Many homeowners are looking for ways to say “No More Orange Oak” and give their tired pieces a fresh, updated look. Are you tired of that dated orange finish on your furniture? Solid wood furniture is often high quality and built to last, but its outdated finishes can make it look tired and out of place in a modern home. Don’t waste your money buying new furniture when you can upcycle your existing furniture pieces. This guide will show you exactly how to modernize dated oak furniture and tone down orange oak wood using Fusion™ Mineral Paint, a subtle milk paint wash, and some creative stencilling.

No time to read the full blog post? Check out the YouTube Video!

Clean and Prep Your Furniture for Painting and Creative Stencilling

The Before:

The first step to any furniture makeover is cleaning and prepping your piece. Older furniture tends to accumulate grime, and you want to ensure a clean surface for the paint to adhere properly. We used Fusion’s TSP Alternative, which is biodegradable and doesn’t require rinsing.

Once your furniture is clean, assess the finish. If it’s a thick varnish, like the orange oak we’re dealing with, you may want to strip it down. We used a paint stripper to tackle the top,  the drawer, and the bottom trim of the dresser. Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then scrape off the finish. For thinner coatings, you can skip this step and jump straight to sanding. For painting with Fusion™ Mineral Paint, stripping is not required—typically, a clean with TSP and a scuff sand is all that’s needed. See the prep guide for more details.

Let it sit for about 20 minutes, then scrape off the finish. For thinner coatings, you can skip this step and jump straight to sanding.

Sand to Remove the Orange Oak Finish for a Milk Paint Wash

After stripping off as much of the old finish as possible using a paint stripper, it’s time to move on to sanding. We focused on the top, the top drawer, and the bottom trim of the dresser. Once the surface was stripped and scraped clean, we used 120-grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood and remove any remaining orange stain.

Sanding helps eliminate any leftover orange hue and creates an even surface free of residual stains. This ensures the milk paint wash applies evenly in tone and doesn’t get patchy or absorbed inconsistently. It not only smooths the wood but also prepares it for a clean, uniform application. By sanding back to the raw wood, you’re giving yourself a clean canvas for the paint wash. We wanted this dresser to have that timeless paint-and-stain combination.

Create A Milk Paint Wash To Neutralize Orange Tones

For this project, we wanted to maintain the beauty of the natural wood grain while toning down any leftover orange tint. The solution? A milk paint wash using Fusion’s Milk Paint in the colour Toasted Coconut.

To create a wash, mix 1 part water to 3 parts powder for a lighter, more translucent wash look.

Apply this wash liberally to the sanded areas and then wipe back the excess with a towel. This technique softens the wood’s natural colour, tones down orange oak, and gives a modern, rustic, cottage look.

One of the biggest reasons we chose milk paint for this step is that it dries within 20 minutes, and even better, it’s cured after just 30 minutes. YES, you read that right. Fully cured! This means you can move directly to sealing with a topcoat much faster than with other options like Stain and Finishing Oil, which many are using these days. It’s hands-down the best alternative for a fast furniture makeover when time matters most. Check out the Paint Wash tutorial by Fusion for even more beautiful examples of this technique! You can also learn more in the Milk Paint FAQ section for additional tips and info on how it works.

Even better? Milk paint is incredibly budget-friendly, at around $7 for a tester-size bag, you get more than enough product for a large dresser top. It’s a cost-effective, efficient, and beautiful natural solution.

Creative Stencilling to Add a Unique Touch

Stenciling is the perfect way to add a personal, artistic touch to your furniture. We chose to stencil the top drawer with a delicate pattern, using Fusion Mineral Paint in Bellwood. This simple step is ideal if you’re searching for a DIY stencil dresser makeover that’s easy yet impactful.

