish smooth.

But I did not scuff sand at all on the rest of the piece —Jolie’s instructions say that sanding your piece before you paint is not required. Time to give it a test!

2 coats of the Deep Lagoon gave me the coverage I wanted, and it was quick! The first coat was dry in about 30 minutes, so my whole painting time just took a little over an hour.

Once the final coat was dry, I distressed the details, focusing on the carvings.

Then, I added a coat of dark wax, making sure to wipe off any excess.

That was it! The whole piece was easily finished in a day.

After Photos

Here it is with its new look!

Isn’t it stunning?! And that Deep Lagoon is just gorgeous!

The distressing on those details makes them stand out!

I lucked out–the dresser had all its original hardware and it’s beautiful as well.

So what do you think? This piece was unloved and forgotten, with stains and broken veneer, and now I think it will be well-loved again in someone’s home.

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Why use Jolie?

I know a bunch of you are probably wondering why you really need another paint option! So let me give you a bit of insight into when Jolie might be a good choice for your project, over the other available furniture paint lines:

• You want to work quickly and finish your piece in a short amount of time
• You need to fill a hole in your booth space and don’t want to wait for a longer cure time
• You can’t or don’t want to scuff sand before you paint
• You want to layer or blend colors for a funky look
• You want to do a lot of distressing 
• You want to add an antiqued finish using a black or brown wax

Those are a few times when I think Jolie could be your friend. And I’m all about working smarter, not harder.

Pick the right paint for particular project and for your particular needs. 

I suggest trying them all—chalk paint, milk paint, or acrylic paint like Fusion. Then you can decide what type of paint you really like to work with. 

 

Thanks for joining me today!