Check out how we transformed a dresser from Facebook Marketplace.
Get the full makeover details and list of products used here.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224577/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Here’s what the dresser looked like when we bought it on Facebook marketplace.
The previous owner had started to work on the dresser but didn’t end up finishing it.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224510/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
First, I got to work sanding off the old finish that was left on the dresser.
This old antique dresser sanded down pretty fast since the old finish was dry and pretty thin.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224519/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
And then I removed the dust that was left behind with a vacuum and then with a tack cloth.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224528/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Then I wiped a coat of poly all over the raw wood to keep the whitewash from soaking into the wood too much.
Notice how much darker the wood gets from just one coat of poly on it!
That’s why I wanted to whitewash it instead of just sealing it.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224552/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
After the poly was dry, I mixed up some whitewash with some white chalk paint.
Then I got a little bit of whitewash on my paint brush, and brushed it on, staying with the direction of the wood grain.
I worked in really small sections so it didn’t have time to dry or soak into the wood much.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224555/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
Then I used a lint free rag to wipe it off and spread it out a little more.
I actually used the same rag for the whole dresser.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224558/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
When I was happy with how the whitewash looked, I wiped the dresser down with a tack cloth and then wiped on 3 more coats of poly.
Each coat of poly dried in 15 minutes or so, so it went really fast!
I used satin poly for the first coats and then the last coat I used a matte poly to decrease the shine.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224567/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)
To finish it up, I added these cute little dark knobs to contrast the light raw wood look.
And to accent the dark stain that I intentionally left in the details.
![diy raw wood dresser](https://cdn-fastly.hometalk.com/media/2021/04/20/7224573/diy-raw-wood-dresser.jpg?size=720x845&nocrop=1)