If you don’t like people painting wood, or redoing an antique singer sewing machine, just walk away now. I understand how people feel about such things, but I’m in the business of repurposing furniture. Today’s project will show you how to transform a vintage singer sewing machine into a very versatile makeup vanity, jewelry organizer, desk, or side table.
Last year, I spoke about a great find on a sewing machine at a local Vendor’s Village. A whopping $25.
There are a lot of ways to repurpose sewing machines. I’ve already made 2 projects from one machine years ago.
I was looking for something different this time.
Disassemble vintage sewing machine cabinet
Basically, I began removing all of the hardware, starting from the underneath side.
I removed the top portion (lid) that was hinged. Firstly I removed the screws from the bottom. Then I was able to pry up the rim that the lid was connected to.
Construct simple box using pocket hole screws
First, I got busy making a box or a tray to fit inside the opening of the original top. I made the box using scrap 1x’s and my Kreg Jig 
Need more details on using a Kreg Jig? See my article How to use a Kreg Jig Pocket Hole System
I used some underlayment (thin plywood) for the bottom of the tray. You can see I drilled pocket holes to hold the tray in place.
Tip: I used my Jig Saw
Remove the metal sewing machine chassis
At that point there were only 4 large screws holding the two pieces together. I separated them so I could spray paint the metal chassis.
After a thorough cleaning, and before Krylon Dual spray paint.
Spray paint metal sewing machine base
I used Krylon Dual spray paint starting with the machine upside down to get full coverage of all the nooks and crannies.
I used my Behr Polished Pearl as a chalky paint primer and sprayed it on using my HomeRight Finish Max
If you follow me on Facebook, or IG you may have seen this picture. Now does it make more sense? You can see the large rectangle was where the lid was, while the four small rectangles were the sewing machine drawers.
Reattach sewing machine base
Now it was time to reconnect the chassis to the wooden frame with those four big screws.
An extra long screwdriver was necessary to reach the screws.
Being a little lazy, I opted not to paint the inside of the drawers.
Embellish Sewing Machine Drawers
I felt the drawers were a little plain, so I decided to do some textured stenciling. You can read about it here.
I began by removing the knobs (to be replaced with glass knobs)
Looking through my stash of stencils I found the perfect one for this project! I don’t really have many suggestions on how to do this. So follow the link above from Sweet Pickins.
I also did a raised stencil on the front little drawer.
Paint interior storage area with a bright cheery color
I painted a pretty turquoise inside the tray and the fold out drawer.
Secure mirror with clips
A mirror was purchased at the craft store, and some mirror clips at Home Depot. I attached the mirror to the inside of the hinged lid.
Attach glass knobs to sewing machine drawers
D. Lawless Hardware sent me some 1 inch glass knobs for this project, and they were perfect! The screws were too long though, so I clamped them and cut them with a hacksaw. I had to drill a hole in the drawer as the old knobs were just pegs.
Here is a close-up of the glass knobs from D. Lawless Hardware.
Finally, I did some light distressing due to the fact that it’s so old, and it didn’t look good crisp.
This was a fun project, and I’m happy with how it turned out. I think it will make a great vanity, makeup table, desk, entry table, or jewelry organizer.
How would you use it?
gail
Related Content: See More Desk Projects Here
See more great projects over at Elizabeth & Co. Be Inspired
I’m a vintage sewing machine collector but I am also practical. I bought two 1916-ish Singer treadle machines in their original cabinets (not cheap, they sell for about $90-200 in my area). One is in excellent shape and still sews beautifully, and one is in terrible shape with a warped battered cabinet and rusted frozen machine. I cleaned and disassembled the rusted machine for spare parts (yes, these are getting hard to find) and now have a cabinet that needs a new life. Your ideas are inspiring — thank you! I plan to restore the cabinet, keeping it as original as I can, but with a new life as a desk/hall table.
