Repurpose A Forgotten Thrift Store Find Into A Unique Statement Piece For Any Room

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Finding ways to accent your home with unique decor seems to get harder each year. Big box stores turn out new designs at a rapid pace, and sometimes it feels like everyone has the same furnishings in different colors or patterns. One way to break the mold is to scour your local thrift store for something that can be repurposed. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, more than 9 million tons of furniture end up in landfills every year. So, upcycling these items not only makes your home more beautiful but also makes the planet more beautiful. There are plenty of quirky vintage decor items that you should always look for at the thrift store. In this project, the item getting a glow-up is a large antique drawer.

Big, bulky hardwood drawers aren't something you often see lining the shelves of your local minimalist Swedish furnishing store. If you can find one in good shape, you can create a country cottage or farmhouse wall shelf that steals the show as an accent. The rectangular exterior works as a frame. All you need to do is add a few extra boards as a front panel, spacers, and shelves. Hang the piece vertically, and you'll have a gorgeous space to display flowers, photos, and more. You could even use this as a simple and affordable DIY shelving system that will tidy up your bathroom or kitchen counters by storing supplies you don't want cluttering surface areas.

You'll need a few supplies to begin. A large antique drawer is the star of the show. Look for one that has a strong foundation and that suits the aesthetic of the room you want to mount it in. Next, you'll need two boards — one about the same thickness as the sides of the drawer, and one slightly thinner. The length of the board depends on the measurements of your antique. You need it to be longer than the rectangular frame. A hammer and nails, wood glue like Elmer's E7000 Carpenter Glue, and a saw are a must. Don't overlook the thrift store when shopping for DIY supplies; you may even find wood planks that work for this build.

The thicker board is cut to the length of the widest part of the drawer, with two thin strips cut to use as spacers. The thinner plank is measured and cut to create an interior shelf. Use wood glue and nails to secure the thicker board to the bottom front of the drawer, adding the spacers along the top interior edge so it leans outward. Attach your shelves inside horizontally above the slightly extended front panel at the base. Add dried flowers, framed photos, and other items that play on the antique vibe. You can also paint or stain the wood to fit your motif. In the end, you'll have a beautiful repurposed accent accessory that doubles as storage, and is both unique and eco-friendly.