Toolbox Dresser

This weekend I decided I wanted to take on a project for the Minion's bedroom, which will have a garage theme. Since I've had a lot of people ask how I did it, I shall now share my process.

The idea was to take a plain, old, run down dresser and turn it into a "toolbox". (Thank you Pinterest!) It is easy, fun, and efficient. Not factoring in the dresser itself, as well as paint brushes and rollers we already had on hand, all items totaled a bit south of $50 from The Home Depot.

Items needed:

• Dresser, any size
• Paint roller
• Medium paint brush
• Red paint (I purchased 1 quart of Glidden Red Geranium in High Gloss. Used about half.) $14
• Black paint (Behr Stealth Jet in flat, tester size.) $3
• Vinyl stick on diamond plate $18 (See the exact one I used here)
• Silver knobs (HD offers individuals for about $3 each, but being frugal, I opted for the 10 pack for $14)

Total time: 4-5 hours. I took a break to go eat with The Husband and Minion, and got back to work the next morning, giving the paint time to really dry, so this is approximate.

First thing I will tell you is SAND SAND SAND. I am impatient, skipped this step and lost count after SEVEN coats of paint. If you have the time, I would also recommend primer.

I removed the drawers and used the roller to slather on coat after coat of red paint onto the dresser itself, using the brush under the eaves and in corners. I waited until I was done with the red to start on the drawers, but you could probably do the drawers while the red is drying between coats.

The black paint only took 3 coats. I simply painted all the edges that I knew would be showing once the diamond plate was applied. (I did notice that on what little parts I painted where the vinyl lay, it did not stick to the paint but rather peeled off minute amounts when I re-positioned the vinyl.) It also dried rather quickly. By the time I was done with the last drawer, the first one was ready for vinyl.

I used 1 roll of the diamond plate vinyl, with drawers measuring approximately 27.5" x 7 3/4". Larger or more drawers will require the use of multiple rolls. When you take your measurements from the drawer to the vinyl, remember it is better to cut too much than not enough! You can always trim the excess, but adding more is a pain in the rear. It is simple: cut the amount of vinyl you'll need, unpeel the paper backing and stick that sucker right on. I found it much easier to use than the wallpaper-type vinyl because it's a firmer material so there's no wrinkles and bubbles smooth right out. I actually used the side of my phone to smooth it; you could also use a squeegee, book, or other flat object. (Just start at one end, apply pressure and push out to the opposite side.) **Note: the instructions on the diamond plate state that the adhesive will take a few hours to cure, so if you need to reapply, it's no problem. Also note that as the day went on, bubbles started forming around the edges, so just keep an eye on it and smooth them as you see fit.

Once all your paint is dry, put the drawers back in, although I put mine in prior to applying the black paint. (One drawer accidentally closed and I got a nice black square on my red!) I acquired the handyman I call The Husband to install the hardware. He simply pushed the screw from back to front through the vinyl, careful not to dislodge the adhesive, and screwed them on. 

That's it! Never mind the Hannah Montana sheet. I hope you enjoy, and good luck! If you like it, share it or leave a comment!