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    Home » Repurposed Furniture » Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench

    Repurposed/Upcycled Chest of Drawers small bench

    Published by Gail | Published April 30, 2012 | Updated April 9, 2019
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Repurposed-Upcycled chest of drawers

    Do you remember last week I showed you how I cut up an old chest of drawers to make an entertainment center? I used the top of the chest of drawers for that project. I used the bottom of the chest of drawers for another project. Here are the two projects side by side so you can get a size comparison.

     

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (3)Here is a reminder of what the chest of drawers looked like.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (4)I used my circular saw to cut it apart.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (24)This is the top and middle sections. The only parts of this chest that was not reused are the sides of that middle section.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (5)Perhaps I should explain how all of this started. I was going to make a small bench with this foot board, but I wanted to give it a drawer for storage. I had a couple of drawers that I could use, but I didn’t really know how to “frame” them out. Then it hit me, why not used the drawers in their existing “frame”  AKA the chest of drawers.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (11)To use the foot board as a back for the bench I had to do some “trimming”.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (12)This is how it looked if I sat it on top of the bottom. The back of the chest was thin luan plywood, not substantial enough to hold the new back securely.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (14)I added a 1x4 with some Gorilla Glue and some screws.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (16)I cut a top from a scrap piece of plywood.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (19)While the top was on I noticed there was a gap above the drawer.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (20)The piece I had cut off the plywood was a perfect fit to fill that gap.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (23)I used Gorilla Glue and my nail gun again.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (25)I did some patching and sanding.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (28)I attached the top in the back with some pocket hole screws, and the front with some screws (through the plywood plank)
    Chest of Drawers into Bench (31)I used my HomeRight Finish Max Fine Finish Sprayer to spray paint the two pieces.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (33)I used a pretty yellow oops paint.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (37)Although I liked the yellow, I thought it would better with a glaze on it.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (55)I used some black paint to do a wash over the yellow. But it was to much, so I added some yellow on top of the black.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (39)Meanwhile, I couldn’t find the knobs. LOL—yeah, I’m good at misplacing things.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (51)

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (61)I found the knobs but had already put the black paint away, so here they are dressed out in yellow.

    Chest of Drawers into Bench (64)Although this piece is a little low, it really would work well at the end of a bed for someone old like me to put their shoes on. Smile   The drawer will easily hold lots of accessories. At the end of a bed, it could also give a boost up for a small dog—as they make mattresses so BIG these days. And last but not least, it could be extra storage in a child’s room, with a cushion on the top, it would be a nice reading nook.
    Apparently I am in a kid’s furniture kind of mood. I’ve been working on a couple of more projects for wee ones.

    gail

    updated to add the latest version of this little guy:

     

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    1. Tammie B

      September 10, 2013 at 11:03 am

      Love it!

      Reply
    2. I'm Busy Procrastinating

      May 21, 2012 at 2:07 am

      I like the bench, Gail. Would be great at the end of a hallway or in a nook by a door, for putting shoes on and off, like you said.

      Reply
    3. Jenn "Rook No. 17"

      May 06, 2012 at 12:11 am

      Wow, Gail! So originally creative and beautifully done! Your link-up caught my eye over at DIY on the Cheap. So delighted (but not at all surprised) to find that it was you, my friend!

      Hope you're having a fab weekend!
      Jenn

      Reply
    4. Debilou ~ Mississippi Mama

      May 02, 2012 at 2:13 pm

      love this bench Gail.. great job as always.

      Reply
    5. Franziska San Pedro

      May 02, 2012 at 3:30 am

      Great job! I always like to see your new ideas and your latest projects.
      I just turned a broken rocking chair into a bench. It took me a while to figure it out /or what to do with it (I almost threw it away). And the it finally clicked!

      Thanks for sharing your work progress and great inspiration. Upcycling love to you 🙂

      Franziska San Pedro
      Flavor Designs

      Reply
    6. freddyandpetunia

      May 01, 2012 at 4:35 pm

      Really cool idea Gail!
      It gives me yet another idea/spinoff from yours! Thanks--there aren't enough hours in the day!
      Catherine

      Reply
    7. ✿ⒹⒺⒺ✿@ A Lapin Life

      May 01, 2012 at 1:15 pm

      Hi Gail,

      WOW! You had some vision. I'm amazed at both your pieces.

