Transform a chest of drawers

Chest of drawers, transformed with paint and wallpapered

Turn a plain wooden chest into a stylish bespoke piece in a few simple steps

Tools for the job

● Sandpaper
● Primer – either water- or oil-based to match your choice of paint
● Eggshell paint
● Paint brushes and rollers
● Wallpaper
● Pencil
● Ruler
● Scissors or scalpel
● Bucket
● Wallpaper paste
● Wallpaper brush
● Clear sealant

We found this small chest of drawers at a British Heart Foundation charity shop in south London for £20, but this project will work on any wood furniture with drawers or doors. Try it on a bedside table or even a wardrobe with drawers, too.

How it’s done

1 Take out the drawers. Lightly sand the unit to remove any old paint or varnish; this will ensure the new paint adheres properly. Wipe away HB dust and give it a coat of primer. We used Acrylic Primer Undercoat in pale grey, £14.75 a litre, The Little Greene Paint Company. Leave to dry.

2 Apply the first coat of paint. We used a water-based paint, Acrylic Eggshell in French Grey, £17 a litre, The Little Greene Paint Company. Once dry, apply a second coat, and a third coat later if you need to. It’s best to build up thin, even layers rather than thick ones. Using a roller will help you achieve this.

3 While the unit is drying, unscrew the drawer handles, paint and leave to dry. Then measure and cut wallpaper to fit each of the drawer faces. If you want to line the drawers, make the strip long enough to reach over the front and line the inside.

4 Prepare your wallpaper paste following the packet instructions.

5 Paste the wallpaper strips as you would when papering a wall, and stick to the front of each drawer.

6 Once the wallpaper is dry, use a brush to apply a coat of clear sealant to protect it (try Yacht varnish, £7.49 for 250ml, International). Cover the front and outer edges of the drawer. Leave to dry and apply a second coat.

7 Once the varnish is dry, screw the handles back on and slide the drawers back in place

Words: Alaina Binks. Photos: Oliver Gordon