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Repurposed Drawers Bookcase

ByGail Wilson Published on Updated on
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I’m going to show you how to make this repurposed drawers bookcase using the ugliest drawers ever!

turquoise and white bookshelf made from repurposed drawers
turquoise and white bookshelf made from repurposed drawers


  ugly-dresserLast summer my friend Cathy dropped off this chest of drawers, it was in really bad shape. I removed the drawers and made the chest into a bookshelf. (see the picture at the end of this post)

I’ve been hanging on to the drawers ever since. While tidying up the garage, they were in the way, and I moved them one too many times. I was so tired of shuffling them, and decided it was either time to do a project, or toss them to the curb.

Stack Drawers

stacked-dresser-drawersI stacked the repurposed drawers on top of one another to see if they would make a small bookcase. I cut a 2×6 to fit on the top. I even tried using that 2×6 for the bottom, and changing out all the drawers. note:  I just realized that I only used 3 of the drawers–one must be hiding in the garage somewhere. 🙂

 

repurposed-drawer-partsI thought the drawers would look better if I split one of them by adding an additional shelf. I used one of the leftover IKEA drawer parts to make that shelf. I ripped it on the table saw to match the depth of the existing drawers.

 

secure-dresser-drawersThis photo shows how I attached each drawer to another. I secured the back of one drawer into the front of another, from the bottom up.

Secure Drawers with Screws

stacked-dresser-drawers-bookcaseI secured the additional shelf with my Ryobi Stapler .

 

Add Feet to Bookcase

homeright-finish-max-bookcaseI added some discs I picked up at the Peddler’s Mall for small feet using Gorilla Wood Glue and one screw. Then I got ready to paint it using my DIY chalky paint primer and my Finish Max.

 

white-diy-repurposed-drawer-bookcaseAfter a coat of the DIY chalky paint primer I sprayed a coat of the paint without any plaster of paris in it.

 

pop-of-color-turquoise-white-bookcaseA year ago I made a large white door bookcase—painted it white with a gray back. I thought it was time to do it again, but this time I used a pretty turquoise.

Use a Pop of Color on the Inside

turquoise-white-diy-repurposed-drawer-bookcaseI did two coats of the turquoise using a small cheap chip brush and an artist’s brush to get into the corners.

 

my-repurposed-life-diy-bookcase-repurposed-dresser-drawersI love easy projects like this repurposed drawer bookcase—that uses up old parts, and gives me a great project to share with you.

my-repurposed-life-repurposed-dresser-drawers-diy-bookcase

This simple repurposed drawer bookcase project would be great in a bathroom, guest room, or even the kids room. (please secure bookcases to the wall when children are in the house)

 

Repurposed Drawers into a Unique Bookcase

my-repurposed-life-old-drawers-into-bookshelf

How would you use a bookcase like this?

repurposed dresserYou can see the actual repurposed dresser in my post Chest of Drawers Bookshelf.

 

gail

check out some of the easy, repurposed projects here

Gail Wilson is the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. She is obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believes that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again, including herself!
Gail reinvented herself during a midlife crisis and has found purpose again. She hopes you will find new ideas for old things and pick up a few tools along the way.

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