Build a Creative Bookcase from Dresser Drawers

I feel like such a good person when I do eco-friendly things! Re-purposing old furniture is such a good way to save something old and transform it into something amazing as well as being kind to the environment. This DIY bookcase from an old dresser is one such idea – try it out!

Things You’ll Need:

•    Dresser drawers
•    Screwdriver
•    Wood putty
•    Sandpaper
•    Brush or hand-held vacuum
•    Paintbrush
•    Primer
•    Paint
•    Painter’s tape (optional)
•    Decorative paper or fabric
•    Scissors or craft knife and cutting mat
•    Ruler or straight edge
•    Decoupage glue
•    Drywall screws
•    Drill

Instructions:

1. Unscrew the drawer pulls from each drawer. Set aside or discard.
2. Fill the holes from the drawer pulls with a small amount of wood putty. Sand to smooth. Then sand the inside of the drawers, the front and the exterior sides. Brush or vacuum off the sand dust.
3. Paint the drawers with a coat of primer, both inside the drawer and the exterior. You don’t need to paint the bottom-inside of the drawers since you will cover that with fabric or paper. Let the primer dry for several hours.
4. Apply a coat of paint to the drawer. Use painter’s tape to mark off the edges if you want to paint the inside and outside different colors. Let each color dry for a few hours before applying the other color. Repeat with the other drawers.
5. Measure the width and length of the inside-bottom of each drawer. Cut a piece of paper or fabric to match those dimensions. Test the paper or fabric to make sure it fits by placing it in the drawer. Cut down as necessary.
6. Coat the bottom-inside of the drawer with decoupage glue, then quickly place the paper or fabric inside. Smooth the paper down so there are no bumps and it is evenly positioned. Repeat with the remaining drawers. Let the glue dry for several hours or overnight.
7. Apply a coat of glue on the top of the fabric or paper. Repeat with all the drawers. Allow the glue to dry.
8. Sand the dried glue to remove any unevenness. Apply another coat of glue on top of each piece of paper or fabric. Let it dry, then sand again.
9. Stack the drawers in an interesting arrangement. Position each drawer on its side so the inside-bottom is the back of the bookcase. Place the deeper drawers on the bottom and the narrower drawers on the top. You can stack the drawers three-high and two-wide or two-wide and three-high, however you would like.
10. Drill a drywall screw through each drawer, in the top-middle of what once was the drawer’s bottom, to attach the bookcase to the wall. You can also attach the drawers to each other by drilling a screw through the sides of the drawers to attach the bottom of a shelf to the top of the shelf below it.