Old Drawer to Rustic Shelf

Materials

• Small vintage dresser drawer
• Fine sandpaper
• Sawtooth picture hanger
• Primer and paint brushes
• Acrylic paints (burnt sienna and yellow ocher)
• Measuring tape or ruler
• Decorative paper, fabric or wallpaper
• Scissors or precision knife
• White craft glue
• Dried or artificial branches, leaves and berries
• Hot-glue gun with glue sticks

Optional

• Pine cone topper

Start with a drawer that’s not too deep and has a bit of character. By this we mean an appealing finish or texture or interesting hardware you can incorporate into the design. Our find came from The Salvation Army; you also can turn up old drawers at flea markets, second-hand shops and yard sales—or, best of all, in your own attic.

Instructions

Tips and Variations

We chose to paint this drawer—its finish was plain and not that appealing. You also can paint and then sand it slightly for a more distressed look. If your drawer is nicely stained, by all means skip the paint and let it stay as is. Ditto for interesting hardware: keeping an intriguing glass knob or unusual handle can be a clever reminder of your shelf’s origins.

Instead of fall branches and leaves, consider other themes: for example, decorate your drawer with a collection of seashells or add braid or other decorative trim to the edges. For a child’s room, consider drawer hardware/pulls in fun shapes such as flowers, trains and animals.