I have another in storage. If I take the machine out, I’ll try to find someone who wants it for parts. Good luck on your project, I’m sure it will make an awesome desk/hall table!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
gail
I know! I’m almost in tears at the thought that she might have thrown away a working sewing machine to do this. I don’t care if she paints a cabinet, but the idea of someone junking a working vintage sewing machine when there’s only a limited number of them left really kills me.
So many of these vintage machines were left to rust in outdoor sheds, leaky garages, damp patios and in other unsuitable storage. It breaks my heart, too, to see an old beauty which has been mistreated this way. They do get a new life as spare parts — that’s a good thing. The cabinets, fortunately, are too beautiful to trash, so there are many beautifully restored cabinets living a new life, as mine will soon be. It’s the cycle of life. That’s how I have to look at it.
Arrrggggghhhhhhhhhhh! Yes, some of us HATE when you rape these old beauties that will just about always work as intended again with tlc. But, I’m grateful they are plentiful and if it keeps it out of the land fill. Any non rotted or unbroken parts can probably be sold on eBay to those of us piecing them back together.
Any ideas on repurposing a sewing machine coffin (wooden cover)
Marilyn,
Take a look at all of my sewing machine re-dos. Maybe something will inspire you.
https://www.myrepurposedlife.com/tag/sewing-machine-cabinet/
gail
The cabinet looks great. I love the white and turquoise together. Can you tell me what brand and color it is? Thank you.
Debbie,
I’m so sorry I can’t tell you the color. The paint was given to me by my daughter back in 2009. I had it for years, but finally put it into a plastic container because the paint can rusted. It still may be in the basement somewhere, but with no label I couldn’t begin to tell you the name of the color.
gail
A whole $25 huh? Do you know how cheap that is? Here in Arizona, $50 – $75 is considered cheap if the drawers haven’t been lost along the way. I do love what you did with it though. It’d be darling in a teenagers room. It’ll sell really quickly.
How did you attach the box to the top of the machine?
Allie,
Check out the picture where I talk about adding thin plywood to the bottom of the box. You’ll see where I say I used pocket holes to attach the box to the underneath side of the sewing machine top.
gail
What a great reuse of all that scrap wood Gail – and so many pretty ways to use it!.
It’s me again. If I turn it upside down as shown will the 4 screws separate the top from the frame?
I don’t have many tools.
Judy,
There are four screws on most machines. If you can get to them, all you need is a flat head screwdriver. Please don’t destroy the original wood parts of the machine. Maybe you could give it away, or ask on social media if anyone wants it. 🙂
good luck, have fun!
gail
Beautiful!
I want to put a glass top on my old Singer sewing machine frame. But I have no clue how to get the rest of it off??? How do you disassemble the sewing machine and drawers and top from the frame?
Are there any instructions available to show where the screws are? Thanks.
Hi Gail,
I’m working on a Singer sewing machine table makeover, similar to yours. From your photos, it looks like you moved the hinges to to the lid from the side to the back. Am I seeing this correctly? That’s exactly what I want to do. Any issues with doing this? Thanks!
Doreen
Doreen,
I did move the hinges from the side to the back. It worked well, but it of course wouldn’t stay up by itself. The wall was needed for support.
gail
It is adorable as a vanity Gail! Love the turquoise, a fun surprise!
Gail,
This piece is beautiful–I love it. I have a very similar machine and cabinet (though not Singer) and I’ve been wanting to do something with it. I had thought of putting a drop leaf table top on it, but I like your project so much more since it uses all of the cabinet including the beautiful drawers. If you were to sell this, how would you price it?
Thanks for the inspiration–great work!
Linda
Linda,
I did sell this, and to the best of my recollection, I think I got $150 for it.
thank you for your nice comment.
gail
I have my grandmothers treadle machine that I learned to see on. I’m ready to repurpose it but don’t know what to do with the actual machine. All I want to use is the bottom portion. Any suggestions.
