If you can hold a pen, you can do this! Discover how to add gold metallic accents to painted furniture using a simple gold marker that’s mess-free and beginner-friendly! | YouTube Video

Happy New Year, sweet friends, and welcome back! I just want to start by saying a HUGE thank you for all the kind holiday wishes, messages, and notes I received over the past couple of weeks. Every single one meant more to me than you know, and I’m so grateful for this amazing, supportive community.

And can we talk about how strange it feels to write 2026?! I swear I still pause every time I type it or write it out — anyone else doing a double take, or is it just me? Time flies, but I’m so excited to kick off a brand new year with fresh ideas, creative projects, and lots of salvaged DIY’s and inspiration to share with you. Let’s make 2026 a creative one! 🙂

Which brings us to our very first project of the year. If you’ve ever wanted to add a little wow-glitz to a painted furniture piece without pulling out fancy tools or learning a new technique, this is one of my favorite easy upgrades – gold metallic pens and markers. Seriously… if you can hold a pencil, you can do this.

Gold markers make it incredibly simple to highlight details, trace raised or recessed designs, or add delicate patterns right on top of painted furniture. There’s no mess, no brushes to clean, and no complicated steps — they glide on smoothly and dry quickly, giving you immediate impact with minimal effort. This is one of the most beginner-friendly ways to elevate a piece.

It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s such an easy way to make your furniture feel special — even if you don’t consider yourself “artsy.” Trust me, once you try it, you’ll start seeing gold-pen potential everywhere!

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Below is the Vintage Dresser I found at my local Restore. It was the oldest piece in a sea of furniture. Even though the drawers were a bit wonky and the finish a bit worn, I had a vision for this tall dresser.

This dresser was in good shape but I was disappointed one pull was missing a piece because the original hardware was gorgeous. The drawer was a little wonky as well but luckily, the drawer guide was included. And look at those gorgeous legs. I knew they were going to look so good once they were all cleaned up and highlighted with the gold metallic marker.

THIS POST IS SPONSORED/CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS TO PRODUCTS I USE.  YOU CAN SEE MY FULL DISCLOSURE HERE.

SUPPLIES

Tall Vintage Dresser – SALVAGED
White Lightning Cleaner
Auto Sponge
Sanding Sponge
2″ Angled Paint Brush
DB Brown Wood Filler
Woodubend Flower Plaque (20% OFF as of writing!)
Chisel Tip Gold Marker
Acadia SILK All-In-One Mineral Paint
Anchor SILK All-In-One Mineral Paint
Gator Hide Topcoat

TOOLS

Heat Gun
Plastic Putty Knife
Bosch Orbital Sander (26% OFF as of writing)
Dewalt Cordless Drill & Impact Driver Set (17% OFF as of writing)
Astro Euro HVLP Paint Sprayer 1.7mm Nozzle

CLEAN | FILL | SAND

To start the prep process, I removed all the hardware from the drawers. Then, using my heavy-duty furniture cleaner, I cleaned the inside and outside of this dresser using a large automotive sponge.

Once the dresser was dry, I took some wood filler and filled in the top hardware holes and the pin nail holes on the bottom three drawers. I also added this Floral Woodubend Plaque. To add Woodubend,  I warm the plaque with my heat gun. Once it is warm and bendable, I add wood glue to the back and apply it to the dresser pressing it down into place. Once I have it perfectly positioned, I blast it with more heat from my heat gun and remove any wood glue that has seeped out from the side using a toothpick. I have a full tutorial on How To Apply Woodubend HERE.

I let the Woodubend and Wood filler dry overnight. The next morning I sanded the filler smooth using a 220 sanding sponge. This wood filler comes in White, Brown and Black and is awesome if you don’t have a sander, as it sands easily by hand.

REPAIR DRAWER RAIL

To repair the drawer rail was easy. Everything was intact; it just needed some wood glue and to be positioned properly.

CUSTOM MOODY GREEN PAINT

To create a dark, moody green, I mixed this Acadia Green with some Anchor Black. I didn’t measure but I would guess it was 2/3 Acadia Green to 1/3 Anchor Black.

To get a super smooth finish on these shapely legs, I used my slap-it-on paint technique. I’m sharing the demo in the  YouTube tutorial at the end of this post, and you can also check it out in this video here. The benefits of using this paint technique are a super smooth spray like finish without using a sprayer!

This All-In-One SILK Mineral Paint is a beginner-friendly paint with the primer, paint, and topcoat included, so there is no need to prime the body before painting. This custom dark green color took two coats for full coverage.

HOW TO USE A GOLD METALLIC MARKER

(Step-by-Step)

This is one of those techniques that looks fancy but is actually so easy. Don’t overthink it — you’re basically drawing with a marker.

Step 1: Start with a Fully Painted & Dry Surface

Make sure your furniture piece is completely painted and dry before you begin. Gold pens work best on a smooth surface, so if needed, lightly sand or wipe away any dust first.

Step 2: Shake & Prime the Pen

Give the gold pen a good shake to mix the metallic pigment inside. Then press the tip down on a piece of scrap paper or cardboard until the gold ink starts to flow evenly. This helps prevent blotches on your furniture.

Step 3: Practice First (Highly Recommended!)

Before going straight to your piece, do a quick practice run on scrap wood or a hidden area. This lets you get comfortable with the pressure and see how thick or thin your lines will be.

Step 4: Lightly Trace or Highlight Details

Using a gentle hand, trace raised details, edges, or designs. Let the pen glide — no need to press hard. For thicker lines, slightly angle the pen; for finer details, hold it more upright.

Step 5: Build the Color Slowly

If you’re not 100% happy with your first try, remember you can always go over the same line more than once! If you want the gold to look richer, thicker, or more pronounced, let the first pass dry and then go over it again. Thin layers give you the most control and the cleanest finish.

Step 6: Let It Dry Completely

Gold markers dry quickly, but give them a little extra time before touching or moving the piece to avoid smudging.

Step 7: Seal for Durability

Once everything is dry, seal your design with a clear topcoat to protect the gold accents, especially on tabletops or high-traffic pieces.

Pro Tip – If your lines aren’t perfectly straight, don’t stress. That tiny bit of “imperfection” is what gives painted furniture its charm. This technique is meant to be fun, relaxed, and forgiving. Here’s the Chisel Tip Gold Metallic Marker that I use. Love it! But there are many brands on the market to choose from. Experiment and pick what you like best.

TOPCOAT

I used an All-In-One SILK paint that has a primer and topcoat included, but I decided to spray this Gator Hide topcoat as well. I wanted a little more sheen on this dresser. The gold gilding highlights are shiny and catch the light beautifully, I thought the paint looked too matte in comparison. Gator Hide can be sprayed through a paint gun or applied using a sponge or brush. I use this Astro Euro HVLP Paint Gun with a 1.7mm nozzle.

REPURPOSED HARDWARE

While I was waiting for the topcoat to dry (it dries quite fast!) I looked for replacement vintage hardware. I found eight of these gorgeous brass vintage pulls. I gave them a good cleaning by boiling them in an old pot with water and vinegar and then scrubbing them with a brush. I like leaving a little of the patina on my hardware, but to tie everything together, I used the gold marker pen to highlight the hardware as well.

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