Welcome to another Furniture Fixer Upper Day, amazing friends! I have an interesting post for y’all today. I’m sharing how to change the bottom of a dresser!
Before I get to that, just a reminder that my friends have furniture fixer-upper’s of their own to share, so be on the lookout for those at the bottom!
Let’s Get to it!
I found this dresser at the Goodwill near my house for only $15.99:
Aside from a few small scratches and that larger scratch on the third drawer down, it was in excellent condition. There was just one teeny tiny problem.
While it looks perfectly normal from the front, check out what’s going on on the sides:
Why on earth would they not continue the that trim on the sides?
That weird cut out does absolutely nothing for this dresser! So, I set out to fix that!
I’ve included a few affiliate links so you can find the products I love.
Clean
First, this thing got a good cleaning. I removed the drawers and and gave everything a good wipe down with my favorite cleaner for furniture pieces, White Lightning, mixing one TBSP into a half gallon of warm water:
White Lightning is a degreaser and a deglosser and gloves are recommended. These terrycloth applicator pads are ideal for this step and can be tossed right in the wash. Be sure to swap your dirty water for clean water and give everything another wipe down to remove any residue.
Fill holes/scratches
Next, I filled several scratches as well as the hardware holes using Dixie Mud:
How to Change the Bottom of a Dresser
Now is where it gets interesting…figuring out how to change the bottom.
Here’s another look at that weird situation on the bottom:
It’s like business in the front and a barnyard hoedown on the sides…they just don’t go together!
To get a better look at what I was dealing with, I went ahead and removed that front piece that was held in place with a few screws and some glue:
I removed the straight piece there also.
Then I decided to saw off the sides. I started by leaving about an inch from the actual bottom first, but then I had a change of plans and ended up removing all of the excess wood from either side using my Ryobi Circular Saw and straight edge guide to help keep my cut straight:
(You can see on the other end where I first left a little of the sides.)
Now the bottom of my dresser looked like this:
Sand
At this point, I sanded all the mudded areas smooth using 220 grit sandpaper:
I was waiting on feet I had ordered from Amazon so I decided to go ahead and paint.
Paint
I recently sold this black dresser and this oak pedestal table I just shared, so to fill the void they left in my booth, I decided to paint this one in Caviar by Dixie Belle:
I applied two coats using my favorite Mini Angle brush.
Caviar is a perfect, true black, and I just love how it can make just about anything look elegant!
Sand
Once the paint was dry, I sanded to smooth using a fine grit sanding sponge:
Sanding darker pieces will look terrible when you do this, but sealing them will fix everything!
Sanding is important when using chalk paint as it has a slight texture to it, however, just the lightest sanding will make your surface smooth as butter.
Seal
I cleaned away any dust and sealed with Clear Coat in Satin, but for darker pieces, you will get a nicer finish if you add just a tiny bit of paint to it:
This greatly reduces the “ghosting” effect you get when running your finger across the surface of a dark painted piece.
I applied it with the blue sponge applicator which makes it so easy!
Now let’s address the bottom of this dresser!
The feet I ordered had arrived and I had originally just planned to add new feet to the bottom. Easy, right??
However, when I flipped it over to see the bottom, this is what I got:
I’m facing the front of the dresser in that picture, and that is the right side edge. I was limited to a very short screw on the front edge, but I would really need that corner to hold my bracket.
However, I was not expecting that weird hole in the corner! How could I add hardware to that when there was a hole?? It was exactly where I would need to screw this metal plate in:
Plus, that center area was just the flimsy thick cardboard you find between drawers, so I would only be able to attach three of the corners anyway, and that just wasn’t going to work.
Time to rethink this thing through with a trip to Home Depot!
So, off to Home Depot I went with absolutely no plan! Once I got there though, I thought out a solution.
It involved one 1″ X 10″ X 6′ piece of lumber, and a piece of decorative trim:
Here is how I added a new base to my dresser…
I needed to make one large board that was 16.5″ X 30″ to fit the exact dimensions of the bottom of the dresser.
To do that, I cut two pieces from the wood plank to fit the length of the dresser using my Ryobi Sliding Miter Saw:
One was too wide now, so I needed to rip one of them down to get the size I needed and did that using my Ryobi Circular Saw and straight edge guide once again:
I sanded both pieces with 220 grit sandpaper to smooth them out all over:
Then I used wood glue to attach the boards to one another to make one large board:
Those pieces were held together using clamps:
And finally, I was able to attach the new larger board to the bottom by first drilling a pilot hole (as not to split the wood with the screws) and then inserting screws all the way around the perimeter:
Now I could add just about any feet I wanted since I had a solid base in which to attach them!
