Transforming a Broken Dresser into a Bench

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Hi, it’s Amy and I’m back with a new tutorial for you. This time I’m going to show you how to turn a dresser into a bench!

This is a great way to repurpose a dresser that has missing or damaged drawers. The dresser I found looks like it’s in perfect condition, but a few of the drawers actually do not open/close. Also, it didn’t have any hardware and was missing the sliding tracks – perfect for the project you’ll see here.

Here we go!

Before beginning, always clean your piece of furniture. This will allow the paint to better adhere to the wood.

 

  1. This is a laminate dresser so it is very important to apply primer before painting. Use either laminate or wood veneer primer in order for the paint to stick and not chip. I use Kilz primer, available at your local hardware store. Since there are many varieties, be sure to read the label before you purchase so you can choose the one that suits the piece you are painting. For this glossy laminate dresser, I chose the bonding primer, pictured here.

 

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  1. Remove all of the slides (except the bottom drawer slides so they can be used for storage) and hardware inside of dresser.

 

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  1. Now it’s time to saw off the top of the dresser. I purchased this Dremel saw a while ago and I have to say, it is awesome. Lightweight and easy to use, it is one of my best tool purchases ever!

 

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After cutting, set the top aside. This will ultimately become the bench seat.

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Dresser Top

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Front of dresser after removing top

 

  1. Trim the dresser top sides to fit and attach. I bolted the top to the sides and the middle piece with an “L” bracket (total of eight brackets).

 

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5.  The back looked a little plain and needed more support, so I tried to come up with a way to add some character. I remembered I had some lattice and wood trim in my shop, so I measured and cut it to fit the back then trimmed it.

 

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  1. Now it’s time for the fun part – painting and top coating! I chose sage and cream paint with a dark walnut glaze over all of it – my personal favorites. Depending on your style or the colors in your room, the color choice is totally up to you! Once you apply the paint and glaze, let it dry and then be sure to remember to apply top coat. The product I always have the best luck with is water-based Polycrylic by Minwax.

 

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Here are pictures of the final product!

 

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I look forward to sharing my next project with you…….who knows what I will find during my next trip to Goodwill!

Amy

Sirpilla’s Shabby to Chic

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