Nautical Dresser Makeover: How I Transformed a Brown Vintage Chest into an Under-the-Sea Showstopper

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If you’ve ever spotted an old brown dresser and wondered if it could be saved, I’m here to tell you—yes, it absolutely can. In this post, I’m walking you through how I gave a vintage chest of drawers a complete nautical makeover using chalk paint, a DIY tissue decoupage technique, and ocean-themed printables I designed myself. This nautical dresser makeover has become one of my favorite furniture flips to date, and I’m thrilled to show you the process.

Supplies Used

Vintage wooden dresser
Rust-Oleum Chalked Paint – Linen White
Mini paint roller
Waverly Chalk Paint – Ocean
Thin wooden skewers or sticks
Rust-Oleum Matte Sealer Spray
Crown Mineral Spirits (paint thinner)
Lint-free cloth
Sandpaper (medium grit)
Mod Podge (matte)
Tissue paper
Printer
Custom Under-the-Sea Canva printables (available below!)
Old Masters Crystal Clear Paste Wax
Screwdriver (for hardware removal/replacement)

The Makeover Process

This makeover began with a well-loved brown dresser. I removed the handles and wiped everything down, then got to work with two coats of Rust-Oleum Linen White chalk paint using a mini roller. The roller gave the surface a lovely texture that ended up adding charm to the finished look.

Wooden dresser before the makeover, featuring seven drawers with black metal handles, set in a cluttered garage workspace.

Can of Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Paint in linen white sitting on a blue countertop near glue and crafting supplies.

Dresser frame fully painted white using chalk paint, with all drawers removed and the workspace visible behind it.

While the dresser dried, I painted the handles using Waverly chalk paint in “Ocean.” I stuck thin wooden skewers through the hardware and suspended them while painting to get full coverage. After two coats and a good dry time, I sealed them with Rust-Oleum’s matte spray.

Close-up of original black metal dresser handle, showing wear and vintage character before painting.

Close-up of blue Waverly chalk paint jar in 'Ocean' shade next to a package of nautical rub-on furniture transfers featuring dolphins, coral, and starfish.

Painted dresser hardware laid out to dry while a can of Rust-Oleum Chalked Matte Clear sits nearby.

I originally planned to apply rub-on transfers, but because I had already waxed the dresser, they wouldn’t adhere. Even after removing the wax and reapplying chalk paint, the textured finish made the transfers a no-go. So I pivoted to Plan B: custom tissue decoupage using images I created in Canva.

Watercolor-style nautical clipart featuring a red-and-white striped lighthouse with a starfish at the base, a leafy green sea plant, a tall blue coral, and a pink seahorse—all arranged on sandy patches with a soft, whimsical tone.

Whimsical underwater and beach-themed clipart set with a bright red octopus, soaring seagull, navy-and-white life preserver on sand, three colorful seashells, a starfish, and a black and white orca whale swimming below.

I printed my under-the-sea designs directly onto tissue paper by attaching it to a piece of printer paper using a school glue stick. Using packing tissue paper, I cut pieces that would fit right inside an 8.5×11′ sheet of printer paper. Using the glue stick, I glued the top edge, and the two sides of the tissue paper to the printer paper. Top side first, I added it to my inkjet printer and printed the Under the Sea printable collages. Here are the first two drawers with the images just placed to make sure I liked the placement.

Close-up of the top left drawer, decorated with a lighthouse, fluffy cloud, red starfish, and blue-striped sailboat decal around a navy handle.

Close-up of the top right drawer featuring a dolphin splashing, an ocean wave graphic, and a flying seagull next to the handle.

This video shows the technique using fabric, but you can use tissue paper as well!

I removed the wax layer from the dresser using this mineral spirits paint thinner and a lint-free cloth. Once dry, I gave the drawers a light sanding and wiped off the dust.

A close-up shot of a can of Crown Paint Thinner with a spray nozzle attachment, sitting on a shelf among other paint supplies.

Then came the fun part—decoupaging the tissue paper images onto the drawers, one section at a time. This was the first big drawer under the two top drawers.

A blue and orange octopus surrounded by bubbles, coral, and seaweed on a white painted drawer.

After letting them dry completely, I sealed the images with a layer of Mod Podge.

Finally, I reapplied the clear wax to the entire dresser using the Old Masters Crystal Clear Paste Wax and a natural bristle brush. After applying the wax, I used a lint free cloth to buff out the shine from the wax.

A can of Old Masters Crystal Clear Paste Wax held in a hand, with a kitchen sink and cleaning supplies in the background.

Last, I reattached the now-blue handles.

Side view of the dresser with focus on the middle drawers, showcasing ocean-themed decals including a clownfish, octopus, and sea plants, along with the painted navy blue handles.

The finished piece? A dreamy ocean-inspired dresser perfect for a nursery, kids’ room, or beach house. I do hope you enjoyed this project and that it inspires you to makeover a well loved piece of furniture that you’re holding onto. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments or send me an email!

Save this to your Pinterest!

Get the Printable Set

Want to create your own nautical furniture flip? My entire set of Under the Sea tissue printable images is available in my Etsy shop. These are the exact graphics I used on this piece—including whales, coral, a sea turtle, anchor, lighthouse, and more!

More Furniture Flip Inspiration

Final Thoughts

What started as a tired brown dresser is now a statement piece that tells a story—and I’m not mad about it. Whether you’re upcycling a thrift find or refreshing a family heirloom, don’t be afraid to pivot when something doesn’t work out. Sometimes Plan B becomes better than expected.

This Post Has One Comment

zaltixsoftsolutions August 13, 2025 Reply

What a stunning transformation—from a tired brown chest to an enchanting under-the-sea statement piece! Your clever use of chalk paint, custom tissue decoupage, and ocean-inspired printables made this makeover truly magical