Dresser to Kitchen Island DIY: The Ultimate Upcycled Furniture Tutorial

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Dresser to Kitchen Island Conversion — We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen. I have wanted an island or workspace since we have limited counter space, and I love to craft, cook, and bake. I decided, with the help of the Mr., to create a mobile kitchen island from a dresser. Have you ever wanted to upcycle furniture? With his help, this was an easy DIY improvement project for me.

I planned the fixer-upper project, and we talked about how to tackle making the dresser mobile. I worked on the idea and made the plans. Then, with his woodworking skills, we upcycled the dresser. When the dresser was completed, I finished it with my painting skills. I think we make a good team.

We pulled a vintage dresser from the garage and decided to give it new life. First, by upcycling and re-purposing it, and then making it pretty by using chalk paint. This was my first time tackling a project like this and using Americana Chalky Finish Paints.

We love sharing the projects that make home life better—and easier. If you’re tackling big DIY work like this, you need a great meal that requires zero effort! After a long day of work, we rely on our cozy, famous Easy Lasagna with Meat Sauce recipe to feed the team. We had quite a few vintage pieces picked up from yard sales and various flea markets. Then we moved into town, where this dresser sat for 12 years in the garage. Things I loved about this dresser are how big the drawers were, and I knew someday I’d find the time to bring it back to use again.

We talked about how we’d tackle the DIY conversion project

• First, taking my design ideas 
• Making a working plan and getting supplies
• Next, prepping the furniture
• Then, adding a shelf  with wheels for mobility
• Adding a new top with a fold-down for space-saving
• Finally, painting with Americana Chalky Finish Paints

Here is how I re-purposed my dresser into a mobile kitchen island

Upcycled Dresser 

After the work was done, let’s work backward, starting with the finished kitchen island conversion.

How To Upcycle A Dresser Into A Kitchen Island

Before the work was done. Next, this is what the dresser originally looked like.

Upcycled Furniture DIY

The Problems That Needed Repairs

Its top was damaged with ring stains, and it had chips and scraps over the surface layers. There were a few bits of trim missing. It sat so long that the legs started to rot.

The Dresser Repair and Upcycle Steps

1. We sanded the dresser lightly

   

2. Turned the dresser upside down, cut off half of the rotting legs, and added a shelf to the bottom of the dresser.
3. Next, we added wheels

   

   (similar to these) caster wheels

   

   that move to the shelf base, and turned it right side up
4. We added a new top and folding shelf and sanded and trimmed the edges (Details below.).
5. Then we primed for painting only due to the heavy nicks, scrapes, and other imperfections in the wood.
6. We didn’t prime the drawers, which were in better shape (with the exception of one, we had to use wood putty on).
7. For this Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint: NO sanding or priming is needed!

Adding a Drop-Leaf Shelf

Measure and cut the wood to fit the top of the dresser, and cut the wood shelf (fold-down shelf).

We decided to create a top with a fold-down for space-saving and to have extra space when working, where we could add stools for sitting. We used a nickel hinge and drop leaf supports. This connects the top with the fold-down shelf. 

• Here is the drop-leaf after attaching and painting
• Adding the drop-leaf hinges is easy. Mark where the placement is for each side of the wood. Then screw the hardware into place. 
• Do you have a dresser to convert or paint? I highly recommend trying these paints. 
• Below you can see the shelf extension open. This is perfect for having more space to work on baking or craft projects…
• The storage space underneath is perfect for storing my flat photo prop-surfaces. Or for sheet pans or other baking supplies. I try to keep it neat, though. 

The Finished Drop-Leaf Extension

Shown Raised Up, you can see how it will add more space for projects, cooking, or baking. 

The kitchen island was converted from a dresser. 

• Do you have furniture lying around that you want to make use of? I had stored it in the garage, and it was time to give this dresser new life. And make it useful again! 
• Meet the final hero of this project!
• Disclosure: I was supplied with the #chalkyfinish paints to complete my #decoartproject and compensated by Deco Art. These are 100% my own images, text, and experience with using the products to finish my project.

Products Used for this DIY project 

We used Americana Decor #ChalkyFinish paints. And their line of finishing products to complete this #Decoartproject

• Primitive

  

• Charcoal

  

• Clear Creme Wax

  

• For the top, we will be adding Americana Decor Soft-Touch Varnish

  

  (we had to order this online; it wasn’t in our local store, we live in a rural area)
• Americana Decor Chalky Finish Paint is available in Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, A.C. Moore, Amazon, and other stores

You can paint over dry-patched wood putty areas. You don’t need to pre-prep the wood surface, that is, unless you have severe repairs.

The paint is thick, goes on smoothly, and covers great. See the after, it’s amazing how good the coverage is with just two coats.

This is after the first coat of Chalk Paint. Clean-up is a breeze, too!

For the tops, we painted them with the Carbon Paint Color, which is a really pretty black (pop over for all the other color options to search Deco Art or Americana chalky finish paints). It took a few coats as we were using re-purposed wood. For the shelf under the dresser, we used a trim roller brush to spread the chalk paint.

Now I’m stocking the kitchen island with baking, cooking, and crafting supplies! The drawers suit their purpose for storing supplies, which are perfect for when I am working in the kitchen. 

To-Do List 

• Now to replace the sink and counters. Paint the kitchen cabinets or replace them. Add a new coat of paint on the walls!
• Work on our bathrooms…

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• Want a closer look? Click the next photo to see it larger.

• Again, Americana Decor Chalky Finish paint is available in Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, A.C. Moore, and other stores. Visit the DecoArt Chalky Finish website for more chalk paint ideas and inspiration.

Have you ever used Americana Chalky Finish Paints? What DIY projects are on your list to do?

DIY Projects 

• How To Make a Small Cabinet or Coffee /Tea Cupboard 
• How To Paint & Stencil Small Cabinet Coffee/Tea Cupboard
• How To Make A Towel Rack
• Creative Home DIY Projects

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