• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Shop Favorites
  • About
    • Welcome To My Repurposed Life Home of Repurposed Furniture
    • More About Gail
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Information
  • Gallery
    • Repurposed Furniture
  • Repurposed Items
    • Building Supplies
    • Miscellaneous Household Items
    • Picture Frame/Chalk Board
  • DIY
    • Home Reno
    • outdoor living
    • Painting
    • Shop Talk
    • Tips for Around the House
    • Build It
      • Furniture
      • Home Decor
      • Storage
    • Crafts
      • Dollar Store
      • Easy
      • Holidays Seasonal
  • Furniture
    • Chair
    • Desk
    • Dresser/Chest
    • Headboard | Bed Parts | Cribs
    • Kids Furniture
    • Table
    • Kids Furniture
My Repurposed Life® Rescue Re-imagine Repeat
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Start Here
  • Project Index
  • Furniture
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Repurposed Furniture » upcycling desk projects

    upcycling desk projects

    Published by Gail | Published September 12, 2012 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    MyRepurposedLife-resize-desk-for-kids



     

    vintage desk repurposedEarlier this week I showed you some of my recent finds. This desk was one of my recent freebies. The drawers are in great shape, but the bottom (veneer) is rough.

     

     

     

     

    damaged vintage desk This veneer is more than I wanted to deal with in repairing.

     

    vintage desk damaged veneerEach side of the desk has some issues also.

    My Repurposed Life is all about changing things up. I could have just put on some trim, painted it and called it a day. But I’m always ready to use some power tools.

    With the help of 3M DIY, I was prepared with the proper tools and was able to safely give this desk the change it needed.

     

    damged desk cut apartI used my jigsaw to cut the desk down to size, removing all the bad wood.

    Note:gail wearing safety glasses and ear protection. I KNOW I’m suppose to wear these, but sometimes I get in a hurry. Recently while taking apart a privacy fence section I was using a crow bar and a hammer. There was ONE loud clang, and I felt a pain in my ear. Just like any good mom, I must remind you, do as I say, not as I do!

     

    If you feel inclined, you can watch this video of me in action. Ignore the extra chins, and the grimace on my face due to a little thing known as damaged rotator cuff. You could use a circular saw, but I think a jigsaw is a little less intimidating to those of you who might be afraid of power tools. I also felt like the jigsaw might not hurt my shoulder as bad.

     

    damaged vintage desk fixThis was really simple to cut. This is not the first time I’ve cut something down to size. Do you remember the bench and the entertainment center I cut down from a chest of drawers?

     

    vintage desk for kidsHere it is cut down—oops! It looks like I made a little miscalculation.

    leadcheckI have this really great chair I want to use for the desk. Because it’s so old, I decided I should do a leadcheck test on it. It’s this little tube. You crush a glass cylinder inside the cardboard to release a yellow liquid.

     

    leadcheck 2Then you rub it on your piece for 30 seconds.

     

    leadcheck 3If it turns pink, there is evidence of lead. Mine just turned yellowish/brown.

     

    So, anyway, I wanted to use the red chair for this desk. I measured the height of the desk to match the height of the chair. BUT I didn’t allow for the center drawer.

    vintage desk for kidsThis black chair fits. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with the desk. I plan on working on it today. Thoughts? Should I use the great vintage red chair by removing the drawer? Or should I leave the drawer and use this generic black chair?

    sanding 2

     

    I love demoing furniture! It’s so fun.

    UPDATE:  see the finished desk in my post Kid's Camouflage Desk

    gail

    Related Content: See More Desk Projects Here

    Content and/or other value provided by our partner, 3M DIY.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet

    Related Content:

    • Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
      Chest of Drawers Repurposed into an Entertainment Center
    • How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After Photos
      How To: Turn a desk into a tall chest | Before and After…
    • Vintage Record Cabinet Makeover repair bad veneer
      Vintage Record Cabinet Makeover repair bad veneer
    • How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain
      How to Update a Dresser | Navy and dark stain
    • Storage Bench Made From A Dresser
      Storage Bench Made From A Dresser
    • Dressing Table Repurposed Desk
      Dressing Table Repurposed Desk

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      See comments Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Sara E

      September 13, 2012 at 2:52 am

      I also live in the Louisville area (on the sunny side of the river) and never seem to find any good thrifts or freebies. Where is a good place to look?

