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French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer

This is the story of how I gave an old boring dresser a makeover into a french farmhouse style dresser with an image transfer.

This little dresser has been sitting in my garage even before we moved.  Before it sat in my garage, it sat in my mother’s garage. Do you have a piece of furniture, or in this case a dresser, that you keep moving around and storing thinking “one day I’ll get to it?” Well, friends, today is that day. I decided to finally get off my hump and do something about this piece of furniture that was taking up too much space in our garage. Come along and let me share my french farmhouse dresser makeover with an image transfer. 

French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer

This dresser had NO character when I got it from a friend who was giving it away. Normally a french farmhouse style includes curvy furniture with legs. This dresser did not have either of these qualities.

I knew if I wanted to transform the dresser to a french farmhouse style, I needed a lighter color and a fun french style image transfer.

I just happened to have an image transfer from my friends at Iron Orchid Designs that I never used. You can see how I transformed an old piece of scrap wood into a beautiful farmhouse style sign with an image transfer or how I gave this old TV stand an update with paint and another image transfer. 

Let me show you how this dresser started.

dresser drawers

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The dark green color isn’t terrible, but I knew that if I wanted to add the image transfer onto this dresser I needed a lighter color so you could see it.

painting the dresser drawers

So I removed the hardware and began to paint the drawers first. Since I was going from a dark color to a white color, I knew I needed to add primer to the first two coats. For this I used my go to primer

second coat of primer on dresser drawers

I love this primer. It does a great job of covering a dark color and sticks to practically anything. Here’s how it looks with a second coat of primer on the dresser drawers.

Now it was time for paint. I chose to use Kilz Chalk Style paint in White. 

After I painted two coats of the white paint, I decided to use an image transfer from Iron Orchid Designs.

Let me share a quick YouTube video I recently posted on the image transfer process.

Here are the dresser drawers transformed with a french farmhouse style!

Now it’s time to tackle the shell of the dresser. Below is the before picture.

dresser without drawers

I wanted to accent the white drawers with a dark blueish navy color. Since I had a very similar color of paint already, I decided I would save some money and time and use it.

paint and primer in one

I’ve never used this type of paint for furniture before, but it goes on really smooth and dries evenly. It was a custom color mix, so I don’t have a name of the color (sorry guys).

painting the dresser

My new french farmhouse dresser

French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer
French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer
french farmhouse dresser makeover with an image transfer
French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an image transfer

I love the french farmhouse flair! I ended up using this piece in my daughters room for her vintage chic bedroom makeover.

vintage chic bedroom makeover one room challenge

Now that you’ve seen my dresser makeover, it’s time to share a few more talented friends and their furniture makeovers.

  1. Wet Distress Painted Furniture Technique by Thirty Eighth Street
  2. How to Make a Dining Table into Desks by Refresh Living
  3. How to Paint Outdoor Furniture by Lovely Etc.
  4. Antique Dresser Makeover by A Fresh Squeezed Life
  5. French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer by Repurpose and Upcycle

Thanks for stopping by friends.

Lindsey**

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  1. Rebecca Payne says:

    Fabulous!

  2. Larain says:

    I have had an IOD transfer in the cupboard for ages. Thought it was a good idea. Now I see how easy it is to use I will put it on a my chest of drawers thank you for your advice.

  3. […] French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover |Repurpose and Upcycle […]

  4. […] Now starts the fun part. I added a few dark blue “accents” to the desk with the same paint I used on my french farmhouse dresser makeover.  […]

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  7. I love this! Thanks for sharing it with us at the Homestead Blog Hop!

  8. Leanna says:

    I really like how you designed this dresser to work with the existing drawer pulls. Originally I did not like them at all, but they look good on the finished dresser.

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  11. Kippi says:

    This chest turned out beautiful. I am so excited to add a large transfer to a boring white chest I have. Also, like the chest painted a darker color. Decisions, decisions…great to find you on the link party.

  12. Wow, what a beautiful makeover! Your dresser turned out awesome and that image suits the piece perfectly!

    Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous project with us over at Waste Not Wednesday!

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  17. Jann Olson says:

    Very cute! I love the colors you used and the transfer. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  19. […] French Farmhouse Dresser Makeover with an Image Transfer from Repurpose and Upcycle […]

  20. MotherGeek says:

    So pretty! This would look amazing on our landing, and provide some much needed extra storage! #thatfridaylinky

  21. Tina Bailey says:

    WOW! this is so creative! I couldn’t even dream up this idea, never mind make it happen! You have some serious skills! #thatfridaylinky

  22. Ann says:

    Oh my goodness, I luv the style of this so much!! I’d like to invite you to share with us at Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday, which runs thru Saturdays.

  23. Beth Owen says:

    Oh wow that looks so pretty! Great post #CoolMumClub

  24. Snap says:

    I love the dresser transformation and agree that you make it look easy!

  25. Rebecca says:

    Such a gorgeous makeover! We would love for you to come link up for Wall to Wall DIY Wednesday over at R&R at home!

  26. Beautiful transformation. I have several pieces I need to work on in my basement as well so I completely understand the motivation to get something done! I am tempted to try out transfers next time. Thanks for a great tutorial.

  27. Alissa Apel says:

    That turned out to be so rustic and cool! I did a few transfer techniques in my classes (I’m an art instructor).

  28. Excellent transformation! #MMBH

  29. Beautiful! I did something similar a year or two ago but I didn’t use a transfer like that. I love it!

  30. Erlene says:

    I’ve always loved the look of image transfers on furniture, but haven’t tried it yet. You did a wonderful job at making over this dresser and giving it a new look.

  31. Such a great transformation! I have a small set of drawers that need some loving – thanks for the inspiration xx

  32. I loooove that gray and white with the French transfer! And is it bad that I am getting hungry looking at this dresser…Shepard’s Pie….yuuuummmmm. Hahaha, this is really beautiful, thanks for sharing at Inspiration Monday.

  33. Carrie says:

    What a cute farmhouse dresser! You made it look so easy!

  34. DRESSER DIY says:

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