I love repurposed furniture, in fact I just love cutting up old furniture and making it into something new and useful. This collection of dressers will give you ideas on how to repurpose furniture that some might deem as trash. You will also see how to give that old dresser a new update with paint, stain, distressing and more.
Storage Bench
This MDF 80’s furniture was in need of some serious TLC. It had water damage to the bottom, but I knew it could live out it’s life as a fabulous new bench.
Hall Table
By cutting away the bottom portions of an old one, a new hall table was born!
Small Dresser Top into Storage Bench
Here’s a great storage bench made from the top of an old piece and spare table legs.
Old Buffet into Media Center
You may call this a buffet, but now it’s a media center holding lots of craft items in the living room.
Roadkill Piece into Bench
An Old Tall Chest of Drawers makes a great Media Center
Remove drawers to make a media cabinet
Expand your storage options
A great tip for storage is to go UP—adding height and extra storage allows more room for great storage.
How To: Old Provincial
An old french provincial furniture piece makes a lovely turquoise bench
Card Catalog Media Center
A free old piece of furniture is fun to experiment with. This old one wanted to be a media center with card catalog drawers.
DIY Lego Table
This chalkboard DIY lego table was made from the top of an old bureau.
Kids Storage Bench
The Lego table above and this kid’s storage bench were made from the same old dresser.
Old Chest of Drawers Turned Small Bench
The bottom portion of an old chest becomes a new bench.
Modified Dresser Update
This dresser was old and outdated. But you can Modify Dresser to Add Legs, plus update the old hardware. You won't believe the before photos!
Chest of Drawers into bookshelf
Remove the drawers then add some thin plywood and you have a great bookshelf!
Build your own
If you don’t have an old dresser you can build a new one.
Wicker Bureau into Masculine Cargo Furniture
Former white wicker piece is now perfect for a boy’s room
Waterfall Furniture With Damaged Veneer
Don’t let damaged veneer discourage you from giving an waterfall dresser a makeover. This beat up waterfall piece got a new look and a new home.
Chic Makeover
Give an old piece a new look with a fresh coat of paint.
Amazing Antique Refinished
When should you refrain from painting furniture such as in the case of this heirloom furniture piece?
French Provincial Makeover
Pretty Provincial dresser Makeover
Plain Pine Furniture into White and Gold Beauty
After being the in the family for year, this new look is perfect for an old pine furniture.
Mid Century Modern Piece Gets a New Look
A beat up old mid century modern dresser gets a new look, and another chance.
Two Toned Custom Numbered Chest of Drawers
Give an old chest of drawers a new custom look with paint and stenciled numbers
Old Emerald Green
Oh so pretty Emerald Green Makeover
Painted MCM Faux Wood Paint Makeover
Amazing transformation of a painted mid century modern piece with a faux wood paint technique.
How to Distress Furniture
How to distress a painted dresser.
Wonder Woman an IKEA hack
IKEA Rast Hack, Wonder Woman Dresser
Painted Vintage Furniture Makeover
Beautiful makeover using milk paint on a vintage dresser.
Antique Chest of Drawers Makeover
I hope you have found an idea for that old dresser you've been holding in storage, or perhaps the one you're currently using but have been wanting to replace. I have a couple of old dressers in storage just waiting for their new purpose. 😉
gail
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Hi, there! Iām Gail, the author and mastermind behind My Repurposed Life. Iām obsessed with finding potential in unexpected places and believe that with a little hard work and imagination, any old thing can be made useful againāmyself included! I hope youāll enjoy the journey and pick up a few tools along the wayā¦ literally!
Bliss
Stopping in to say hi. Your dressers could fill a book ya know. I was going to pick a fav, but that is impossible, although I am partial to the ones turned into consoles.
Gail Wilson
Thanks for checking in Bliss! I need inspiration for a few dressers I have in storage. They take up a LOT of room. š
take care!!
gail
Karen
Gail! You are so endlessly talented. I especially love Dresser upcycles. How inspiring to see all these wonderful ideas! Do you still have your $5 rule?
Pinning so I can hopefully try one of these out!
Gail Wilson
Karen,
Thank you for pinning! I do have the $5 rule on most items. A recent mirror was $7, but it came with 2 sconces. I will go as high as $10 on a larger piece.
But, yes, I'm still finding great stuff for only $5 !!! In any case, it's great to have a limit because it stops those impulse buys, right?
gail
Mindi
So many awesome ideas and inspiration Gail! Thank you so much for including mine! Totally pinned!!
Bonnie Hipps
Gail,
Loved that old dresser of your Mom's. I have one the same color but, two doors at the bottom. It is a buffet and has been in my family for 56 years since I was born. My Mom and Dad passed away and this is the one thing I chose. It looks like the wood is dry otherwise in great shape so I am going to try the stain like you did. Mine also has the wooden knobs. I am so so glad you didn't paint it. Love your work and ideas.
Eliz~
Gail this is outstanding! I think it was last year I thanked you for a dresser idea I'd hoped to use. But the two dressers were way too flimsy. The drawer materials were worse than plywood. Almost balsam wood - LOL! One was my sister's in the 60's. So today your post help me realize they are perfect for cubby holes/storage. We had them stacked but I had not thought to cut off the feet/base of the one on top. So we'll do that too. We removed the drawers which held hardly anything even when they weren't old! And now they fall out anyway. Super easy! Thank you for saving the day again! (((HUG)))
Gail Wilson
Oh, so happy to inspire you!!! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a fabulous comment! It really makes my day!
gail
Dee
Now I need to find an old dresser!
Great post, you are so creative.
Melissa D
Thanks for these wonderful ideas . It makes me want to go thrifting !
Terry M
Great post, the before and after pictures are so inspiring and you do such awesome work!
Gail Wilson
Thank you Terry! This is a good mix of projects from me, and friends of mine. They are a very talented bunch of ladies.
gail