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Repurposed Storage Bench

Published by Gail | Published | Updated
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Hello and Happy New Year MRL Readers! It's Mindi, and I am happy to be back this month! Today I am sharing a Repurposed Storage Bench, but this one is special because...

Repurposed Storage Bench, from dresser top and table legs

...It shares something in common with my last post here, my Dresser Turned Bench.
What do they have in common you ask?

before-of-dresser

If you read my last post then you know I started with this dresser...and both benches are made from it.

cut-in-half-dresser

I cut it in half to extend a dresser for my boys bedroom makeover, but it didn't work out. So I took the bigger portion (on the right) and made it into a bench (I show you how I cut the dresser in half in this post). I was left with the top of the dresser (on the left) sad and alone on my back porch.

How to repurpose the top of a dresser

before of storage bench, dresser top and table legs

 Well not anymore!! I knew I wanted to do something with this dresser top, and another bench seemed like the perfect solution. I went out to look at it and see how to transform it, when I remembered these table legs that I had taken off of a table my friend gave me. In fact I used part of the old table top in my Kitchen Island with Pantry Storage post, so now it was time to use the legs. Repurposing furniture is so much fun!

Cut legs to size

Cutting and fitting table legs for building a bench

 I measured the height of my dresser top, and subtracted that number from how tall I wanted the repurposed storage bench to be. This gave me the measurement to cut my legs. I was excited to see that the left over leg pieces are long enough to be repurposed for another project (top right)! Sa-weet.
My dresser top was used, flipped on it's side, and set the legs flush with each end. I measured the distance between and cut a scrap of 1x2 to connect the legs together. I did this for all four sides.

Pocket hole construction is easy

Use a kreg jig to build a storage bench

With all four apron pieces cut I drilled pocket holes into each end of the 1x2's with my Kreg Jig, and proceeded to build. I attached them to my legs with wood glue and pocket hole screws. This gave me my repurposed storage bench base.

Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System

Dresser section repurposed with legs

dry fitting dresser top onto legs

I set my dresser on top for a dry fit, and thought it looked too top heavy. Then I decided that the best way to fix that problem was to balance it out with a lower shelf.

 

adding shelf support to storage bench

I measured, cut, and drilled pocket holes just like I did for the top, except these ones were to support the shelf. On the left you can see I used a scrap of wood as a spacer so all my shelf aprons would be the same height.

Add lower braces

dry fit dresser top onto base

It is starting to look better! I still needed to "chunk" up the bottom a little bit, so I opted for a plywood shelf instead of doing slats, my thought being that it would look "heavier". Hopefully that makes since... 🙂

All of the 1x2's I used were scraps that I had on hand, and even some are plywood strips that I had left over from ripping plywood.
Speaking of ripping plywood...

adding shelf support to storage bench shelf

I used my last big scrap of plywood for the bottom shelf. So sad!! I ripped it with my Kreg Rip Cut and Ryobi Circular saw to the correct size. Which was the length and width of base.

Next, I measured the width of the legs and marked where to notch out each corner (top right) on the plywood. Then I quickly cut out the notches with my jig saw (bottom right).

Lower shelf

dry fitting dresser top onto legs to build a bench

I then added the shelf  to the repurposed storage bench with glue and finish nails.

 

attaching dresser top to leg base

Once I had the shelf attached to the legs, making the base complete, I flipped over the dresser top and glued and nailed the base onto it.

I also added screws to the top and the shelf as well.

Patch and paint

filling holes and seams of furniture with spackle and caulk

To hide all my seams I used spackle, and then a thin layer of caulk. Sometimes the spackle cracks so I added the caulk to prevent that, or you could just use caulk. After sanding it all down my repurposed storage bench was ready for paint!

 

use DIY Chalk Paint for priming furniture

I used Gail's DIY Chalk Paint recipe again, since I had such great results with it on my last bench. This time I chose a dark grey and used this as my primer, then I painted it with Behr Shipyard in satin, a pretty blue. Sorry Gail...yet another BLUE project. I can't. help. myself.

I wanted to spray it with my Home Right paint sprayer, but we are still buried in snow and it is FREEZING out side!!! Is it too early to hope for spring in January?!

Repurposed storage bench made from part of a dresser

paint the sides of drawers to make them look nice
For this project I decided to paint the sides of the drawer. Sure am glad I did, it just looks more finished when it is opened.

long shot of storage bench

I really love how the bottom shelf turned out! And these baskets I had fit perfectly, which was awesome.

The vintage knobs were some I got in a box of hardware at an estate sale for $1 and I seriously love them. They were slightly tarnished, but I liked the look so I didn't clean them.

Repurposed Storage Bench

Not bad for a hodge podge project? You would never know it was pieced together by looking at it, which is what I wanted.

Repurposed Storage bench front view

I think it is SO cute and I am thrilled that I was able to get two awesome projects out of my cut up dresser!

two storage benches repurposed from one dresser

So if you cut a dresser in half and end up not using it...you know what to do! Ha ha!
I hope you enjoyed this project, I would love to have you visit and follow me at MyLove2Create for more fun inspiration!
Hugs!
Mindi
sharing here DIY Like a Boss Inspiration Monday

see more of Mindi's projects here

Looking for repurposed dresser project ideas?

About Mindi

Mindi is a wife, mother, runner, dancer, and a lover of all things fun and DIY.

A few years ago she discovered blogs and fell in love with the idea that she could do things she had always dreamed of doing. Like build furniture from pallets, and make cool projects for her home.... Mindi was inspired by other bloggers that empowered her to create.

Mindi decided to give back and possibly reach someone out there that has a desire to create like herself. She believes we all have that desire in some form or another, and we all DO create in our own way, every day. Whether it be crafty or not, even creating happiness in others is a gift that many share.

Mindi loves to learn and use that knowledge to make beautiful and useful things for her home.

Reader Interactions

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  1. Cheryl Murphy

    You did not mention how you were originally cut your dresser in half. Did you use a jigsaw, circular saw, or what?

    Reply

    • Mindi

      Hi Cheryl! I cut it in half with a circular saw. If you click the link to the other bench I made from the bottom half of the dresser, that post shows the process of how I cut the dresser in half. I hope that helps! 🙂

  2. Mary

    OMG!!! It is so lovely! Ole man! I had better get busy doing something productive. Love looking at your projects. Great Do's like this one is motivating!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU ROCK Mindi!! LOL

    Reply

  3. gail@myrepurposedlife.com

    Mindi,
    I seriously love this project. There is nothing more satisfying than cutting up furniture and remaking it!!!! The color is so fabulous. Little known fact. I was doing something VERY similar this past week too. Great minds.... or like you said Peas and Carrots!

    thanks for a great tutorial.

    gail

    Reply

  4. Laurie

    Wow! Very impressive! The two benches look so wonderful! And much better then just repainting the dresser and changing the hardware!
    Love the blue! Always enjoy reading your blog and seeing your new projects! Thank you!

    Reply