Easy Dresser Makeover Before and After

If you ask me, black paint makes just about anything look better. Recently, I updated a vintage dresser I found a few years back at a barn sale. Although I love a natural wood dresser, this one just had one too many uneven coats of cherry stain. I took it to the next level (and challenged my craftiness by making some leather pulls to replace basic old one. Overall this was a super easy, and satisfying DIY dresser makeover!

This little beauty caught my eye as I thought it would function well as a little cabinet in our home. We had some odd little areas so something like this worked well.

Prep & Paint

Just like most things I like to makeover, I knew I wanted to paint this dresser black! And for furniture, my black paint of choice is milk paint. Specifically, Rustoleum Milk Paint in Eclipse.

Milk paint is an eco-friendly, water-based paint made from natural ingredients, offering a matte, vintage look that’s perfect for furniture makeovers. I later paint an entire piano black with this liquid gold, that’s how much I love it.

Luckily (or more accurately, why I love it), milk paint doesn’t require much prep. I removed the old cheapy pulls. Then, just a good solid cleaning and light sanding. This kind of paint covers blemishes really well (read all about my thoughts on Milk Paint vs Chalk Paint).

Update Pulls

So, I was going for a very organic modern vibe here with the black paint and touches of leather (faux). I ended up making mine (see below), but if you just want the quicker version, these Leather Dresser Pulls look lovely!

Ok, here’s the scoop on how to make leather pulls to put the finishing touch on my dresser makeover. First, I’ll say it’s insanely easy. So much so, I’m thinking of adding them in more places now.

Leather Pull Supplies

• #10-32 Round Head Machine Screws (similar to these ones)
• Matching Screw Nuts
• 1″ wide Leather Strip (I used leftover pieces from a different project. If I was starting new, I’d look for vegan leather – which is hard to find in this size)
• Hole punch or nail
• Ruler

How to Make Leather Pulls

1. First, I cut my leather strips to about 4.25″ Long
2. Then, I marked a point on center about 1″ down from the top of a strip.
3. Using a small hole puncher, I punched out the hole
4. I then fold the strip in half and marked the hole placement for the other end of the strip and punched that hole.
5. With the leather strip folded, I pushed through the machine screw so the head is facing out.
6. I inserted the pull into the dresser drawer and secured it from the inside with the screw nut.
7. I then just repeated for all remaining pulls.

Final Makeover

After letting the milk paint cure for a few days, I attached the leather pulls, and it was so exciting to see the dresser makeover come together. Adding a protective wax coating is optional, but it’s a great way to seal the paint.

The simple, handmade pulls added the perfect finishing touch to the fresh new look. I love this little cabinet and have moved it around to try it in a few different areas in our home.

I’m so happy with how this little dresser makeover turned out—it’s amazing what a bit of milk paint and a few DIY details can do!

From the fresh finish to the handmade leather pulls, it’s satisfying to take an old, worn piece and turn it into something stylish and functional. Projects like this remind me how fun and rewarding it can be to give furniture a whole new life. I hope this inspires you to tackle your own makeover—whether it’s a dresser, table, or chair, a little effort can go a long way!