Turn An Old Hutch Top Into The Perfect Storage Cabinet

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Vintage furniture often has its own special character, and many thrifty folks know that it only takes a little effort to transform an affordable find into a beautiful central home feature. These old (but in good shape) pieces that you can purchase on the cheap work wonderfully for mixing old styles with modern ones, giving your home more personality with just a touch of an old soul. This 'hipstoric' home aesthetic is one of the latest vintage-loving decor trends. If you are looking for a more stylish and unique storage piece for your home, consider upcycling an old hutch top into a practical, functional freestanding cabinet to store and display items.

Your first step to achieving this is locating the right hutch for your project. Quality hutches and cabinets can likely be found in places like local thrift or consignment shops. Those that rotate their inventory frequently and offer bargain prices can be ideal for finding that hidden treasure. Many estate sales offer furniture collections that are priced to go, and you can also peruse online marketplaces for local or distant hutches. To transform your hutch, you'll need the hutch top and some adjustable furniture legs, like these Btibpse Solid Wood Furniture Legs. Get some sandpaper for smoothing, the paint or stain of your choice, your drill, and some wood screws. You can also get some new hardware, such as these BEILEIOU Antique Brass Cabinet Knobs, a wooden board for the top, chicken wire, or some decorative trim.

There are numerous creative ways to repurpose old or unwanted items. For this project, you'll need to separate the top of the hutch from its base if you haven't already. Clean all of the surfaces, and carefully remove any glass or wood pieces you want to change out or that might have damage. Next, install the legs on the top of the hutch. The easiest way to add feet or legs is with T-Nuts, like these Aovchei T-Nuts. Once you drill them into each corner, you can screw the furniture legs into the top. Then, flip it upside down (which is your new right side up). Lightly sand surfaces to remove any rough spots or stains and smooth the wood.

Next, choose a paint or stain that complements your room's decor, such as this Minwax Dark Walnut Wood Finish. If you're painting the hutch, you'll want to stain it first and let it dry, or use primer to help the color last longer, especially with colors like distressed white for a more farmhouse aesthetic. Feel free to get creative and change out the glass on the cabinets for chicken wire to complete the farmhouse look, add some decorative trim, or install a wooden board across the top for extra shelving. You can also blend your upcycled furniture into your modern decor. If you bought new hardware, install it with your drill and screws once the paint or stain is dry. Add your decor items to your new and beautiful storage cabinet.