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How to Create a Raw Wood Furniture Finish | Charming Dresser Makeover

Updated: 3 days ago

July 21, 2025

garden flowers in vases on a dresser

Hi friends! Today I’m going to share a recent charming dresser makeover with you. All the hard work to transform a 1970’s orange dresser into a gorgeous raw wood piece was worth it.


raw wood finish on a dresser

This dresser was originally my mom’s when she was a child, and then once I was born, I inherited this dresser along with several other matching pieces. For as long as I can remember, this dresser has been in my possession and has been a handy, practical piece.


The 1970s look is not my vibe, but for the longest time I couldn’t bring myself to do anything with the dresser. I have chalk-painted many pieces in my home, but I wanted to try something different and a little more classic with this piece—the raw wood look.


old 1970s orange dresser

I love the raw wood look because it hearkens back to a time before paint was readily available. The raw wood look gives that earthy, natural vibe that transcends style fluctuations and also plays so nicely in any setting.


raw wood finish on a vintage dresser

So here’s how I did it!


Strip the furniture using Citristrip.


using citristrip to strip a dresser

The directions on the Citristrip are helpful and straightforward, so I would recommend following them. A few helpful pointers:


1.       Wear chemical resistant gloves (not just medical type gloves).

2.       You will need to really goop on the Citristrip. I was too stingy in my application the first go around, so there wasn’t enough product to eat through the finish.

3.       After liberally applying the Citristrip, immediately wrap it in plastic wrap. The plastic wrap keeps the Citristrip from drying out while simultaneously doing its magic.

4.       Don’t let the Citristrip dry out because you won’t be able to scrape it off.

5.       Test after about an hour, and if you can scrape some finish off, it’s probably ready to scrape.


dresser after 2 applications of citristrip
The dresser after 2 applications of Citristrip.

Sand the piece down.


I sanded it down first using 120 grit, and then I sanded again using 220 grit.


Remove any dust and dirt.


This might sound silly, but I got out our leaf blower, and blew away the sawdust. You could also wipe the piece down with a damp cloth.


Paint the piece with straight bleach.


This may sound and feel weird to do, but the bleach really transformed my dresser! I poured straight bleach into a bucket. I then generously painted the entire dresser with bleach. I let the dresser sit in the hot sun (which we have in abundance here in SC), and the bleach and the sun really lightened the wood. After about an hour, I applied another coat of bleach. I continue this process for a total of 4 coats of bleach.


Finish with Minwax finishing paste.


raw wood finished dresser
All done!

Once the piece was completely dry from the bleach (about an hour), I applied Minwax dark finishing paste with an old t-shirt. To be honest, I kept going back and forth between the Minwax dark finishing paste and the natural finishing paste just to suit my taste.


Once completed, we immediately brought the dresser back into our house, and I loaded it back up right away. The wax dries quickly, but it does take several weeks to actually cure. So I would not recommend setting anything on the finished product for several weeks.


I love how this dresser turned out! We keep all sorts of things in it ranging from stationery, craft supplies, homeschool items, and linens. I envision using this dresser for many more years in my home as I slowly work my way towards a vintage-cottage-Victorian-farmhouse kind of look.


raw wood dresser

What are you working on in your home? Happy making and doing!


-Ashley

raw wood dresser zinnias blue willow coffee mug

Personal Disclosure

As the author of Ashley Qurollo Blog, all opinions are my own. Any possible applications are universal in nature, not directed at any one individual or people group. My sincere desire is to help others by sharing what I am learning. Nothing stated on this blog is ever intended to hurt others. Ashley Qurollo, owner of Ashley Qurollo Blog and Website, is not held liable in any way for any application of the ideas and thoughts stated here.



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