Upcycled furniture projects continue to trend among new small business owners. As the demand for sustainable, repurposed decor rises, so do the opportunities for artists and craftspeople to make and sell their creations.
Practically anything can be repurposed, including upcycled drawers from old furniture like dressers, desks, tables, an old chest and other discarded items. All you need to start selling your designs are some upcycled drawers ideas and a few basic supplies.
What Can You Do with Old Drawers?
What can you do with old drawers? A more appropriate question might be, what can’t you do with old drawers? Options for upcycling drawers are only limited by your imagination and inspiration. Old drawers can be upcycled to other stylish storage solutions, or they can be repurposed and serve an entirely new function. For a successful small business, you can specialize in a single style of upcycled drawer, or you can create a vast inventory full of creative ideas for old drawers.
15 Upcycled Drawer Projects to Make and Sell
Are you prepared to begin upcycling drawers for sale? You’ll need some creative repurposed drawer ideas to kick off your project. Think about crafting upcycled drawers inspired by the following examples:
1. Under Bed Storage Solutions
image: Deavita
Upcycled drawers offer a fantastic way to maximize storage space by converting them into under-bed solutions. In the example above, Deavita demonstrates how to add wheels to the bottoms of several drawers, allowing them to slide in and out effortlessly from under the bed.
2. Floating Shelves
image: Organized Clutter
Floating shelves are an awesome idea for gifts, and they easily can be created by upcycling old drawers. Just flip the drawer on its side and decorate the inside to match any decorative scheme, then hang the repurposed drawer on the wall as an adorable floating shelf, adorned with keepsakes and knick knacks.
3. Drawer Bookshelf
image: Recreated Designs
A group of old wooden drawers can be repurposed into beautiful furniture for any home or office. In the above example, Recreated Designs explains how to upcycle old drawers with basic tools and a fresh coat of paint. No one will ever guess the unique creation started life as a set of drawers.
4. Bar Cart
image: Anika’s DIY Life
There are numerous creative ideas for upcycling drawers. Have you considered transforming old drawers into a chic bar cart? Anika’s DIY Life offers detailed instructions on how to craft a repurposed bar cart using upcycled drawers, as shown in the example above. This project not only results in a stylish piece of furniture but also provides additional storage space at the same time.
5. Chalkboard
image: Home Road
With some basic craft materials, an old drawer can be transformed into a convenient chalkboard, perfect for hanging on the wall of an office, kitchen or playroom. Just empty the old drawer, paint the inside with chalkboard paint, and hang your creation for style and function.
6. Cubby Organizer
image: My Repurposed Life
What additional storage space can you achieve using old wooden drawers? By utilizing a few small boards, applying fresh paint, and using basic tools, you can convert an old drawer into a cubby-filled storage unit, similar to the example above from My Repurposed Life. This is just one of the many creative upcycled drawers ideas you can try.
7. Plant Stand
image: Happy Together by Jess
Planters are a popular way to upcycled drawers from an old dresser. Whether designed for outdoor or indoor use, a fresh coat of paint and some basic materials can work wonders in repurposing old drawers as plant stands. In the above example, Happy Together by Jess provides instruction on upcycling a drawer as a stylish yet practical wood repurposed planter.
8. Sandwich Station
image: Curbly
Looking for extra creative ways to repurpose old drawers? Why not convert a dresser drawer into a hanging sandwich station like in the above example from Curbly. You’ll need some basic supplies and tools, but your unique creation will be a sure sale for your new small business.
9. Dog Bed
image: DIY Showoff
Depending on its size, an old drawer might be the perfect fit to create a functional dog bed. You’ll need little more than a fresh coat of paint, then fill the drawer with a dog mattress or bedding. In the above example, DIY Showoff demonstrates just how to transform a dresser drawer into a high-end dog bed, while having fun at the same time.
10. Jewelry Organizer
image: A Time for Everything
An old drawer can be transformed into a chic and functional jewelry storage solution by positioning it on its side. To create pegs and storage compartments, gather some essential materials, similar to the example shown above from A Time for Everything. A fresh coat of paint will breathe new life into the upcycled drawer, allowing it to be hung on the wall in a bedroom or bathroom.
11. Ottoman
image: Diary of a Crafty Lady
The ways to repurpose old dresser drawers are truly only limited by your inspiration. In this example from Diary of a Crafty Lady, the artist upcycled an old drawer as an ottoman, perfect for relaxation, style and storage. Check out simple steps for a better idea of how to recycle your old drawers as functional furniture.
12. Craft Paint Storage
image: Sadie’s Season Goods
Artists and craftspeople are always looking for new ways to store their supplies. An old dresser drawer can be upcycled into useful and convenient storage for paints and other craft supplies. Just add some small strips of wood for shelves and a fresh coat of paint. Check out the how-to from Sadie’s Season Goods above.
13. End Table
image: My Ideal Home
Old drawers can be converted into a variety of upcycled furniture designs and serve all sorts of functions. In the above example from My Ideal Home, the designer provides the steps to repurpose an old drawer as a rolling end table complete with storage solutions.
14. Fairy Garden
image: The Homespun Hydrangea
Fairy Gardens have become extremely popular among outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and hobbyists. Repurposing old drawers in this way offers a unique opportunity to start a successful small business. For guidance on how to transform dresser drawers into enchanting fairy gardens, like the one shown above, be sure to check out the instructions from The Homespun Hydrangea. This is just one of many fantastic upcycled drawers ideas!
15. Holiday Decor
image: Doodlebugs
Many artists and craftspeople have established thriving small businesses focused on holiday decor, and upcycled drawers can be transformed into stunning, unique decorations. There are countless ways to embellish upcycled dresser drawers, chest drawers, and even cabinet drawers with festive holiday designs, as illustrated in the example above from Doodlebugs.
How to Get Started Upcycling Drawers
You can find old drawers in a variety of locations. People are always discarding old dressers, desks and tables at yard sales, thrift stores and even on the curb, and the drawers are often in fine shape compared to other parts of the structures. Sometimes a resale shop will even sell individual drawers from old broken furniture for a dollar or two apiece.
Of course, you don’t need a vast inventory to launch your small business. Start off with a small investment of a couple of drawers and the supplies you need to upcycle them. Then, as you sell your creation, reinvest the profits to expand your inventory. Before you know it, you’ll be making a significant profit from your repurposed drawer ideas. You might even have some fun in the process.
Where to Sell Upcycled Drawers
Once you’ve built up a collection of upcycled drawer creations, it’s time to start selling your designs. Where can you sell your repurposed drawers? You can find out where to sell handmade items locally, or you might want to explore how to start a small business on Etsy and how to sell on Amazon Handmade.
Certainly! Here is the reworded paragraph for better clarity and flow:
Of course, you have the option to open your own store featuring a showroom filled with upcycled furniture and repurposed drawers. However, most new small business owners tend to begin on a smaller scale, which may include:
Online marketplaces such as Etsy provide a well-known e-commerce platform where individuals can purchase and sell crafts and handmade goods.
Amazon Handmade, a community within the e-commerce giant’s platform where artists and craftspeople sell their unique and one-of-a-kind creations.
Locally at flea markets, used furniture stores and consignment shops, as well as crafts fairs and festivals.
Other online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Read More: how to Start an Upcycling Business
Image: Depositphotos
This article, “15 Upcycled Drawers Ideas to Make and Sell” was first published on Small Business Trends