Two-Tone Campaign Dresser

I had a little gap in the progress when I got sick but I'm still working on my living room makeover... albeit, kind of slowly! But progress just the same!

Today I'm sharing my two-tone campaign dresser.

I found this dresser at a 2nd hand store for just $60 last fall, I use it for my TV stand.

In its original, as-found state it was a little worn and dated looking but I've given it a makeover to bring it more up to date.



Here is a before shot. Sorry for the grainy pictures, this was from a picture of the whole living room and I had to zoom in on the dresser resulting in a grainy photo.

I get so excited to start on these makeovers that I sometimes forget about the before shots! 😔


Here is another shot from farther away. Like that blue duct tape on the wall? That's all covered up now with my new faux brick wall! You can see those posts here:


I removed all the drawers (and hardware) and gave the dresser shell a good sanding and then painted it with about three coats of my living room wall color, Downy by Olympic One.


I sanded the drawers even more to remove as much of the original finish as I possibly could. It really came off quite easily with heavy grit sandpaper and my palm sander!




Then I stained the drawers with Varathane Weathered Gray stain by Rust-Oleum. This stain is labeled as fast drying and let me tell you... it IS! I love that because I am so impatient!


I really like how you can still very faintly see the wood underneath the stain.


I didn't do anything to the hardware. I like it to have a little bit of patina to it... too bright and shiny and it wouldn't look right. But I've heard good things about Bar Keepers Friend for cleaning brass among other things!



What do you think? Do you like the two-tone look?