Urban grunge dresser for a trendy boy nursery

Tracey Bellion
Jul 16, 2020
3 min read

Updated: Jul 30, 2023

I couldn't be happier with this urban grunge dresser with an "oil-stained rusted salt-washed" finish! It is completely out of my wheelhouse....and was a huge learning curve for me!

I love sharing projects that were challenges for me......in hopes that you will be inspired to step out of your own comfort zone and try a technique that you haven't tried before!

This dresser was created for my SIXTH grandchild-to-be and is part of a stunning room design plan using multiple mixed elements such as wood, leather, metal, and even subway tile.

Before The Urban Grunge Design

And because it always makes the transformation so much more exciting...here is a look at the before.

There are many steps involved with a finish like this. Way too many to list in order as the finish is quite organic in the making.....and you really must be willing to work with what the process delivers you AS it delivers it to you. Does that make sense?

A Deeper Dive into the Painting Process

My goal was to create this look with PAINT only.......not relying on my favorite Dixie Belle Paint patina paint line to give me rust and age.

This finish requires quite a bit of water so you will need to protect your floor with a plastic tarp of some kind.

Full cleaning. I usually use White Lightning from Dixie Belle but this was done on location and I used vinegar/warm water mix 1:1.

A single coat of Mud Puddle was applied to cover the shiny surface and to be used as our scratch coat.

Sea Spray was added to two colors (Terracotta and Colonel Mustard)....in separate containers....and applied liberally with no specific pattern.

I used both ragging and stippling techniques to achieve more texture. I call this the "calico cat" stage....and can be seen in a video here. I call this layer my texture coat.

I then began to layer various colors of gray....mostly Gravel Road...but Hurricane Gray and even Coffee Bean. I used the lighter grays at the top and worked my way down with the darker at the bottom.

As I worked I liberally sprayed water to expose the Terra Cotta and Colonel Mustard yellow in various places.

I then chose areas around the hardware to apply my favorite Rusty Nail color. Once Rusty Nail was dry I began layering the grays and Coffee Bean again.....using liberal water to leave the rust showing.

I then used a large chip brush to begin cross-hatching Drop Cloth over the entire surface.....which really brings forth the addition of the Sea Spray texture. Again...I sprayed areas with water allowing the Drop Cloth to drip and run making it appear as if it had been exposed to saltwater.

I continued to let the piece dry.....and add layers and water and various colors....until I achieved the final look

Finally....I started at the bottom of the piece using both Caviar and Coffee Bean......just very strategically adding depth and weight to the base of the dresser.....and slowly blended my way up into the grays.

My last painting step was adding Best Dang Wax in Black to specific areas to enhance the darkness....and to add an "oil stain" look to specific areas.

The entire piece is protected with Clear Coat in Flat.

And for the final touch....we finished off the look with these perfect leather drawer pulls.

I feel VERY good about my personal challenge. I am more than happy with the final look of this urban grunge dresser.....and I think my daughter and son-in-law are too!

If you would like the full nursery reveal - we have finished ALL the details HERE!!

More Inspiration

This piece may be a bit out of my comfort zone but I have painted other pieces with this same grungy/urban vibe. Don't miss my...

leopard patina grunge

tattered elegance

graffiti dresser

Want to learn this technique in more detail? Check out my tattered elegance tutorial here.

The Art of Tattered Elegance

Buy Now

See you next week!

XOXO,

Tracey

JOIN ME FOR MORE...with Curiously Creative

If you enjoyed this and want more of a deep dive into home decor and DIY processes, I would love it if you joined my exclusive online creative group, Curiously Creative. I show up LIVE to guide you through every step of updating, upcycling, crafting, and creating on-trend home decor and gift-giving ideas!

Click to Learn More about Curiously Creative