Fixing a Beat Up Dresser

Let’s talk about the cost of new furniture. Not only is it expensive, but a lot of newer furniture is poorly made, making it more likely to break. This badly constructed furniture then ends up in landfills and contributes to greenhouse gases. I know that DIYs are not for everyone, but if you have the time and patience, they can be a great option for getting custom furniture at a low cost. Today I’m going to walk you through fixing a beat up dresser. I’m hardly the first person to attempt this DIY project, but I hope this gives you some ideas for fixing your own furniture pieces!

I had been looking for a lowboy dresser for our guest room for months before I stumbled across this sad looking dresser on Facebook Marketplace. The seller was asking $55 and offered delivery, so I went for it. The dresser was in pretty rough shape and definitely needed a paint job. There were also a couple corners missing from the drawers. Despite needing some work, all the drawers were functioning and the piece was the perfect size for our guest room.

Steps

1. Clean your piece! Use gentle soap and water if it’s really dirty. If not, a cloth should be sufficient.
2. Sand, sand, sand. Work your way to the original wood, or in my case, just try to buff up the surface.
3. Use wood filler in any area that needs it. I used PC Woody
4. Use a sander to smooth out the wood filler.
5. Prime your piece. Don’t skip this step!
6. Paint 2- 3 coats of your color of choice.
7. Add a coat of water based polyurethane.
8. Add new hardware if you’d like.

Even though I would have preferred a wood dresser, the FB Marketplace pickings have been slim in the Chicago area since the start of the pandemic. Prices and availability dictated this pick, but I’m happy with how it turned out! The great thing about buying used items is that you can often resell them if your tastes change. I like this dresser for now, but it’s not going to be a piece I keep for the rest of my life – and that’s ok!! My investment was small and I will feel no guilt letting go of it. Buying second hand furniture is a great option for renters and people buying their first homes. It takes a long time to figure out your decor preferences and used furniture is not a huge investment to make while you find your style.