Modern Farmhouse Tray

DIY Furniture Flip: Refinished Solid Maple Dresser in Classic White

In this tutorial, I’m sharing how I completely transformed a solid maple, Canadian-made dresser into a fresh, modern piece that’s both timeless and functional. Originally a tired chest of drawers, this sturdy maple beauty got a full makeover — from sanding and priming to a crisp classic white finish and new stainless steel bar and knob hardware . The result? A clean, elegant dresser with five easy-glide drawers that looks right at home in any bedroom, guest room, or entryway. Follow along to see each step of the refinishing process and how a little paint and hardware can give solid wood furniture a brand-new life.

Trays are a fun way to add character to your home. They can add color, personality and charm while serving a purpose, no pun intended.

Here is the wooden tray in is state I bought it in, black.

I brushed on Old Fashioned Milk Paint in a custom color mix of snow white and light cream on all sides. When dry it was sanded to reveal some of the original black and give a worn rustic feel.

I put out a poll on my Instagram page and got lots of great ideas but I went with my sister's word ... ENJOY!

Using a small stencil brush and a cursive alphabet stencil I stenciled the word enjoy in Fusion Mineral Paint coal black. Check out this stenciled round coffee table for stenciling videos.

To seal the milk paint, Fusion's clear, black & ageing waxes. The clear was applied all over all sides then the dark waxes added to the crevices to create more rustic vibes. And it is ready to serve!