I know some bloggers use the shiny pretty pieces for jewelry and more. I usually give it away or recycle it.
good luck, have fun!
gail
What was the box size? I prefer to buy one. Or maybe use a wine box. Thanks!
Kim,
I do not know the box size, but it wouldn’t really matter because each of these sewing machines are so different. Good luck, have fun!
gail
Did you move the hinges to the top side? I assume you covered the old spots with putty. I don’t have a kreg jig. I might have to find another box to simply put in.
Kim,
Sorry for the confusion–yes I did move the hinges to the top side. I highly recommend a Kreg Jig. Once you have it, you’ll be reaching for it over and over again.
gail
Did you use the behr as a primer, then use a chalk paint?
Mariah,
I typically use Behr with Plaster of Paris to make my chalky paint primer, then the Behr without plaster of paris as a topcoat.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have more questions.
gail
I have my grandmother’s functional Singer treadle machine in an oak table with very ornate drawer fronts. I plan to clean it well, oil the wood and metal, hang a mirror above or use a tabletop mirror and use a midcentury white fiberglass swivel chair, for contrast. I just can’t paint it, it’s too beautiful. The drawers should hold most of the makeup and supplies.
I think that’s a perfect solution to make a vanity Mary! This one was far from beautiful. If I had my grandmother’s machine, I would not change it either.
gail
I love this! I want to do this but I do not have Kreg Jig. What is another way that I can connect the box or accessory container in the center?
Thank you so much
Julie,
You could use “L” brackets depending on how your machine is set up. 🙂
gail
My grandmother had one of these old singer sewing machines in her living room. It no longer worked, but I remember playing with the foot pedal every time I went over to her house as a kid. Sewing machines sure have come a long way, but it’s cool that some of these old ones are still around.
Gail,
I am in the same process of restoring a 1929 singer sewing table, boy what a project!! Id like to keep the front lid (i believe you said you removed it). But right now if i did decide to put it back on it would only open about half way up, thus making it more difficult for me to access the tray i will use to put inside the hole where the sewing machine was. I was thinking i can use different hinges to make it flip all the way back, but im not sure. I wanted to keep all of the original hardware used to initially make it, what would be your advice?
Kaitlyn,
I changed mine from opening on the side, to opening on the back, using the original hinges. What keeps it from opening all the way up? Take another look at how I secured the hinges (you can see them really well in the photo where the lid is half open-I did that so the mirror would reflect the inside of the tray)
Keep me posted, good luck!
gail
I absolutely love this idea and am currently restoring my sewing machine because of it! I do have one question, did you chisel the hinges in with the lid or did you just place them on the flat surface? Thanks so much for the inspiration and help!
Kelly,
Great question! I did not chisel the hinges, I simply put them on the flat surface.
good luck with your project!
gail
I love this sewing machine make over. I did one very similar to this. 🙂
I love the look of this repurposed sewing machine. You did a wonderful job building the box under the hinged top for putting makeup, brushes, pens/pencils, etc. I am feeling inspired!
Absolutely beautiful, I love it as a vanity….a piece you should be very proud of……I have several of the bases that I am deciding what to do with.
I have a home in Fl. and one in Blairsville Ga. where I am now I have been on the look out for one of these singers for quite some time. I’ve looked at flea markets antique shops and yard sales and haven’t been able to find on for lees than $90. My intent is to just use the base however for $90 that wasn’t even a choice as the wood was all rotted and only one had a machine attached and they wanted over a hundred. Just curious where you’ve been finding them at such a low price. By the way your repurpose was beautiful.
Kyle,
I’ve come across 2 free ones since I did this project. Some people think they are gold, others just want to get rid of ’em. I would suggest that you mention it on Facebook. You never know, someone in your family or friends list might have one. I would just make sure that you let them know what you plan to do with it.
You also might want to check craigslist.
Thanks for your nice comment about my project.
gail
Love it and I have wanted to do this for a long time. However, I live with a purist husband.
You need to change your title. You used a Singer sewing machine cabinet for this project, not the sewing machine itself.
