My mom decided it was time to change out the furniture that had been in my bedroom since I was about 12 years old. I do not have a spare bedroom, but couldn't pass up using the first real furniture I had picked out for myself (great taste for a 12 year old if you ask me). After a little brainstorming and a lot of inspiration from one of my favorite blogs, Design Sponge, I decided to have my parents drop this beast of a pine dresser on my doorstep (literally) for a little refurbishing. It is now a beautiful, brightly colored addition to my dining room as a bar and cost less than $100 to turn from ordinary to fabulous.

I started by stripping the old varnish using CitriStrip - a much less toxic alternative to typical paint stripper. I was very impressed with the results of this product. 

After stripping the varnish, I sanded the piece with a power sander and let it dry overnight. After a coat of primer, the dresser was ready for the fun stuff... color!

 I love Anthropologie home goods and managed to snag these for $3 each (on sale from $12 each) and they really pull the piece together.

There is still a little work work to be done and some finishing touches, but overall for my first refurbish I am very pleased with the results. The next time there is a seemingly useless piece of old furniture lying around a family members' house, take it on and make it something new. The reward of enjoying something in your home that you put so much work into is worth the time and effort.