      Dee

      Reply
    8. Stephanie

      May 01, 2012 at 5:41 am

      Way to pull it all together and make it so awesome! Only you would of thought of taking a dresser and making two projects out of. You are so cre8tive and inspiring 🙂

      Reply
    9. Toqua's Crafts

      May 01, 2012 at 2:52 am

      Oh yes, it would be so cute with a cushion on it! I have knees that don't always like to work, so I see this as a dog step or in a child's room as you suggested. Perhaps at the end of a bed if I could use the bed to assist in getting myself up on those not so good days.

      I like the knobs as yellow too!

      Reply
    10. Full Circle Creations

      May 01, 2012 at 2:12 am

      Looks great Gail! It would really look cute with a cushion on it. Love the glaze on it.

      Holly

      Reply
    11. Suzanne@Meridian Road

      May 01, 2012 at 2:02 am

      What a darling bench! I think it would be perfect in a child's room with a cushion made out of an old chenille bedspread. I like the shoe bench idea, too. 🙂

      Reply
    12. Jamie

      May 01, 2012 at 12:54 am

      I love the color so much! It always amazes me the things that you can create. Just beautiful! ~ Jamie

      Reply
    13. DIY Show Off

      April 30, 2012 at 11:45 pm

      Gail, you are so good! These are awesome (as usual)!

      Reply
    14. I Play Outside The Box

      April 30, 2012 at 8:49 pm

      When I see some of your projects, I often think of the old saying...'waste not-want not'.

      I love how both of these pieces turned out. The newer one would be a great piece at the foot of a twin bed. Awesome!

      Reply
    15. Debbiedoo's

      April 30, 2012 at 8:16 pm

      Talk about transformation! And to have the vision. I love how this piece turned out Gail!~

      Reply
    16. Just Stuff From a Boomer

      April 30, 2012 at 7:45 pm

      You are my hero. You never cease to amaze me. I think I've said that before, but it's so true. This is absolutely brilliant.

      Reply
    17. Lauren @ My Wonderfully Made

      April 30, 2012 at 6:37 pm

      I just can't believe this project. Unbelievable to be able to take that dresser and turn it into these two completely different and amazing projects!

      Reply
    18. Cassie @ Primitive & Proper

      April 30, 2012 at 3:19 pm

      how cute! throw it in a corner with a cushion and a kid has themselves a reading nook! and i like the knobs yellow- as they are- the contrast is nice and brings it some warmth.

      Reply
    19. Carwin Candids

      April 30, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      Yea Gail! I love your projects! It makes me want to be just like you! I look at everything differently now, in terms of how could I make that into something useful, instead of throwing it away... I love it!

      Reply
    20. Meari

      April 30, 2012 at 2:26 pm

      They both look awesome, Gail! Did you route the top of the dresser?

      Reply
    21. Korrie Bastian

      April 30, 2012 at 1:27 pm

      Cute! You are amazing at using ALL the parts!

      Reply
    22. Corn in my Coffee-Pot

      April 30, 2012 at 1:19 pm

      You must not sleep.
      You just lie there... and think of projects and turn them over and over in your head (instead of counting sheep) ...and JUMP OUT OF BED ENERGIZED and ready to start your project.
      oh and gail-- the knobs were probably IN THE DRAWER! HA HA HA ....

      loved this little bench and the TV stand... do wonders never cease?!
      ~Pat

      Reply
    23. Terri

      April 30, 2012 at 1:08 pm

      Too cute! I love how this turned out. This is a bench that I just might be able to handle...still haven't had the nerve to give it a try yet!

      Reply
    24. Kirby Dunton Carespodi

      April 30, 2012 at 9:35 am

      What a great way to use a chest and footboard. I love the benches made of old beds, but this one with a drawer is so clever! I usually end up just painting old furniture, mainly because i dont have a nail gun OR a cordless screwdriver. Would you call my husband and tell him that I need those?

      Reply
    25. jeanetteann

      April 30, 2012 at 8:06 am

      This is incredulous,I wish I could do that. you are so good. 🙂

      Reply

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    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!

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