A Guide to Unfinished Dressers

Why would anyone want to buy an unfinished dresser? There are actually many good reasons to buy one for your home. This guide will show you why you may want to buy an unfinished dresser and how to choose one for your wants and needs. Learn more about unfinished dressers right here.

 

The Benefits of Unfinished Dressers

Whether you’ve been looking for dressers for a while or just started your search, there are benefits to looking at ones that have not yet been finished. Unfinished simply means that the dresser has not been stained or painted and that the person who purchases the dresser will complete that stage on their own. How does this benefit you?

 

 

The Cost of the Dresser

A dresser is usually a large piece of furniture, which usually means it’s also an expensive piece of furniture. But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you want a dresser that’s made out of high quality, durable wood, but are worried about the cost of it, then an unfinished dresser can be a great option for you. Because they are not yet finished, these dressers usually cost less than their finished counterparts.

 

 

Flexibility for You

While cost is a great benefit of an unfinished dresser, an even better benefit is the flexibility that it allows you. Those who buy unfinished furniture know that they will be able to purchase the wood that they want and stain it or paint it in the exact color that they want. This is a great option for those that like unique colors for their furniture and can’t find a finished dresser in the right color. It also means that you can customize your dresser, add the details that you want, and make it in the style that fits your décor.

 

 

Choose a Type of Wood

If you’ve made the choice to buy an unfinished dresser, then the first thing you need to think about is what kind of wood you’d like. Dressers can be made out of everything from oak to mahogany to maple and each wood has different characteristics.

 

 

Durability

Most wood is highly durable, but some tend to be more durable than others. To make a choice on durability, think about how your dresser will be used. If you move a lot or the dresser is for a child’s room, then you probably want one that is very durable. If durability is not a deciding factor for you, there are other things to consider.

 

 

Color

The color of a dresser can affect the look of the entire room, making it very important to consider. Stain brings out different colors in different woods, so if you’re interested in the warm, red tones of a cherry wood, then you don’t want to purchase a dresser made out of birch. To determine the right color for you, you’ll need to study up on all of the different types of woods and their colors.

 

 

Paint It or Stain It?

Of course, if you want a color that only paint can give you, then the color of the wood itself may not be quite as important. However, there are woods that take to paint better than others. On the flip side, if you want to see the natural tones and grains of a particular kind of wood, then you’ll want to stain that wood instead of covering it up with paint.

 

 

Wood Grain

The reason many people choose dressers that are unfinished is so they can choose a wood with a beautiful grain and stain it to accentuate that grain. If this is a look that you are going for, make sure you choose a wood that has the type of grain you want and that takes well to stain.

 

 

How to Finish your Dresser

Dressers are very easy to finish on your own. Here are some very general steps on how to finish your unfinished furniture, but make sure you follow the instructions from the stain or the paint that you buy.

 

• Prep it – Before you can paint or stain dressers, you need to prep them. This involves looking for any possible nicks and scratches and repairing them, and then sanding the entire piece.
• Give it a base coat – Stains don’t need base coats, but paints do. If you’re painting your unfinished dresser, give it a couple coats of primer.
• Paint it – Now it’s time to apply the paint or the stain. Most paints and stains need more than one coat.
• Top it off – A clear coat can protect the paint or stain and the wood.

An unfinished dresser can be a fun do-it-yourself project and a beautiful addition to your room.

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