Crafts & DIY
Mom buys a $12 dresser from the thrift store then flips it into the perfect mobile work station
I never would have imagined this piece could be turned into a workstation, but wow she made it happen and it looks incredible!
Cedric Jackson
12.15.20

In today’s world, $12 isn’t enough to buy much of anything, especially a piece of furniture. But as you’re about to discover, it’s not what you spend initially but what you do with the item you purchase.

Check out thrift stores

With so many incredible bargains at thrift stores, you’d be amazed at what you can find. While you might have to make several visits before getting something of interest, don’t give up. These stores are stocked with all kinds of amazing things at incredibly low prices.

YouTube Screenshot/Thrift School
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YouTube Screenshot/Thrift School

An old dresser

One woman who sewed and made crafts for a living had been searching for a piece of furniture to repurpose. Then one day, she came upon a small dresser. Although it wasn’t exactly what she wanted, she had an idea. And it was only $12.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

Needing a workstation

This woman needed a new workstation. Looking at the dresser, she realized it would have to be quite a bit taller for it to serve its purpose. That’s when she came up with a plan for something that would surpass her expectations.

YouTube Screenshot/Create Room
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YouTube Screenshot/Create Room

Just the right size

She didn’t need something massive, just a workstation that would make both sewing and craft making easier. So, she started by building a frame on the bottom of the old dresser. That gave it some of the height she needed. For that, she used scrap 2×4 pieces already on hand.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

For the next step…

…she wanted a workstation that she could move around easily inside her office. To accomplish that, she added four coasters to the bottom of the frame. Those came from an old piece of furniture that she got rid of some time ago. Along with mobility, the casters made the station a tad bit taller.

YouTube Screenshot/Jack Rabbit Homestead
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YouTube Screenshot/Jack Rabbit Homestead

Expanding the work surface

For the old dresser to work as a sewing and craft workstation, she would need a larger surface. Again, using 2×4 pieces of plywood, she screwed them directly to the existing top. By countersinking the screws and filling the holes, it was completely smooth. As a bonus, this increased the height by an additional three-quarter inch.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

Starting to take shape

With those first steps done, the once small dresser was beginning to take shape. Now came the fun part. She painted the base of the workstation, the drawer fronts, and even the casters teal blue. That would give the final piece a fun pop of color.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

A big difference already

As she stood back to examine her work, the woman was thrilled. Once she got everything done, her new sewing and craft workstation was going to look fantastic. And it would be fully functional.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

Switching out the hardware

Seeing that the original hardware would no longer work, she decided to switch it out. She chose something that matched the base and the casters. From there, she painted the new work surface and the body of the dresser white, using a product she already had.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

The big reveal

With all the work completed, she was amazed at the difference. What started out as an old $12 dresser purchased at a thrift store was now a beautiful sewing and craft workstation. She then added a few matching accessories, and the project was done.

Home Talk
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Home Talk

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Source: Home Talk, Habitat for Humanity

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