Don’t know what to do with that boring old dresser? Overhaul it into a chic and sophisticated statement piece. A coat of gray paint paired with acrylic legs and crystal drawer pulls instantly adds class. However, the unquestionable highlight is decorative molding outlining the drawers.
Although there are several materials and steps to this dresser makeover, the end result is well worth it. Completing this dresser refresh is not only a boon for the room, but also a boost for your confidence. Guests won’t be able to help but compliment this one-of-a-kind piece of furniture. Plus, this project will equip you with several tricks and techniques that you can use with future DIY upgrades.
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Materials
- Old dresser
- Wood cut to fit the base
- Electric drill
- Small drill bit
- Philips-head bit
- Spade bit with spurs, 1/2-inch diameter
- 1-inch long Philips-head screws, four
- Round acrylic furniture legs, set of four (Four T-nuts and 12 screws included in set)
- Marker
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Painter’s tape
- Gray chalk paint
- Paintbrush
- Sanding block
- Home decor wax
- Rag
- Mallet or hammer
- Cutting mat
- Decorative flexible molding
- Measuring tape
- Rotary wheel
- Straightedge
- Gorilla Super Glue
- Crystal drawer pulls, Six
- 1/2-inch long Philips-head screws, Six
- Old dresser
- Wood cut to fit the base
- Electric drill
- Small drill bit
- Philips-head bit
- Spade bit with spurs, 1/2-inch diameter
- 1-inch long Philips-head screws, four
- Round acrylic furniture legs, set of four (Four T-nuts and 12 screws included in set)
- Marker
- Pencil
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Painter’s tape
- Gray chalk paint
- Paintbrush
- Sanding block
- Home decor wax
- Rag
- Mallet or hammer
- Cutting mat
- Decorative flexible molding
- Measuring tape
- Rotary wheel
- Straightedge
- Gorilla Super Glue
- Crystal drawer pulls, Six
- 1/2-inch long Philips-head screws, Six
DIY Everywhere
Instructions
1. Remove the drawers from the dresser. Turn the dresser upside down. Place the piece of wood on top of the dresser to form a base. Using the drill bit, drill a guide hole in each corner of the base. Use the Philips-head bit to screw in the four 1-inch long screws.
1. Remove the drawers from the dresser. Turn the dresser upside down. Place the piece of wood on top of the dresser to form a base. Using the drill bit, drill a guide hole in each corner of the base. Use the Philips-head bit to screw in the four 1-inch long screws.
2. Determine the positioning of the acrylic legs on the base. Place a T-nut in the desired spot, then mark the three screw holes with a marker and the larger hole with a pencil.
3. Use the small drill bit to drill the guide holes. Use the 1/2-inch spade bit to drill the large hole. Place the T-nut upside down into the hole, then screw it in place. Repeat for all four legs.
4. Use a screwdriver or pliers to remove the tracks for the drawers from the dresser. Put painter’s tape around the inside of the dresser about 1 inch from the edge.
5. Use the gray chalk paint to paint the outside of the dresser and the inside up to the painter’s tape. Once dry, sand the paint, then paint a second coat. Allow the paint to dry.
6. Paint the dresser with the home decor wax, buffing with a rag as you go. Allow the wax to dry.
7. Remove the painter’s tape. Use a mallet or hammer to put the drawer tracks back on the inside of the dresser. Screw the legs to the bottom of the dresser, then turn it right side up.
8. Place a drawer on a work surface. Put painter’s tape around the sides of the drawer, then paint the front of the drawer with gray chalk paint. When dry, sand the drawer, and paint a second coat.
9. After the chalk paint is dry, paint the drawer with the home decor wax, buffing with a rag as you go. Allow the wax to dry, then remove the painter’s tape.
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 for the other drawers.
11. Set the molding on a cutting mat. The end of the molding should already be cut diagonally. If not, use the diagonal line on your cutting mat as a guide to cut a diagonal edge with the rotary wheel.
12. Roll out the molding until it is the same length as the height of your drawers, then make another diagonal cut with the straightedge and rotary wheel. Note that both diagonal cuts on your molding should point in opposite directions so that one side of the molding is shorter than the other.
13. Place the drawers side by side as they would appear in the dresser. Place the molding on top of the drawers, with the long side of the molding lined up with the outer edge of the drawers. Mark where to cut the molding between each drawer. Place the molding on the cutting mat, then use the rotary wheel and straightedge to cut along the markings. Reposition the cut pieces of molding on top of the dresser.
14. Using the same techniques described above, cut a piece of molding for the top edge of the top drawer and the bottom edge of the bottom drawer. Position them accordingly.
15. Repeat steps 11 through 13 to make pieces of molding for the opposite side of the drawers.
16. Super glue each piece of molding in place. Allow the glue to dry.
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17. To attach the drawer pulls, put a 1/2-inch screw through the back of the face of the drawer. There should already be holes from the old drawer pulls. Screw the pull to the front of the drawer. Tighten with a screwdriver. Repeat for all six drawer pulls.
18. Put the drawers back in the dresser. Your updated dresser is ready to enjoy!