Hall Table Repurposed Dresser
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I have a fantastic repurposed furniture project to share with you. It’s a hall table (sofa table) made from a dresser.
I love cutting up furniture. Although this hall table made from a dresser wasn’t too hard, it was a little more complicated than I expected.
Yard Sale Dresser Repurpose
I scored a $10 dresser at a yard sale. When I purchased the old dresser, I had no idea I would be upcycling it into a hall table!
Designing the Upcycled Dresser into a Hall Table
It wanted to be a hall table, but I didn’t want to build a base for it, so I started by removing some of the drawers.
I LOVE what I do! There’s something about furniture demolition that is very rewarding!
Related Content: Before & After Furniture Makeovers
Cut the Sides from the Dresser
First, I used my jigsaw to cut out each end of the dresser. It’s not the best design execution, but it’s all good!
These pieces fell to the ground as I cut the sides to make a new hall table.
To cut away the pieces, I drew a line right on the edge of the support pieces and drilled a hole to allow my jigsaw blade to start the cut.
Can you See the New Hall Table Taking Shape?
This is what I was left with. Do you think it’s looking like a hall table (sofa table)?
I used a scrap piece of plywood to create a bottom shelf.
There were some veneer issues to deal with.
Time for Painting!
Next, I mixed up some DIY chalky paint primer using some blue oops paint from Home Depot.
This was the strangest oops paint I have ever used. When I opened the can, the color (see the lid) did NOT resemble the fingerprint on the lid. This can was very full, and I had difficulty stirring it. You’ll see the messy can in the picture below.
The top of the can says the name of this color is Dark Denim. I’ve heard people in the paint department add extra colors to change the original custom paint. I suppose that keeps the customer from returning it and coming back to buy it later.
It seems to be true since this can of oops paint was so full. I had to stir, and stir, and stir to get the pigments to blend to make the correct color. Oops! I made a huge mess! But I finally got rid of the really bright blue paint and got the prettiest blue ever!
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I gave everything a light sanding and prepared to paint the new hall table with my Homeright Finish Max.
Using the Plaster of Paint mixture as a primer, I applied two light coats of blue. I also applied a primer coat of blue to a cabinet door that I was making into a But First. Coffee sign.
Sanding & Patching
I prefer to patch my pieces after the primer coat to see exactly what shows up. I did two coats of spackle, sanding in between.
All in all, I applied three light coats of paint with my paint sprayer.
I almost always paint my pieces’ underneath for a more finished look.
TIP: to get the best coverage on the top of a dresser or table, lay the piece down so you’re spraying vertically instead of horizontally.
This is after two coats of the chalky paint primer.
I considered the handles in the above photo, but they were too big for the small drawer sections.
I know the drawers are wrong here, but this is the way they fit best.
To achieve a smooth surface, I like to sand it with brown craft paper before spraying the top coat of paint.
I added some pulls to the former dresser and new hall table, which I purchased from my friends at D. Lawless Hardware.
I would love it if you would PIN this!
Upcycled Dresser into a Hall Table
After seeing how Mindi painted the outside of her drawers, I decided to try it with this project. I typically dislike doing this because the drawers tend to stick. I only did one light coat of chalky paint on the sides of each drawer.
What do you think? I’ve made many dresser projects, and I currently have one more “dresser in waiting.”
This dresser is in the queue for projects; what would you like to see me do to it?
gail
Sharing here: Refresh Restyle Inspiration Monday
Here are more repurposed dresser ideas.
Sharing here: Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired DIY Like a BOSS
Check out some more dresser ideas here
Very clever and a nice blue. The only critique I have is that I would have taken off the bottom apron (is that what you call it?). It doesn’t quite seem to match the clean straight lines of the rest of the piece, especially with the more modern drawer pulls.
Kate,
I don’t disagree with you.
I actually did it this way to KEEP that apron or skirt or whatever we should call it. But at the time, I didn’t have a clue what kind of hardware I would be using.
thank you for your honest and sincere input. I truly appreciate it. 🙂
gail
I disagree with this comment. Both on the skirt & hadles. I find both
Aesthetically pleasing. Very creative!
