A $20 Second-Hand Dresser Got Not One, But Two Fun and Fresh Redos
Solid furniture pieces can last a lifetime, especially when you consider that they’re ideal for making over again and again to suit changing tastes. This project from Lucas and Emily Shaw (@EmmyLuDesigns) is a great example of how a classic piece can be adapted for new styles.
A Kid-Friendly Color Palette Gave the Dresser a Second Life
Emily and Lucas bought this six-drawer dresser 10 years ago for just $20 at a garage sale. Back then, they were giving their daughter a colorful navy blue and pink bedroom, so they gave the dresser a makeover that suited the style: a white frame, with ombré pink painted drawers.
But a decade later, their now-tween daughter has more of a boho style, so Lucas and Emily wanted to give her a dresser that felt more in line with that vibe. Thankfully, since the dresser was well-made, it was ready for another round of painting.
Years Later, a More Natural, Boho-Style Paint Job Gave It a Third Life!
This time, Lucas sanded off all the paint on the top of the dresser to expose the natural wood underneath; he also fully sanded down one layer of the decorative edge to serve as a natural wood accent. Lucas wanted to sand down the drawers to reveal their natural wood, too, but found that below the painted surface, they were mostly plywood — so instead, he primed and painted the drawers and frame of the dresser a satin white.
Lucas also filled in the old holes where the swing pulls were installed, and instead added rattan knobs to add a bit of a natural element to the face of the piece. Finally, he sealed the top with polyurethane to make it durable for daily use in his daughter’s new boho-inspired bedroom.
“Transforming a piece of furniture can take some time, but it’s super easy and such a great alternative to buying a new piece,” Lucas says. “We love that we put our creative spin on it and we’re able to really give our daughter a piece of furniture that she can use in years to come.”
Inspired? Submit your own project here.