Learn how to make DIY dresser ideas perfect for your home decor! You’ll get a variety of styles with these unique makeovers. Check out these refurbished dresser ideas, ranging from stenciled to decoupage to chalkboard!
Have you ever looked at an old dresser and thought, “There’s so much potential here”? Well, you’re not alone. I’ve been there, staring down my own unloved piece of furniture, knowing it’s time for a change.
Despite having given tables and chairs a new lease on life, dressers have somehow remained on my “I’ll get to it eventually” list. But that ends today! This year, I’ve made it my mission to finally tackle a dresser refurbishing project.
In my quest to find the perfect look for my dresser, I’ve stumbled upon a goldmine of inspiration. It turns out, there’s a whole community of creative minds out there, sharing their incredible transformations of tired old dressers into eye-catching pieces of art.
From simple paint jobs to more intricate decoupage or even adding new hardware for a fresh look, the variety is absolutely mind-blowing.
With over 20 ideas I’ve gathered, there’s something for every taste and style. Whether you’re into the sleek lines of modern design or you’re a fan of the rustic, shabby chic vibe, there’s an idea out there waiting to spark your creativity.
I’m still on the fence about which direction to take – modern and painted seems appealing, but who knows where inspiration will strike?
So, while I’m over here mulling over my options, why not take a look at these refurbished and refinished dresser ideas? There’s a whole world of dresser refinishing magic just waiting to be explored.
Scroll down and let’s dive into this collection together. Who knows? You might just find the perfect project to kickstart your own dresser makeover adventure.
Refurbished Dresser Ideas
Give an old dresser new life with one of these 20+ DIY dresser ideas. These projects range from really simple to a few more involved steps. They're all achievable!
Modern Mid-Century Makeover
A mid-century chest of drawers gets a makeover with a stencil and some paint! I like the result so much more than the light wood they started with.
DIY Yellow Fluted TARVA Dresser
Learn how to make a beautiful DIY fluted dresser. This fun IKEA TARVA hack is easy, adds a ton of texture to a plain piece, and is something anyone can tackle!
Garage Sale Freebie to Volkswagen Bus
This is one of the coolest refurbished dresser ideas I've ever seen! Turn a tall dresser into a VW bus with paint! I've been thinking, I wonder what other cars I can make from dressers?
IKEA Hemnes Hack
Guess what the best thing is about most chalk paint? You don't have to prep! Learn how Claire made over a dresser with chalk paint and wallpaper. This is such a fun idea that can be completed in a day.
DIY Scalloped Dresser
Make your own DIY scalloped dresser and give a plain dresser a cute and whimsical upgrade with paint! It’s simple to get a perfect scalloped design with this technique.
Easy Dresser Makeover with Children's Art
Use your kids’ artwork to re-do a furniture piece in this fun dresser makeover. You’ll love decoupaging as much as your children love the drawing!
Subway Art Inspired
David's dresser makeover was inspired by subway art! He painted the drawer fronts white, printed out the letters onto adhesive sheets, then attached them to the front. Then he painted over the entire dresser with black and peeled off the letters. You could do this with adhesive vinyl and a cutting machine as well!
Rustic Dresser Makeover
Seeing this refurbished dresser will give you hope for any piece! The top was coming off, pieces of front were coming off . . Lindsay fixed it all. See how she did it, and turned it into a beautiful dresser worthy of any home.
IKEA TARVA Hack with Wallpaper and Copper Pipes
Get the modern bohemian vibe with this unique dresser! I love the paintable wallpaper along with the pipe and leather straps.
RAST IKEA Hack
Add paint, legs, and handles to a plain RAST dresser and turn it into something fabulous! This makeover looks great with a variety of decor.
Makeover a Dresser with Contact Paper
Do you love watching the sunset on the beach or on top of a mountain with friends? Bring the gorgeous sunset view into your bedroom with this sunset-inspired DIY dresser makeover.
IKEA Dresser Overlay Hack
This is another simple IKEA dresser, made more fabulous with the addition of overlays! It looks like a lot of woodworking was done for this project, but you'll be amazed at how easy it was to put together.
Refurbish a Dresser with Wood Shims
Do you have West Elm taste on a thrift store budget? See how Holly used wood shims to refurbish a dresser. The dresser she spotted was $1000 and this one only cost $40 to make!
Create a Colorful Chalkboard Dresser
Refurbish a dresser with chalkboard paint! This is particularly cute for a kids' room or nursery, where you can write what's inside on the front.
Photo Decoupage Dresser
Remake a dresser with photos and Mod Podge! I think black and white look particularly stunning in this project, but you could use color photos too.
Stenciled Dresser Makeover
With just a little bit of paint and a stencil, you can refurbish a dresser in a day! This is a great makeover and adds a pretty touch to any room.
Wood Tiled Dresser
The original dresser that Amanda saw at West Elm was over $1,400 - but that price tag is a big no! Instead, she made this version by refurbishing a thrifted dresser.
Traditional to Modern
It's really hard to turn a traditional piece of furniture into something modern, but Lilly was able to do a great job. You have to see how she refurbished an old dresser with a few simple supplies.
DIY Aztec Inspired Dresser Makeover
You'll have to do a bit of painting, but the white paint and stain look is well worth it. I love this DIY dresser and think it would go well with a variety of decor!
Flip a Tarva Dresser
You get to use power tools for this refurbished dresser, but that's part of the fun! The added cane gives this DIY dresser a much softer feel.
How to Decoupage Furniture with Floral Napkins
Decoupage is a great way to add patterns to painted furniture makeovers. This floral dresser is a great example of this. Adding a floral pattern makes what would be an otherwise normal dresser into a statement piece!
Which one of these refinished dresser ideas is your favorite? I’d love to know in the comments! I’d also love for you to check out these other home decor posts: