Bringing the magic of the aurora borealis indoors was easier than expected with this Aurora Borealis Dresser Makeover — and the result is one of my favourite furniture transformations yet.

This dresser started out pretty rough, as the dark high gloss coating had a lot of chips and scratches. 

We stripped the top and front in most areas so it would accept stain.

For the lower section, I applied Fusion Stain & Finishing Oil in Cappuccino to create the rich mountain and forest silhouette, letting the natural grain show through for the tree line. While that dried, I created the night sky using Coal Black.  

Using the 2 inch Staalmeester Original brush (1.02.2010.20- blend of both natural and synthetic bristles ) I painted directly onto the raw wood top and upper drawers. 

We decided to paint the top since it had water damage and other deep stains. No primer is required. 

The sides kept their original finish. The only preparation required was a quick cleaning prior to putting on the Coal Black Fusion Mineral Paint. We used our TSP Alternative prior to painting. Again, no primer is required, as Fusion will adhere to high-gloss surfaces when they are properly cleaned.

Once dry, I went back over the still raw and already stained areas with the Natural (pigment-free) version of the same Stain & Finishing Oil. It added an extra layer of protection to the already stained areas whilst boosting the richness. It also deepened the raw wood just a touch.

I was careful not to put any oil onto the coal black areas, but anywhere that this happened. I simply took a paper towel and wiped it away.

*Note: you don’t have to worry when layering natural SFO over top of another colour of SFO, it simply richens the colour!

Creating the Aurora Borealis Dresser Makeover

The exciting part was creating the aurora borealis. Using ChromaFlex by Fusion (Blue Butterfly, Scarlet Dragonfly, Turquoise Peacock, Violet Hummingbird), Meagan first painted soft, swooping veins of colour across the black sky.

Then, with one of our favourites, Staalmeester One Series Angled Spalter brush 1.09.1052.07 (the super-fine bristles are perfect for this), I dragged the colour upward in gentle fanning motions. Using a quick mist of water allows the pigments to be dispersed nicely.

The further you drag, the more the colour fades and blends into the black. This creates that soft, ethereal glow and movement. The ChromaFlex really comes alive on the dark background. The colours shimmer and shift in intensity depending on the light, making the aurora look vibrant and alive.

The contrast between the warm, grounded forest below and the luminous, dancing northern lights above makes this dresser feel like a window of natural wonder. 

It was a surprisingly straightforward project using just stain, paint, and good brushes. The shimmering aurora is what steals the show every single time.

**Note: no other topcoats were applied to the dresser after finishing the aurora borealis. All surfaces are washable.