      Reply
    2. melissa @ daisymaebelle.com

      September 13, 2012 at 2:26 am

      What a great way to save this desk! I usually shy away from damaged furniture. Instead, I need to rethink it! And, I need some power tools! Life to the full, Melissa

      Reply
    3. sandra

      September 12, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Well---I say figure out what the best working height would be for the desk. Will the black chair be too low? If it really doesn't matter, comfort-wise, then just use whichever. Or consider where you will use the remaining one. I love the red chair, but you can always use it down the road. Everything you do is fabulous, so you will do something great, either way.

      Reply
    4. freddyandpetunia

      September 12, 2012 at 6:10 pm

      I love the red chair with it!
      I think it was a great mistake--add some bun feet to the bottom of the desk to give it a little more height and change the look a little too!
      I LUV power tools and cutting up furniture!
      Catherine

      Reply
    5. Mindi@MyLove2Create

      September 12, 2012 at 5:13 pm

      You never cease to amaze me! Oh, such a hard decision! I like both chairs!

      Reply
    6. Corn in my Coffee-Pot

      September 12, 2012 at 3:25 pm

      Oh cool...Options!
      You know I don't make decisions easily.
      If I had to pick right now...I'd say keep the drawer and use the little chair. What kid doesn't want an extra drawer for junk?!
      If there were a mirror on the back...a little girl could certainly use that drawer for her jewels if she were dressing up!

      However--I DO LIKE THE RED CHAIR! See? I'm torn.

      is 'DEMOING' A WORD? I bet spell check was having a time with that one! lol..

      Pat

      Reply
    7. Becky@Beyond The Picket Fence

      September 12, 2012 at 2:59 pm

      Brilliant Gail--I never would have thought to do this. I can't wait to see it finished.

      Reply
    8. Suzanne@Meridian Road

      September 12, 2012 at 2:47 pm

      I think keep the drawer~use the black chair and maybe paint it a fun color.
      You're giving me more reasons to take those things that I think are hopeless!

      Reply
    9. Korrie@RedHenHome

      September 12, 2012 at 1:42 pm

      What a great idea to give the desk new life! I say use the black chair, but paint it a non-generic color.

      Reply
    10. paola

      September 12, 2012 at 1:26 pm

      USE THE BLACK CHAIR!!! i love the little black chair and am not keen on the actual design of the red chair, reminds me of those horried kitchen chairs that used to crack and pinch my but at my grandma when we used to have breakfast in her kitchen, lol.
      Can see you doing something fab with the little wooden chair. Good luck for the mri
      smiles
      Paola

      Reply
    11. Lisa

      September 12, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Gail,
      I'm so glad you included the lead paint testing. It is so important, and many DIY people are exposing themselves and their children to toxic lead paint. Kudos to you for doing a little safety and education!

      Reply
    12. Bliss

      September 12, 2012 at 12:09 pm

      I like the black chair, I can see you doing something to that. Save the drawer.

      ~Bliss~

      Reply
    13. Terri

      September 12, 2012 at 12:08 pm

      Had to laugh at your "oops"...that is so something that I would do. Measure twice, cut once and I can STILL screw it up, lol!

      I think that it definitely has enough drawers that cutting out the center one won't matter at all! Can't wait to see it all done!

      Reply
    14. Sue

      September 12, 2012 at 11:07 am

      I'd love to see the red chair, even if you had to remove the drawer (which I'm sure you'd make another project ;o))...Take it easy on the work load with the shoulder girl!
      Hugs and happy Wednesday,
      Sue

      Reply
    15. gina

      September 12, 2012 at 9:49 am

      Good luck with your MRI. I say lose the drawer and use the red chair!

      I have a desk very similar I found on the side of the road but with claw feet. Really want to redo it but one of the side drawers is majorly STUCK. Any suggestions?

      Reply
    16. Anonymous

      September 12, 2012 at 1:41 pm

      Now I'm kidding myself for not stopping to take that nice desk I saw on the side of the road last week ...

      Reply
    17. I Play Outside The Box

      September 12, 2012 at 9:30 am

      You're just amazing!! Hope you find out something from your MRI soon.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, there! I’m Gail Wilson, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. I’m obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful again—myself included! I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the way… literally!

    More about me →

    Join Our Mailing List

    ​

      Click the topics you're interested in below:

      Subscribing above means you agree to our Privacy Policy​

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      SEEN ON

      Might I Suggest

      • Start Here
      • Furniture Makeovers

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      About

      • Gail's Favorites on Amazon
      • About

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2023 My Repurposed Life · Privacy Policy · Disclosure