Adding feet
I actually ordered a few different styles from Amazon.
Before you scroll, guess which ones I chose:
The curvy ones were my favorite (find them HERE), but they were a bit too tall and would probably work better for a chair or sofa. The ones on the other end were too small (find those HERE), so the middle ones were it! You can find them on Amazon HERE.
They came with everything needed to attach them to the bottom.
I just drilled a hole for these metal pieces to be inserted into, dropped them in the holes and screwed them in place, and then screwed the legs right on in:
Super easy!
The last thing to do was add some trim like you see in that bottom photo to hide the seam where the wood I added met the bottom of the dresser. I used my miter saw once again to cut that:
I painted and sealed it before adding it to the base, which I did with wood glue and eventually, my nail gun:
How to Change the Bottom of Dresser The Big Reveal
This one took way more time and energy than it was worth honestly, but I’m so glad I was able to work through it and get the job done!
Here is how it looks now:
It does appear shorter since it doesn’t go all the way to the floor, but it’s only a couple of inches shorter.
It’s cute though, right? I kept it super simple with some pretty gold hardware, all from Hobby Lobby…
I added some Gold Gilding wax to brighten up the metal parts on these glass ones…
The pulls were a bit more harsh of a gold color, so I toned them down with the Gold Gilding wax as well:
The Drawers
The inside of the drawers were in perfect condition, but I did line the top, smaller drawer with this pretty floral Waverly fabric I picked up at Walmart:
The sides were pretty rough and the stain had covered the dovetail joints, so I sanded them. Then I followed up with Big Mama’s Butta to hydrate them:
The New Bottom
Here’s a closer look at the new bottom! The trim finished it off so nicely…
And I think the new legs suit it just right!
Had the front trim wrapped all the way around, I would have left it, but now it’s like it was always this way!
Which do you prefer?
Don’t forget, my Furniture Fixer Upper friends have their own furniture flips to share today:
Another one done, only 52 pieces left! ????
And after today’s very involved makeover, I’ll be keeping it simple on Tuesday with this old Home Interiors shelf:
UPDATE: No need to wait! See how I did this 80’s staple justice HERE!
Have a lovely weekend!
XOXO,
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Mary Kaiser says
Oh la la, the black is beautiful on it, and you did that dresser justice fixing it so it is right!! That was so so strange that they didn’t continue the trim around the side!! Your verison is sooooo much better!! I love how this turned out, it is beautiful now!!!! I love the size of this dresser, and if I lived anywhere near Virginia it would be mine!!!!
Christy says
Aww yay!! Thanks so much, Mary! I agree that bottom situation was so strange! Have a wonderful weekend!! XOXO
Janette Deans says
What a stunning transformation, I love this piece.
Christy says
Aww thank you so much, Janette!! I’m so glad you like it! XOXO
Michele M. says
Christy, I absolutely positively ADORE that dresser. It looks amazing and oh my word, you worked your tush off for it. Ugh. BUT it is truly AWESOME.
Christy says
Thank you, Michele! This one worked me pretty hard lol, but I am so happy with the result! XOXO
Janice Redden says
Christy, this one was another huge SAVE! It turned out just beautiful. That wonky front is a puzzler – the odd cut-out on the sides, I wonder if it abutted up next to a companion piece at one time so the front would look continuous. Anyway, very strange but you did it justice. Someone will end up with a lovely addition to their home.
Happy Memorial Day!!
Christy says
Thank you, Janice! That would totally make sense if the front piece stopped at the edge on either side, but maybe there were two that flanked a bed? I’m stumped ha ha! Enjoy your long weekend! XOXO
Amanda says
Wow! I love it!! Those legs and the caviar color just take it to a whole new level. Nice work, Miss Christy!
Christy says
Thank you, Amanda! It was more work than I expected, but I’m so happy with the result! XOXO
Teresa Brown says
Yes Christy , I must say two thumbs up for the dresser . It turned out beautiful .
Christy says
Thank you, Teresa! Glad it’s done lol! XOXO
Cyndi says
Yeah, that was a LOT of work, but it’s stunning now! Wow. The trim is perfect (and looks the way it should have to start with!), and I love the pulls and knobs, too.
