Judge the condition and at the same time have a good idea of what you are going to do with it. If you are aiming for a distressed look, then some sanding and a fresh coat of paint, also sanded back will be fine. Decorative molding strips come in a variety of designs. Nail and glue them along the edges of a shelf, or to drawer fronts to create panels. This gives you separate areas to paint with slightly different colours or techniques.
Moldings require a coat a primer as does the stripped dresser or shelf.
The moldings can be painted solid to blend in with the other surface, or rub a little raw umber artist's acrylic over the moldings to highlight any carved designs. Mixing paint with glazing liquid will allow you to create a variety of patterned techniques. You can paint a basketweave pattern on a dresser that suits a country style alongside some wicker furniture. For this effect you will need a comb. There are combing tools on the market made from metal or rubber, triangular-shaped with different teeth sizes on each side.