Gender neutral bedroom decor & Dresser refinish w/ FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk

 This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Blueprint social and FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

My kids got a new bunk bed a few months ago, and ever since we have been trying to figure out how to make their room and decor work for the both of them. Ya know, it’s not the easiest decorating for a boy & girl in the same space. I knew that I wanted to make it a gender neutral bedroom though.

So when I had the opportunity to use FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk in my kids’ room, I knew just where I wanted to use it. 

PS, purchase the paint at Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft stores or online. It comes in 16 colors and can be layered for the perfect color and effect you want!

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

You see, I’ve had this dresser since I was a kid. Stickers have been put on and pulled off, it’s missing most of the drawer pulls and the kids used it as a chalkboard for a while. It has taken a beating and is not the prettiest piece of furniture we own. But it was still sturdy and a great dresser (with more drawer pulls added to it!) so I went to work refinishing it.

First I wiped the whole thing down to get all the dust, chalk, popsicle drips and more off of the whole thing. Once it was dried I started with the very first coat of cascade colored paint. See, that’s the best part of this whole thing, I don’t have to prime or sand to prep it. I used a small roller to cover the whole dresser and the fronts of the drawers. The bottle said to let dry for 2 hours, and in the 80+ degree heat I was working in, this stuff felt dry to the touch in minutes. So I had to work fast, but still waited the 2 hours in between coats (I’m so not patient enough for that!) 

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

The second coat went on like butter. I was expecting to need 3 coats to get it all filled in, but the whole thing was done with just 2 coats and looked amazing. 

I let the whole thing dry almost 24 hours before I got back to it, and then used the clear wax to finish and polish it off. Using a soft brissle paint brush, I worked in small sections covering it with a light coat of the wax. I then let it set about 45 minutes (it was again 85+ outside that day) and then with a clean and lint free cloth, I buffed the wax to the sheen I was looking for.

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

Once the wax was dry, I replaced the old brown knobs (and the non-existent ones!) with some all white wood ones I picked up at Home Depot.

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

 refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

We also wanted to decorate the kids’ room with some fun decor items, and the only thing the kids agreed on was animals. So to make them a little unique, we used the same FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and painted some $1 toy animals that we picked up at Walmart. I used their initial frames that I made a while back, some animal books that we had on hand, and the painted animals to decorate the top of the dresser.

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

The animals turned out so dang cute. Seriously they may be my favorite part of the whole room. The bright colors really pop, and the kids love to play with them and then put them back right where they belong. Who knew cute toys would make them want to clean up!

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

refinishing a kids dresser using FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk and creating gender neutral decor

 Right now there’s a fabulous contest going on over at Plaid’s Facebook page. Pin what inspires you to restore your decor for a chance to win $250 and a complete collection of our new FolkArt® Home Decor™ Chalk paint valued at $150! Head over to enter.

FolkArt Pinterest Contest

 

Make sure to follow them on social media as well so you are always up to date on current contests and new products.

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Comments

  1. Wow, you did an awesome job! You really brought it back to life.

  2. What a difference! I love the colors and the way you painted the animals too.

  3. Oooh, I love that blue color. Totally gives the dresser a breathe of new life!

  4. It turned out AMAZING Vanessa! Can’t wait to try their product!

  5. Jessica @EatSleepBe says

    That dresser loos amazing! I might just have to hunt one down at a yard sale or something so I can refinish it.

  6. That’s a great makeover. Nice color.

  7. You did a great job! I am wanting to do this to some of our furniture. I’ve pinned so I can refer back to your post. Thanks 🙂

  8. Wow, what a difference the paint makes! Love the zoo animals.

  9. That chalk/paint looks SO fun! I love the color you chose! Super cute.

  10. Looks really nice..I love to redo old furniture

  11. Great Job! The color is amazing.. I have a old dresser too. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Looks great. I keep thinking I need to do this with my kids furniture or pick up as a hobby. Kudos for your talent!

  13. What a difference a little bit of paint can make!
    Love the beautiful shade of blue.
    You have inspired me to take a second look at my old dresser. :0)

  14. Wow, you did an amazing job! I have some furniture that could definitely use something like this!

  15. I have been using this chalky paint to make some of the decorations for my daughter’s wedding! I love the way it turns out.

  16. wow that looks like a whole new dresser, great job!

  17. What a great transformation. I really love the color that you chose and you made it look so easy!

  18. The differences are amazing! I really like the new look, paint can make anything look brand new.

  19. That turned out perfectly. I just love the finish on it.

  20. Oh wow! The dresser looks so amazing, and I absolutely love the toys. You’re right, the colors do pop… I’m already thinking of all the things I could do with this paint 😉

  21. WOW! You did such a great job!

  22. Maria Oller says

    I love how it look that blue is perfect. I need to start restoring and reporpousing some furniture soon

  23. I think it looks great! We recently sanded and painted a dresser we got for free.

  24. It is amazing what a coat of paint can do! I love how it turned out!

  25. Wow! You are very crafty! Love it.

  26. What kind of was did you use?

  27. How many bottles of paint did you use to cover the dresser? Is one 8oz. Bottle enough? I am thinking of painting my son’s bed.

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