Recycled Drawers Into a Shelf
Instead of throwing out something or taking it to secondhand store, why not try and repurpose it yourself for a need you may have. This is exactly what I did!
These drawers are from a friend who was doing a bathroom remodel.
The handles were taken off then filled in with wood filler.
Best wood filler!
Then, they were wiped down, sanded and painted with a gray chalk paint. This took two coats.
So the drawers were kind of funky and trying to put them together was kind of like a puzzle. Three of the drawers were the same depth but one was a little shallower. That one I knew would stay on the top.
This is what it look like from the sides. The lips of the drawers stuck out on opposite sides. (Hope that makes sense!) I needed to cover it up with something but I wasn’t quite sure yet what.
They were screwed from the backside together.
So here is the way it looked when they were put together. Remember I said they were “funky”. That is why you see a small gap between the top and bottom shelving. I kind of like it, it makes it unique. A place where you can maybe store something like a book, iPad, mail or nothing at all.
I then distressed the edges! It wasn’t very secure yet, but I had a plan.
OLD FENCE BOARDS TO THE RESCUE!
So to cover up the sides and top, I looked in our stash of boards and found we had old fence boards that were the exact depth of the largest drawers. Winner winner chicken dinner! I was so excited I didn’t have to rip any boards to make something fit. I already had some thing that would work! I cut them to size and then stained them with this stain + polyurethane from Rust-oleum. I absolutely LOVE this stain when using old fence boards. It gives it an instant antiqued look and dries quickly. I attached them with an air nailer. This secured the drawers together even more having put this frame around it.
Here is it done!
View from the side. One thought was to use it as a bar.😃
I’m really happy with the way it turned out. I especially love repurposing something that would have otherwise been thrown out!
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This turned out very nice. I like the gap! It gives it character. Whether you use it or not. I have 4 drawers from a bathroom remodel (with cute handles). I put wheels on them and used them under my bed. I am now refinishing an antique dresser I purchased and will not need the storage but I didn’t want to get rid of them. I’m going to do this with a little color variation and put my cute handles on the side to hang “stuff”. I don’t know what stuff… but we all have it! 🤣
Thank you for sharing your clever upcycle!
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Old drawers can also be hung directly on the wall for books or knickknacks. Can also place a couple wood dowels inside and create show storage, again, can hang on the wall in the closet. Or, put casters on the bottom for easy access under bed storage. Lots of great things to do with old drawers.
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Great ideas!
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What a GREAT idea! Thank you! How clever you are!
I was wondering why you needed “old fence boards”, until I saw the finished project. They definitely added depth and strength, but I think maybe it really didn’t need them, on it’s own merit ??? (To each his own.). Still, a beautiful result !!! Thanks for sharing.
Why not put a finishing piece of wood across the joined drawers to finish it off?