I appreciate Kate’s POV, but I’m voting with Diane here, Take off that skirt and it’s just another plain table. Without distinction. Anyway, not many people will stand back and look right at the front from a distance and, more important, they won;t judge it. It would be a great piece to keep, but if you sell it, I hope you let us know how long it takes and if any lookers have a problem with it as it is……..interesting market research and useful……
Thanks MJ! I think I already have it sold. 🙂 And the lady didn’t even mention the skirt with the pulls. 🙂
I assumed you would need that piece to add to the stability of the table. As I was reading and looking at the pictures, I wondered about the new legs and how sturdy they would be. Don’t most dressers rely on the drawer supports to keep them from beginning to lean one way or the other? Did you consider adding cross braces in the back before painting, or am I completely off base with my concerns?
Wendy,
When you say “new legs” do you mean the existing legs, but are new because I did the cut outs? The dresser is very sturdy, and no it never occurred to me to do a cross brace.
I had the piece up on it’s end several times as I was cutting it, as well as rolling it around on a furniture dolly without any sense of it not being sturdy. I believe a friend is buying it, so I’ll be keeping an eye on it and will update the post if there is a problem in the future. 🙂
I appreciate your input, and concern. That’s why I love reading comments–y’all think of things that I don’t!
gail
Yes, that’s what I meant about the legs. I believe you when you say it was sturdy. Not that I have that much experience (or any really 🙂 ) with projects like this one, but the legs seemed thin for the potential weight of the drawers. That may be more a statement about my hoarding than your craftsmanship. For what it’s worth, I think cross braces would have looked good. I think the piece is beautiful! Something I would proudly display and use in my home.
If the skirt were different, cross braces would look awesome! 🙂
great end result. thanks for always having an easy to follow tutorial! love the blue!
That turned out very nice…I absolutely love the color…whenever you buy some oops paint you can asked them to shake it for you and also look at it b4 you buy,…and sometimes you can get the color combo and well so if you need again they can make it for you or at least color match…what coat did you out on top of the table?
Copper,
Thanks for your interest in this project. Whenever I use my DIY chalk paint, I always end with the topcoat (semi-gloss) so that the piece is properly sealed, no waxing needed. 🙂
It’s the best thing about making your own chalk paint.
When I asked Home Depot about oops paint, I was told that it’s up to the clerk that RE-mixes the paint that the customer declined or returned. That they generally just add a dark color to change the hue so that the original customer can’t come back and get it at a discounted price. I generally just grab it and run. I recently got a gallon of the newer scuff paint (?) FREE Yep! can you imagine that!? I really grabbed that one and ran.
Gail, who would have thunk? Well, I guess you thunk, but I would not have come up with this! Awesome girl!
I love this. The color and the end result is gorgeous. You make things look easy. Thank you for the detailed tutorials. I appreciate it so much!
Damn you’re good! Love it.
Yay!! I have been waiting for this makeover!! Gail it is amazing!! I love that you kept the original dresser for the legs and notched out the sides, so clever!! And of course I love the blue, so pretty! You know I was looking at the dresser into bench that I made and was thinking the other day that I could have kept the legs longer and turned it into a soft table, I would have really like it that way… ha ha! Great minds… 🙂
Great job Gail. It looks stunning in blue!
I’ve just started following your blog recently… and can I just say how inspired I am by how beautiful your pieces turn out. I’m obsessed with this piece – especially the handles!
I am so happy that you are finding things to inspire you here on My Repurposed Life! It’s why I do what I do. The handles sort of chose themselves because of thos small little sections on the drawer fronts. It really limited me to what handles I could use. I’ve seen those vintage handles on a lot of pieces, but not quite that tiny!
Thanks for your sweet comment Melissa!
gail
Nice job Gail! I love this look!!
Didn’t realize that chalk paint could be made by adding plaster of Paris to paint.
I’ve been adding Plaster of Paris to make chalk paint for years. It’s my favorite paint trick. Easy and frugal.
gail
this is an awesome makeover! the color is great, but i just love how this piece turned out over all!
I love it. Love the color as well. Great job Gail.