Lisa,
Maybe someday you will be able to find a machine that your husband won’t mind you changing up. As for the title, it’s all about SEO when we bloggers choose blog titles. That’s why titles may seem a little odd sometimes. People won’t be doing a google search for a singer sewing machine cabinet.
thanks for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment!
gail
ive seen an antique Singer Sewing Machine just like this made into a wet Bar. Love the new uses for old antiques.
Love it!! Awesome makeover 🙂
What a great makeover. I have been in search of a machine like this for a long time and at a good price…..sadly no luck. I am one that works both sides of the fence on paint or no paint. Your decision to paint was fantastic and the transition to the desk/vanity is awesome . My daughter would be in heaven. Great Job!!!
LOVE THE DRYWALL STENCILING! I haven’t seen that done before, I should be able to use plastic of Paris eh? I will have to follow your link 🙂 love your re-do’s! Keep paintin!
I would recommend using the vinyl spackling instead of Plaster of Paris. I think it will last longer. 🙂
good luck, enjoy your new technique!!
Such a genius idea to turn it into a vanity! It looks so beautiful, such a great makeover! I especially love those glass knobs they were perfect for this piece, D Lawless really does have such great hardware! Totally pinned!
Lovely idea, Gail-I didn’t paint mine. I also removed everything from the top and placed a smokey topaz colored glass in a rounded off rectangle shape over it. It holds my stereo and the speakers. I also have another one I found that is only the metal base. I put a metal grid over the top and made it into a plant stand for my porch.
Hi Gail, you can come up with some of the greatest ideas on repurposing furniture…..I just love what you did with this old sewing machine. Beautiful job!!!!
Beautiful job! To those people who don’t like painted furniture – then don’t paint your furniture, lol. It’s far, far better to repurpose old items into something useful rather than just let them decay to the point they end up in a scrap pile (though you do an awesome job salvaging things from scrap piles, Gail!). I currently have 4 of these babies (none of which can be sewed on), so I think I may need to make myself a vanity. I love your work, keep it up!
Patty
I have this same piece sitting in my living room, its been sitting there for several months while I’ve been trying to figure out what to do with it. I’m beyond thrilled to see your makeover. The top on my piece is in need of repair much like your piece and one of the drawers has come part but I have the pieces.
I’m going to restore mine to hold my modern sewing machine but I needed inspiration and I’m thrilled to see this.
I really want to paint the bottom metal bright red!
Thank you for posting this!
Beautiful. I generally prefer restored rather than painted pieces but I follow your site because when you paint, you can tell how much you care for the pieces. In this case, you brought this back to life and your efforts should be appreciated.
So I almost had a heart attack, but you kept the integrity of the piece. It’s beautiful!
I did this to mine too but I didn’t paint it. I absolutely love it and use it every morning!
this is very nice….I know some gasp at painting “old” furniture…and it’s hard to do….that first time….then it’s pretty easy to do…..lol…if it’s not really worth lots of $$$ then paint it and enjoy it…
Well, you’ve done in again, Gail!, another beautifully repurposed and for me, a long-ago remembered treasure! When I was a little girl – which was many, many moons ago – I remember sitting in front of my grandmother’s Singer and pedaling away – not sewing anything – just pedaling away. I loved that old Singer. And I love your “new” Singer, especially the embellishments you added.
Really cool project! We love antiques! Used to move some singers through our shop back in the day. Thanks!
Love it, Gail!!
This is beautiful! i know some people are going to go on & on about you painting it, but now it can be loved & used instead of sitting in a thrift store.
This is a great idea! Of course I’m one of those that would not paint the wood, so I would choose to do this and jut refinish the old wood.
Beautiful job!
Gail, you are an absolute genius! The sewing table is really beautiful, functional, and maintains the integrity of the piece!
I love it! The drywall compound stencils give it a little something extra!
That is so cute. I like the turquoise and white together and the raised designs.