Do you have a dresser you are no longer using, and you aren’t sure what to do with it? Before you decide to get rid of it for good, think about giving it another purpose in your home. There are many things you can do with a dresser that don’t just involve storing clothes.
Besides storing clothes, dressers can also be used as:
- Shelving and storage solutions
- Benches
- Bathroom vanities
- TV stands
- Media consoles
- Entryway tables
With a bit of imagination and ingenuity, your dresser can have a new purpose. In fact, breathing new life into an unused dresser can be as easy as applying fresh paint and removing or adjusting the drawers—what a great way to switch things up in your home without going out and buying new furniture! Below, we have a few ideas to share so that you can turn your old dresser into a new piece of functional furniture.
How Else Can I Use a Dresser?
Dressers are one of the easiest pieces of furniture to transform into another piece of functional furniture for your home. They have built-in shelves that house drawers, a stable base, and the top that can also serve as a table open up many possibilities.
You’ll need some basic tools handy, painting supplies, and any other creative items that will help you transform your old dresser into a new and functional piece of furniture. Here are a few creative dresser projects and ideas:
- Ditch the drawers and use the dresser as shelving. Need a place for your books and knick-knacks or storage for towels or winter clothing? A big empty dresser in your mudroom is a great place to stow winter hats, gloves, scarfs, and sweaters. It also makes an excellent ready-made bookshelf or storage for towels; the possibilities are endless.
- Consider using those dresser drawers as shelves. Simply screw them to a wall, or screw them together (think bookshelf here); you can put the shelving to use immediately. You can paint them to match the area where you are using them, too. Larger drawers are excellent as bookshelves and plant holders; smaller shelves work well for jewelry. Consider just affixing the face of the drawer (or several) to a wall, and you can use the knobs for hanging clothes, coats, and scarves.
- Make a bench. Remove the top and the top drawers, add a piece of plywood for a seat, paint it to match the area where you want to put it, add foam and upholstery or a pillow for comfort, and voilà—instant bench.
- Repurpose your dresser into a bathroom vanity. Dressers are an excellent choice for a bathroom vanity but require planning and specific parts like a sink and plumbing. However, the extra attention this project takes is well worth the time and effort and will transform an old dresser into a unique centerpiece in your bathroom.
There are many ways a dresser or dresser parts can be given a new purpose in your home. The ideas presented above are only a few of the creative ways to reuse an old dresser. Let’s look at some of the other ways we can convert dressers for functional home use.
Can You Use a Dresser as a TV Stand?
A dresser makes an excellent TV stand. There are some fun and fashionable ways to convert a dresser into a TV stand; here are images (link to Pinterest) of successful transformations.
Here are a few ideas to consider when converting a dresser to a TV stand:
- Think about taking the top set of drawers out, insert shelves for storage, and have easy access to TV remotes and other equipment.
- Or take out the bottom drawers and place baskets or fabric insert boxes for extra storage for books, magazines, or toys.
- Drill small holes in the back of the dresser to run cords through the back, so the cords are out of sight.
- Sanding and applying a fresh coat of paint is an easy way to make dramatic changes. Replacing knobs or adding detailed touches also helps create a fresh look.
Can You Use a Dresser as a Media Console?
You can use a dresser as a media console. This is an excellent idea, especially when you consider the price of purchasing a new media console and generally how “plain Jane” most store-bought consoles look.
Media consoles or entertainment centers are an all-in-one storage area; dressers, with their built-in storage features, are ideal for this purpose. A media console organizes all the media items, hides unsightly cords, and can be designed and painted so that it blends seamlessly into your living space and is an integral part of your home.
This article covers the step-by-step process of making a dresser into a media console. Rehinging the drawers so that the front flips down and a fresh coat of paint makes this DIY project easy and quick.
Can I Use a Dresser as an Entryway Table?
Not only can you use a dresser as an entryway table, but being able to stow away your car keys, purse, and briefcase right when you enter your home is an added benefit.
Not only will you know exactly where you put these important items, but you’ll also be able to hide them out of sight and reduce the clutter that can accumulate around your entryway.
When considering converting a dresser for use as an entryway table, think about how you want to style it so that it fits in with your decor. There are many design statements you can consider depending on what you already have in your home:
- Country or Rustic
- Shabby Chic
- Coastal
- Modern
- Minimalist
- Contemporary
- Bohemian
Look at this dresser conversion project as a creative challenge; you have an excellent platform that, with some imagination, you can create a whole other functional piece of furniture for your home. Not only that, but you can also restyle it to match your current interior design.
If your dresser has a mirror, you can also remove it in a few simple steps.
Conclusion
There are so many answers to the question, “What else can a dresser be used for?” We’ve briefly touched upon a few of the many ways you can convert a dresser into another piece of functional furniture. Like so many DIY projects, you can devote as much or as little time and resources to your dresser conversion and feel great about repurposing old dressers into new items for your home.
Next, you can check out my guide on how to fold your clothes to save space here or learn to furnish a small bedroom.
I’m an expert wardrobe organizer and a bit of a clean freak. I created this website and its YouTube channel to share practical guides about laundry and organizing. My teachings have been featured in multiple large news publications, and I’ve self-published two wardrobe organizing books and an entire course on the subject.
