How to Remake a Dresser

Study the old dresser and decide upon the final look you are going for. You'll want to determine the color and style of hardware.

Remove the drawers. Disassemble and reassemble any drawers that are falling apart with new finishing nails.

Rub down the entire dresser with wood cleaner and cotton rags. This removes any caked-on dirt and will make sanding much simpler.

Sand down the entire dresser and drawer fronts. Start sanding with 90-grit paper and work off all the previous varnishes and imperfections in the wood. Next, sand over the entire piece again with 120-grit sandpaper to remove any harsh scratches.

Look over the piece and fill in any nail holes, gashes and cracks with wood filler. Leave the wood filler to dry overnight.

Sand the entire piece down with 220-grit sandpaper, making sure to even out the applied wood filler.

Wipe down the dresser with tack cloths until they come up clean. You must remove all sawdust from the wood before staining.

Open and stir your stain and begin applying. Apply a water-based stain against the grain and an oil-based stain with the grain. Let the stain sit for three minutes and then rub away any excess stain with a clean cotton rag. Repeat until the stain is your desired color. Let the stain dry overnight before finishing.

Open and stir your finish and begin applying. Make sure that your stain and finish type match for the best results. Apply the finish with the grain of the wood and then let it dry for the manufacturer's recommended time.

Sand with 220-grit paper and reapply the manufacturer's recommended amount of coats.

Install the new handles with a screwdriver.