Black Painted Dresser: DIY Project
After hundreds of makeovers, I’m still amazed at how instantly and dramatically black paint changes just about anything. From pianos to walls, nothing is safe from my black paint can. For this simple project, I turned a piece of boring, brown bedroom furniture into a showstopper. Here are my steps and sources for my black painted dresser.

I had already tackled a huge piano so when I laid eyes on this free Ikea Hemnes dresser on marketplace, I knew it would make a good project. First, it was in good shape, had great minimal lines, and was the perfect size. Over the course of two days, one can of milk paint, and some new modern knobs – this dresser fit right into my organic modern home.

Black Painted Dresser Supplies:
- Wood dresser
- Screwdriver
- Sandpaper (120-150 grit)
- Damp cloth
- Black milk paint (I used Rustoleum Eclipse)
- Paintbrush
- Foam Roller
- Wax (for sealing)
- Paint extras (drop cloths, lint free cloth, etc.)
Steps:
So the steps here are pretty straight forward and what I’d use for a variety of projects, but this is a pretty simple Ikea dresser hack. That said, I’ve included some tips I’ve learned through trial and error!
1. Remove Hardware & Drawers
This is the part where all the little tedious prep work pays off huge in the end. Before I even think about painting, I pulled out the drawers & removed the old knobs.
Along with laying out the drop cloths, I spread out all the drawers and dresser to make sure I could easily walk around and paint.

2. Light Sanding
While milk paint says you don’t need to sand first, I like to rough it up a little. (Besides, when do I follow directions?). I find this helps smooth out any dings and makes the paint stay on a little better.
3. First Coat
Now, the fun part – the first coat. It’s like instant magic really. I used a paint brush on the smaller areas like the front of dresser (without the drawers) then a foam paint roller for the top, sides, and drawers.
You’ll probably notice is goes on smooth and kind of fills in any dents or dings. It can also look a little streaky on the first coat.
4. Second Coat
The one thing about milk paint is that is always needs (at least in my projects) a second or third coat. For this black painted dresser I used two coats.
Besides the additional work, I don’t mind as this is where you really see the velvety depth that you get with milk paint. Just be sure to wait for the first coat to completely dry before applying more. I wait at least 12 hours. You’ll notice it gets a little more matte once it dries out.
5. Apply Wax
The thing about milk paint is that it needs to really cure or dry out before adding any sort of sealant or finish. I let mine stand for a few days or even weeks before applying the wax but it depends on the paint. Then, I applied the wax with a lint free cloth (an old soft t-shirt worked great). Must be lint free or you’ll have a whole new mess.
I used a matte wax because I don’t love shine. This Paste Wax Guide gives more details on how to apply.

6. Attach New Hardware
Once the wax really hardens – you’ll see a very slight “shell”. Then you can attach the hardware. (I guess you could attach hardware sooner and apply wax later, but this is the order I did). I opted for modern pulls which dramatically changed the entire vibe.

Final Thoughts:
Another black paint transformation for the history books. I could not be happier with this black painted dresser – between the matte milk paint and the modern pulls, it’s like a whole new piece of furniture.
If you’re curious about other black paint updates, check out my Painted Black Piano, Little Dresser Makeover, and full Milk Paint Review.