Antique Wardrobe Restoration: Furniture Flip Before and After Dear Creatives

Are you looking for furniture upcycle ideas? This antique wardrobe restoration is one of the most extensive and beautiful transformations shared in our blog community. We are thrilled to feature this project, which proves that even a “fixer-upper” in rough shape can become a heirloom piece with some vision and TLC.

It literally was guts and the rebuild making the prettiest furniture restoration.

Upcycled Furniture

I admit the average person might not be able to tackle a fixer upper this big. But, if you are handy or have someone handy to help you this furniture project will inspire you to get working on your next project.

Not as handy? Look for a piece of furniture on Craig's List, a yard sale or thrift shop that just needs a little TLC such as painting. I know I will be looking for pretty pieces to makeover this spring when I'm out at yard sales and the flea market.

The paint color choice of this wardrobe is impressive. It makes me want to redo my dresser to kitchen island with a pop of color!

It is almost due for a deep cleaning and new paint job it's been a few years since I gave it a furniture makeover. Enough about that check this antique wardrobe out.

Upcycled Furniture Before and After

Upcycled furniture - This before and after wardrobe - dresser will inspire your upcycling projects. See this and more ideas at DearCreatives.com #upcycling #furniture #furnituremakeover #furnitureupcyclingideas #diy #dearcreatives

The Antique Wardrobe: Before The Flip

The original piece was an antique wardrobe (sometimes called a chifforobe) that had seen better days. It required a full “guts and rebuild” approach rather than just a simple coat of paint.

What is a chifforobe?

It's a piece of furniture having both drawers and a space for hanging clothes.

What were repairs were done to this antique dresser?

Key Restoration Steps and Repairs

To take this from a thrift-store find to a statement piece, several major updates were made:
Structural Rebuild: The mirror holder and frame were custom-built to fit the piece.
New Glass: A fresh mirror was cut to size and installed using special mirror tilt hardware.
Hardware Update: The old pulls were replaced with new hardware that complements the antique style.
Mobility: Castors were added to the bottom, making this heavy piece easy to move around a room.
The Finish: A professional paint job in a bold, impressive color choice that completely modernized the silhouette.

How to Restore Antique Furniture: Video Tutorial

If you are new to furniture flipping, seeing the process in action is incredibly helpful. While this specific wardrobe was a custom community project, the following guide covers the fundamentals of cleaning, sanding, and painting antique wood.

Why Watch This Guide?

Technique: Learn how to handle old wood without damaging the grain.
Supplies: A checklist of what you need before you start your first flip.

Summary of the Transformation

This project is a perfect example of why we love upcycling. By saving an antique from a landfill and giving it a “pop of color,” it becomes a unique piece of home decor that tells a story.

The finished results is a beautifully restored and finished antique wardrobe. PS. If you live in the Pensacola Florida area this piece (antique wardrobe, chifforobe) might still be for sale.

Technique: Learn how to handle old wood without damaging the grain.

Head over to find out more or see the entire restoration process. Or to see other diys or restorations that kippiathome has done.

Do you have a project to inspire us with? We'd love to share your ideas, flea market flips, diys, home projects, crafts and recipes. Just email us with subject: blogger feature inquiry.