Christy says
Thanks so much, Cyndi! I’m so glad it came together…I was worried for a minute lol! XOXO
Kathy W says
Whoa, Christy, what a beauty!!!!!! Love everything…so much!! Caviar is becoming a new favorite of mine. As you pointed out, it makes everything elegant. And, the hardware…so pretty!! Thank you for sharing how to change the bottom of a piece of furniture. That is so helpful especially when a piece doesn’t have substantial wood to add feet. Will definitely keep that in mind for the future. Always learning from you, most talented lady. Thank you for taking the time to educate your followers. You’re the best!!
Kathy W
oxox
Christy says
Thank you so much, my sweet friend! Caviar is almost like white, it can fix most anything! I’m glad you found this helpful…it will help me in the future too. I’m always searching past posts to see how I did things ha ha! XOXO
Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says
The bottom of this dresser was a little ‘different’ so I LOVE the new feet and base you added. Such a classic gorgeous restyle my friend! Pinned XOXO
Christy says
Thank you, my friend! It was an odd one for sure! XOXO
Mary Smart says
WOW Christy that one is a stunner! You really had to work on that one but it turned out perfect! I love the Gold hardware!
Christy says
I’m so glad you like it, Mary, thank you! XOXO
Lorri says
Wow!! That was alot of work for you. Absolutely lovely…but nothing you cant handle..????
Christy says
It was more than I expected, but I’m glad I was able to work it out. Now I feel like it would be easier in the future! Thank you, Lorri! XOXO
Cecilia says
I like the new feet and bottom. The other looked dated to me, not to mention the weird layout. Black and gold! Such a pretty combo!
Christy says
Thank you, Cecilia! I agree! And black and gold are such a classic combination! XOXO
Laura J. says
Gorgeous dresser Christy! Caviar is such a sexy color, LOL. The bottom of the dresser is now modern elegant. Your magic touch is truly amazing! Love it!
Christy says
Ha ha it really is! Thank you so much, Laura! XOXO
Caye says
OMGosh Christy! You made my head spin with all the woodworking you accomplished! I am so inept at all that. What an amazing job you did!
All that said, the one thing that tickled me to pieces is that you got those glass pulls with the ornate “frame” and you painted it to pull in the gold pulls! So often I see the glass ornamentation used on the upper drawers with the metal pulls beneath and the glass just gets ignored. But yours are out front and say, “HEY!” I LOVE it.
I bet this piece will just fly out the door, Christy.
!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Caye! I appreciate that! And yes, those glass pulls will not be ignored ha ha! Have a great weekend! XOXO
Debra Hubbs says
Ok so I think you classify as a furniture builder as well as painter lol. So much work but it’s beautiful! So classy looking. Love it!
Christy says
I honestly don’t know how actual furniture builders do it…it is a lot to get everything even, level, and square ha ha! I like to dabble in the building, but I think I’ll stick to mostly painting! Thank you so much, my friend! XOXO
Mariele says
So elegant and classy!! I love the new look. But OMG you had me scared to death with the progress picture, I thought you didn’t put any trim on the sides at first ???????? I really love how the drawers look, both just wood and with the fabric lining them.
Christy says
Thank you, Mariele! Ha ha! I honestly had no idea how to remedy this situation when I began, but I was able to work through it, thank goodness! XOXO
Michelle Marie Bagby says
Like the quintessential ‘little black dress’, you could dress this beauty up or down. And boy, did you dress her up! But besides being beautiful, it’s also a classic.
One of my favs by you!
Bravo!!
Christy says
Absolutely! Thank you so much, Michelle! I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! XOXO
Kay says
Beautiful transformation! Your vision for a piece always impresses me!
Christy says
Aww I appreciate that so much, Kay, thank you! XOXO
Natalie says
I love how you handled that tricky side trim.. This is beautiful!
Christy says
Thanks so much, Natalie! I know you can appreciate figuring out the build part…there is literally nothing online I could find to help me out unless I wanted straight, modern legs lol. I worked it out though! XOXO
Ewa says
I always say that ” the devil is in the details “. I love these turned legs. A classic in themselves. Bravo Christy
Christy says
Thanks so much, Ewa!! XOXO
Cheryl says
Love it! It doesn’t look dated anymore!
Christy says
Thank you, Cheryl! It’s amazing what a new bottom did for it! XOXO
Becky says
Fabulous! I’m especially impressed with what that bottom trim does for the whole thing. Let this be a reminder to me: TRIM!!! It makes the difference! Every time! ????????
Christy says
Thank you, Becky! I was a bit nervous to chop off the bottom, but I am SO glad it worked out lol, and yes, the trim fixed everything! XOXO
Sharon L Austin says
This turned out gorgeous!!
Christy says
Thank you, Sharon! XOXO