Transforming Vintage Wicker Dressers: A Budget Friendly Makeover

Projects

May 28

Summer was approaching, and with my daughter LaurenKate returning home, I found myself in need of clever storage solutions. While perusing Marketplace, I stumbled upon some vintage, solid wicker dressers that instantly caught my eye. Fans of Serena and Lily will understand the allure—these gems reminded me of the chic Bungalow Chest but without the hefty price tag. I had found my answer!

What I found particularly charming was that the seller had treasured these dressers in her own daughter’s room. They were sturdy, in great shape, and all they needed was a little TLC. Armed with my vacuum brush attachment, I tackled the dust that had settled both inside and out. A good scrub with a damp toothbrush followed, and after that, I wiped them down with Krud Kutter to ensure the paint would stick well to the wicker. I must be honest, cleaning off someone else's dirt felt a bit yucky, but knowing how fabulous they’d look in the end made it worth it!

While I let the wicker dry completely, I removed the mismatched hardware and the curved trim from the front legs. A coat of white spray primer came next, and after it dried, I painted with Glidden Max Flex All Surface in "In the Buff" Satin finish. Light, even coats were my approach—plenty of drying time in between! The rough surface of the wicker required more paint than a smooth finish, so I was grateful I had stocked up. The transformation from dingy white to a subtle, fresh color felt just right.

Throughout projects like this, I often hit a fork in the road where I have to reevaluate my choices. Maybe the paint isn’t quite what I envisioned or the wood doesn’t absorb the stain. It happens! But every once in a while, everything comes together perfectly - just like this project did, which was a much appreciated stroke of luck given my tight timeline.

Next, it was hardware time! After trying out brass and mixed materials, my daughter and I ultimately settled on simple wood knobs. They kept the focus on that classic wicker style, plus they were budget-friendly—talk about a win-win!

Here’s a quick hack for easily painting knobs: I flipped a recycled cardboard box upside down, poking the screw side of each knob into it. This keeps the screws clean while allowing each knob to be spray-painted just right. After ensuring they dried completely, they were ready for the dressers!

To finish, I lined each drawer bottom with faux grasscloth peel-and-stick wallpaper. It's super forgiving, budget-friendly, and provides that neat finish we all love!

The soft “In the Buff” color blends seamlessly with LaurenKate’s room neutrals, while the wicker texture adds delightful interest. This makeover was a success—affordable, simple, and perfect for the storage solutions we needed!