By turning what is old into something new again cannot only be a money saver, it can also be away to avoid taking your old dresser to the local landfill and become a bit more environmentally friendly.
The first step into giving an old dresser a new look is adding a fresh coat of paint or stain. For those that like a country or shabby chic look, a coat of white or light blue paint can do the trick. Many prefer to give it a more rustic look be adding a stain or wash of color that allows some of the natural wood color to peek through. Maybe you want a more modern or contemporary look to give to an old dresser. Black or red lacquer can turn a dresser into just that with a few strokes of a paintbrush.
Replacing knobs and handles can help complete the look of a new paint or stain job on a dresser. To get a shabbier chic look, try finding old handles and knobs that are ornate and remember, they do not have to match. This adds a unique twist to the overall look. Brushed chrome or nickel knobs and handles in a more streamline design are great for dressers that are painted with a lacquer finish.
Some dressers have open shelves that make a great place to show off unique pieces of pottery or art pieces. To make them more appealing, cover the shelves with contact paper or old wallpaper to add more visual interest to the whole piece. Another way to make more display areas in an old dresser is to replace the solid doors with glass doors. If new glass doors are not in your budget, just take the doors off for more display areas in the dresser. By attaching mosaic tiles onto the center of the doors will also add a variation in colors, designs and textures to the dresser doors too.
If the dresser has a mirror attached to it, why not etch a design onto the glass to match your décor. Painting the mirror with a design can also enhance the total look of the dresser. For those that want to display an old post card collection or photos, the mirror will make the perfect display case. Just tape them on with specialty paper tape to keep from damaging the post cards and or pictures.
Changing the legs or height of the dresser can be easy. By sawing the legs off evenly can change the whole look of a dresser. If you would like the dresser a little higher, new legs can be screwed on and painted to match the whole piece. Just make sure that they are even to prevent the dresser from falling over or looking lop-sided.
Making an old dresser into a display cabinet can be not only a great way to redecorate a home; it is a way to recycle furniture. With new paint and a few embellishments can change the ordinary into the extraordinary that will become an instant conversation piece in any home.