4 No-Fail Ways to Style a Dresser

Start with a plain white dresser (Home Styles Bermuda 36"W x 18"D x 36"H 4-drawer chest in brushed white, $276, wayfair.com). Then add a lamp, a vase, and a pretty object. 

With white trim and checkered knobs, a mint green dresser won’t get lost against a mega-chevron wall. The drama continues with a black-framed mirror and bookends spray-painted feather boa pink. For tips on painting this design click here or go to hgtv.com/dresser-formula. Lamp: Ranarp 17"-tall work lamp in off-white, $40, IKEA stores; Mirror: Shinto 41" x 29" high-gloss black wall mirror, $214, hayneedle.com; Vase: For a similar look, try Textured Pure 12"-tall ceramic jug, $44, westelm.com; Bookends: Urban Trends Collection Chess Piece 8"-tall ceramic bookends, $56, overstock.com; Wall paint: Paint Intellectual Gray by Sherwin-Williams and White Dove by Benjamin Moore

In a perfect mash-up of romantic and modern, a Venetian blue dresser gets paired with temporary damask wallpaper and dainty mismatched mirrors. Grouped en masse, ceramic bud vases are a clever way to show off a bouquet. Lamp: Style Craft Tween 27½"-tall high-gloss table lamp in wine with drum shade, $90, wayfair.com; Mirrors: Bianco frameless mirrors in white, $219 for a mixed set of 3, uttermost.com for buying info; Vases: Kalalou multicolor ceramic bud vases, $130 for a mixed set of 9, origincrafts.com; Boxes: Mini and large lacquered rectangular boxes in fuchsia, $8 and $20, containerstore.com; dresser paint: Twilight Blue by Benjamin Moore; Knobs Amerock Revitalize round gilded brass cabinet knobs, $4 each, lowes.com; Wall: wallpaper Motif damask in ripe plum, $56.50 for 4½', swagpaper.com

A sunshine yellow dresser finds an equally upbeat partner in a curvy mirror patterned with huge, happy blossoms. Also cheerful: bright tangerine lamps—so compact, there’s room enough for two—a vivid turquoise tray, and painted wood knobs. Lamps: Trans Globe Lighting Space Age Kids 25¼"-tall lamps in orange, $65.50 each, amazon.com; Mirror: Cori Dantini Sun Burst Flowers quatrefoil 28" x 23" mirror, $149, denydesigns.com; Vase Hammered antiqued silver 8 1/2"-tall planter, $45, jamaligarden.com; Tray: For a similar look, try Square high-gloss tray in swoon blue-green, $30, cb2.com; Dresser paint: Cheerful by Benjamin Moore; Knobs: Turquoise painted wooden knobs, $8 for a set of 2, worldmarket.com; Wall paint: Oatlands Dainty Blue by Valspar