Makeover Your Dresser in 3 Steps

I spotted Amy's dresser on Flickr and clicked "fave" before I had a chance to read on. She got the idea from a French Marie Claire, and added her own special touches including the branch detail.

While you don't have to go as far as Amy did with your own furniture, a simple fresh coat of paint and some new knobs can do wonders to an old (or cheap) dresser.

Take grandma's hand-me-down dresser or that beaten one your saw on Craigslist and give it a brand new, custom look with a quick coat (or two) of paint and inexpensive knobs. Dress it up or make it modern or classic, whatever your style may be.

I scoped out a few dresser/knob/paint combos to help get your creative juices flowing. In just 3 simple steps -- sand, paint, change knobs -- and you're done! All in a day's work.

Shabby Chic
The inexpensive IKEA HEMNES Dresser for $249 can get a shabby chic look just by adding the vintage-look Small Octagonal Clear Glass Knob, just $9.39 each at the House of Antique Hardware. For a less formal, but equally as antique look, try the Carved Bloom Knob, $10 each at Anthropologie.

Take the transformation a step further and paint the dresser an airy sea-foam blue, such as Gossamer Blue by Benjamin Moore.

Tip: Sand your dresser lightly to ensure the paint adheres easily. To leave less streaks, use foam rollers or brushes rather than bristle brushes.

Modern Makeover
Perhaps you're style is much more modern than Grandma's was and you feel the need to modernize [for example, we chose the South Shore Double Dresser, $154.99, on Amazon. Paint the dresser a deep gray, such as Galvanized by Ralph Lauren Home or a nice dark chocolate. Add some European-style flair with Bauhaus Stainless Steel Bar Pull, $15 from MyKnobs.com.

Tip: When changing smaller knobs to bar knobs, be sure to remove the original knobs and measure the distance between the holes to be sure your new ones will fit.

For more tips on painting furniture watch this video: