Dresser Drawer Into Shelf

Alicia W
by Alicia W
8 Materials
$20
2 Days
Easy
I have two dresser drawers that I'm not using and I didn't want to throw them away. I decided to make shelves out of them.
The drawers are in good shape and have unique wooden face plates.
Drawer No. 1


Step 1: Sand drawer
I sanded the drawer inside and out


Step 2: Prime inside
I primed the inside of the drawer bottom and all sides


Step 3: Paint inside
After the primer had dried, I painted a dark gray. Once the gray dried, I wanted a darker color so I used Old Fashion Milk Paint in "Pitch Black".
Step 4: Wax inside
Once the inside paint was dry, I waxed the sides.


Step 5: Add poster board
A - I measured the width of the inside of the drawer
B - Using a piece of printed poster board,
C - I flipped the poster board on it back, measured and cut to size
D - I sprayed adhesive to the inside bottom of the drawer,
E - I applied the poster board and smoothed it flat
Step 6: Stain outside
The front, sides and back of the drawer were stained with Minwax "Early American".


Step 7: Wax outside
The entire outside of the drawer was waxed.


Step 8: Add drawer pulls
Once everything was dry, I added the drawer pulls.
Step 9: Add hanger
I added a canvas flush mount canvas hanger onto the back of the drawer at the top.
I love the way this shelf looks in my hallway.
Turning the drawer horizontally, it could be used in your bathroom
or your kitchen.
Drawer No. 2


Step 1: Sand drawer
I sanded the drawer inside and out


Step 2: Stain inside
I stained the inside bottom and sides. I used Minwax "Early American".
Step 3: Stencil inside
Once the stain had dried, I stenciled the inside bottom and sides of the drawer. I used Waverly chalk paint in "Celery".


Step 4: Wax Inside
Once the stencil paint was dry, I waxed the inside of the drawer.
Step 5: Paint outside
I painted the outside of this drawer using the same paint that I used to stencil the inside of the drawer, Waverly chalk paint in "Celery".


Step 6: Wax outside
Once the paint was dried, I waxed the entire outside of the drawer.


Step 7: Add drawer pulls
Once everything was dry, I added the drawer pulls.
Step 8: Adding a shelf


A - I measured the width of the inside of the drawer,
B - I cut a pieces of 1"x 8" pine
C - After staining the board, I placed it in the middle of the drawer
D - I placed two screws in the side of the drawer
E - And two in the back of the drawer.
I placed the two drawers on top of each other and added items to the shelves to make a bookcase!
It's very sturdy and so much cuter than a "normal" bookshelf.
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 21 questions
  • Marlene Delap Marlene Delap on Aug 11, 2018

    When u say wax, what are u talking about. What do u use?

  • Becky Becky on Aug 11, 2018

    You have a lamp on in the last photo: did you drill a hole to allow for the cord, or is this a battery-powered lamp? Very cute!

  • Queenie Queenie on Aug 20, 2018

    Where did you get the stencil?

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