Repurposing an Old Dresser

Remove the doors and set the frame aside. Turn the drawers on their ends or sides to create shelving. Line the drawers up in a straight line or turn them in different directions and stack them. Drill holes and install nuts and bolts between shelves to secure the piece. Remove the base shelf supports or fit the base with shelves and use it as a kitchen island with a breakfast bar or storage.

Insert shallow wooden drawer dividers into each drawer to create storage squares for small supplies. Cut sheets of craft wood to the same width and length of the drawer interior and nail them to the bottom of another set of drawer dividers. Place them on top of the shallow dividers to add an extra layer of storage. Use the piece as craft supply storage, a jewelry box or an apothecary table.

Pull the drawers out of the dresser and cut a hole in the top the same size as the top drawer. Sand the cut edges and replace the top drawer. Place the dresser in a sunny room or outdoors and plant vegetables, flowers or herbs in each drawer. Pull the drawers below the top drawer out in a staggered pattern to expose the plants to sunlight.

Remove some of the drawers and turn the piece into a changing table. Place baskets in the drawer cavities for easier access to essential supplies. Put a skid-free changing pad on top of the dresser and hang a diaper storage bag from the side of the table. Replace the drawers to turn the piece back into a dresser when baby gets older.