This blog post may contain affiliate links for your convenience.
Tuesday, August 20, 2019

Dated Goodwill Dresser Turned Vintage Inspired Chest

An easy way to update a dated Goodwill dresser into a vintage inspired chest.


How about a thrift store transformation to start off your Tuesday?

I recently came across a petite three drawer dresser from Goodwill that I couldn't pass up.   It wasn't my style, but it had everything I look for when searching for used furniture and was perfect for a makeover.  I knew with a little tweaking I could easily transform it into a stylish vintage inspired chest.

Black painted Goodwill chest

The size and style of the dresser was very similar to the chest I have in my entryway, which was where I pulled my inspiration.  It's amazing what a little DIY work, paint and hardware can do for a piece of furniture. 

SUPPLIES NEEDED TO UPDATE A DATED GOODWILL DRESSER

Affiliate links have been used

- Ryobi Corner Cat or Dewalt Orbital Sander
- 80 and 120 grit sandpaper
- Rubber mallet
- Drill
- Nail gun
- Minwax High-Performance wood filler
- Putty knife
- General Finishes Lamp Black Milk Paint
- Minwax Water Based satin polycrylic
Paintbrush
- Tape measure
- Simple Green
- Paper Towels
- Drill bits
- Fine grit sandpaper (for distressing)
- Wood glue
- Clamps
- Chalk
- Hardware

HOW TO UPDATE A DATED GOODWILL DRESSER

The dresser wasn't in bad shape, but the curves and batwing drawer pulls definitely dated the piece and had to go.  
Goodwill dresser before
The bottom curved piece of the dresser was super easy to remove with a rubber mallet.  It popped right off and I was able to cut a new piece of wood, which I attached with a nail gun.
Removing base of dated dresser
I filled all the nail holes with my favorite wood filler, repaired a loose joint with wood glue and clamps then gave the entire piece a good sanding with my Ryobi Corner Cat sander and 80 and 120 grit sandpaper.
Filling old furniture hardware holes
After sanding, I cleaned the dresser with Simple Green, applied 2 coats of General Finishes Lamp Black milk paint, lightly distressed around the edges then sealed the dresser with satin waterbased poly.
Sanding Goodwill dresser
I shared a trick in the past for measuring and drilling new hardware holes, but since the drawers in this little chest were all different sizes I decided to use the chalk trick. 

I rubbed chalk on the back of the hardware, measured for the new holes then pressed the hardware into the dresser.   This left a perfect chalk print exactly where I needed to drill the new holes, limiting mistakes. 
Using chalk to mark hardware holes

Drilling new furniture hardware holes

Dated Goodwill dresser turned vintage inspired chest

Goodwill dresser turned vintage inspired chest

Black painted vintage inspired chest

Black painted Goodwill chest before and after

Gold pulls on black painted Goodwill dresser

Lamp Black painted vintage inspired chest

Removing and rebuilding the base, adding a fresh coat of paint and new stylish pulls made all the difference in this little dresser turned vintage inspired chest.  


 - HELPFUL INFORMATION FOR UPDATING AND REPAIRING FURNITURE -



     
   Pin it for later


Before and after Goodwill dresser makeover

    You will also love
The best affordable sources & Tips for buying used furniture and decor




Shop Our Home

Click here to subscribe
      

Would you like to comment?

  1. Absolutely beautiful Katie! It's so elegant now! :-) I had to take a peak when I saw the title and included $12.00 and Goodwill!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful. I have a buffet chest I want to paint however, it is has hand painted designs on it with a rough texture. Not sure what to do.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love how it came out! You did such a great job-looks like a high end piece!

    ReplyDelete