Happy Thursday, sweet friends! If you’re new around here, welcome!! I share a thrifty makeover every Tuesday and Thursday, and whether you’re new or not, I’m so thrilled you all could join me today for this dated thrift store chest makeover!
This chest was $5.25 and although it was quite dated, it had so much potential:
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Paint
After a good cleaning, I gave it three coats of Dixie Belle’s Cotton…
Adding a transfer
When the paint was completely dry, I added this pretty Floral Home transfer, starting with the bottom drawer:
(This transfer comes with four smaller, individual designs, and as of this writing, I still have a few available HERE in my Etsy shop.)
I cut the top of the transfer apart from the bottom and kept the backing on the top part attached while I burnished the design onto the bottom drawer using the included tool.
Then, I was able to line it up with the top drawers, so I could see where to cut it to fit each of those drawers and still have the design line up properly.
I then added the top half of the transfer to the top.
The Drawers
The insides of the drawers were kind of gross before as you would expect them to be after decades of use:
I pulled the peachy color from the transfer and painted the insides and the sides of the drawers in Dixie Belle’s Apricot:
It took just two coats. And as you saw, I painted the fronts in Cotton.
Sealing the finish
I sealed with Dixie Belle’s Satin Clear Coat using their blue sponge applicator, but I did have some help from my mini angle paint brush to apply the sealer to the insides of the drawers. It was easier to get in those inside corners of those small drawers with the brush than it would have been with a sponge.
Dated Thrift Store Chest Makeover Reveal
This forgotten piece is a real stunner now!
It’s amazing what a pretty transfer and paint can do!
I love the pop of Apricot on the drawers to match the transfer!
I sell a lot of this color…it’s so soft and lovely!
The pulls were the finishing touch! The original wooden knobs weren’t doing this little chest any favors, so I switched them up with two that I took off of this secretary, and two that I found in my stash.
They got freshened up with some Rustoleum Champagne Mist:
This little box still has a lot of life left in it!
I used this same transfer on this glass door cabinet last year:
See how that turned out HERE!
I also used another one of the designs from this transfer on this lamp makeover a few years ago:
See how that one turned out HERE!
I’ll be back on Tuesday sharing what I did with this sign:
I hope to see you back here too!
UPDATE: No need to come back! See how I gave this sign a whole new purpose HERE now!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
I remember this adorable chest turned out so cute! Love the transfer and color inside drawers!
Christy says
Thank you, Mary! This was a sweet one for sure…so far from where it started! Have a wonderful weekend! XOXO
Marcie Lovett says
Every time I open an email from you, I wonder what the heck is Christy thinking buying that?!? Once again, you took a dull and dated piece and turned it into something stunning. It truly is amazing what paint and transfers can do, but you have to have the imagination for it all to come together. This one is going to fly out of the booth!
Christy says
Thank you, Marcie!! Ha ha I know some of these pieces look so forlorn! They can only get better, right? XOOX
Josee says
You have transformed the plain chest into something really desirable and lovely.
Christy says
Thank you, Josee! She’s a real Cinderella! XOXO
Kathy from Jax says
This turned out beautiful. Someone will love to put sweet treasures in this. Perhaps jewelry or other keepsakes. Love the peach color. You always pick just the right transfers that make pieces unique.
Christy says
Thank you, Kathy! This transfer was the perfect size for this box! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
So sweet, and I love the soft, feminine color when you open the drawers! Pinned XOXO Have a great weekend my friend!
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! Yes, so soft now! Enjoy your weekend too!! XOXO
Lizzy says
It’s so pretty & sweet! I would put it on my dresser.
Christy says
Thanks, Lizzy! It would be great to hold all your favorite jewelry! XOXO
p says
I especially like transfers on the ‘smalls’. They become so special and personal. 🙂 I’m still intimidated by transfers. Wrinkles would be a bad thing. You tutorials are so well done… Maybe eventually I’ll get brave.
Christy says
Thank you, P! Transfers can be cut as small as you like for easy application, and then you can just match up the pattern. I hope you try them…they are so fun to create with! XOXO
Caye says
OMGosh, what a cute little chest! You did it a just service. It’s so sweet! You find the neatest things, Christy!
Christy says
Thanks, Caye! This one never knew it could be so sweet lol. I sure was a fantastic find! XOXO
Cecilia says
Love how this little chest turned out. Someone is going to snatch that up right away! The peach coordinates with transfer perfectly. Well done!
🥰Cecilia
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I’d love to use this peachy color on something bigger! XOXO
Ronette Krusa says
This box is adorable and I LOVE that transfer! I’m going to get it now from your shop.
🙂
Ronette
Christy says
Thank you, Ronette! I sold out of the ones I had left, but I have more on the way! XOXO
Michele M. says
It is so beautiful. I love what you did to bring that to such loveliness.
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! Happy weekend! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Looks perfect now! I love the color you chose for the knobs, they match everything so nicely.
Christy says
Thank you, Debra! I love that champagne color! XOXO
Camille says
You really transformed this piece. I love it!!
Christy says
Thank you, Camille! I don’t think it knew it had so much potential lol! XOXO