To get clean, professional stencilling results:

• Secure your stencil in place with painter’s tape.
• Use a stencil brush and ensure there’s minimal paint on it—dip the brush into the paint, then dab off the excess onto a paper towel.
• Use the dabbing method (pressing the brush straight down onto the stencil) to apply the paint without bleeding under the edges. Alternatively, you can swirl lightly over the design with your stencil brush until the stencil design has been filled.
• Peel back the stencil to reveal your design, and repeat as needed for full coverage. This step is a great way to create a custom, eye-catching detail that elevates the look of your furniture in a quick, simple step.

TOP TIP: Less is more where stencilling is concerned. Remove as much paint as you can from the brush before stencilling your design. This ensures no paint bleed-through on your design, especially important if you’re painting oak furniture without bleed-through issues.

Peel back the stencil to reveal your design, and repeat as needed for full coverage. This step is a great way to create a custom, eye-catching detail that elevates the look of your furniture.

Fusion™ Mineral Paint Bellwood

For the body of the dresser, we opted for Fusion Mineral Paint in Bellwood, a soft, neutral tone that works beautifully with the oak’s natural grain. Unlike the orange oak finish we started with, this colour is modern, fresh, and versatile.

Fusion Mineral Paint is easy to apply, and in our case, we only required one coat. This step fully transforms the piece, leaving behind that orange oak finish for good. If you’ve been wondering about the best paint colour for orange oak furniture, Bellwood is a fantastic choice. Unlike the orange oak finish we started with, this colour is modern, fresh, and versatile.

Seal the Milk Paint Wash with Hemp Oil

After your milk paint wash has dried (which only takes about 20 minutes), it’s important to seal it to protect the surface. We used hemp oil to seal the areas where we applied the wash. Hemp Oil not only protects the wood but also adds a subtle sheen, giving the piece a warm, natural glow.

Add the Final Touches: New Handles

To complete the transformation, we added sleek, new gold handles that tie the whole look together. These modern hardware pieces complement the fresh paint and stencilling, making the dresser look entirely new.

The Finished Look: No More Orange Oak & Creative Stencilling

With the combination of sanding, a milk paint wash, Fusion™ Mineral Paint, and some creative Stencilling, our old orange oak dresser is completely transformed. This project is not only an inexpensive way to refresh your furniture, but it also allows you to keep valuable oak pieces without the expense of buying new ones. The results speak for themselves, orange oak is out, and your new look is in!

This project is an inexpensive way to refresh your furniture. What was once a dated, tired piece of furniture now fits perfectly into our modern cottage, all while preserving the quality and character of the solid wood. See the full cottage makeover series here.

FAQ: Orange Oak Furniture Makeovers

Can I paint over orange oak furniture without sanding?
Yes, if you’re using Fusion™ Mineral Paint. A good clean with TSP Alternative and a light scuff sand is typically enough for proper adhesion. Full stripping isn’t necessary for painted surfaces.

What’s the fastest way to update orange oak furniture?
A combination of a quick-drying milk paint wash and Fusion™ Mineral Paint offers fast results. Milk paint cures in just 30 minutes, so you can apply a topcoat the same day.

How do I tone down the orange in oak wood?
A diluted milk paint wash, like Toasted Coconut, helps neutralize orange tones while letting the wood grain show through.

What’s the best paint colour for orange oak furniture?
Fusion™ Mineral Paint in Bellwood is a soft, neutral shade that complements oak beautifully and modernizes its appearance. But we have over 70 beautiful colours to choose from!

Can I use both stain and paint on the same piece?
Absolutely. This project used a stain-style milk paint wash on the top and trim, paired with painted drawers and sides for a balanced, modern finish.

Is milk paint cheaper than traditional stains or finishes?
Yes. A tester-size bag of milk paint costs around $7 and is more than enough for a large dresser top, making it a budget-friendly option for staining wood.

Where can I learn more about milk paint and paint washes?
Check out Fusion’s Milk Paint FAQ and their Paint Wash Tutorial for more details and inspiration.

Watch Us Turn Old Orange Oak Into A Modern Fresh Finish