Today’s before and after furniture reveal really is a one-of-a-kind piece that’s been transformed with laminate wood flooring planks. What started as a dresser is now a multi-purpose, two-sided open console. It’s a media console, a room divider, a horizontal bookcase, an open-storage dining sideboard, an entryway welcoming center, and even a very chic toy storage unit that you wouldn’t mind showcasing in your living room! It has so many incredible uses and can move from room to room as your life changes.
In its past life, this long piece of furniture was a dresser with nine drawers (two of them behind cabinet doors). When I found it, all of the drawers were missing. Never one to turned down an amazing piece of wood furniture with such potential, this dresser was quickly loaded into my truck and brought to my workshop. That was eleven months ago!
With all of the drawers missing, this wasn’t just a sand-and-stain type of project. Something had to be done with those large gaping holes left where drawers once lived. I contemplated having all new drawers made; but it was just too cost prohibitive. The last time I priced out construction of a small drawer it was close to $100.
Cabinet doors would have been a more affordable option, I just never got around to searching out a local handyman that could make them at a reasonable cost. (If any of my local friends are reading this and know of someone, please send me their info!)
So the dresser continued to sit in my garage as I moved on to other projects.
Then, just a few weeks ago, I had an idea to transform the dresser into open shelving that could be used for media boxes, xBox’s, baskets, books, linens, or dishes and large platters.
The back of the dresser was removed along with all of the drawer slides and braces and after sanding it down the dresser was stained (inside and out) with a dark expresso stain. I was left with an almost-flat surface inside the dresser, but it still looked unfinished. So with the help of my very handy and helpful husband, we lined the inside shelves with wood laminate flooring!
TrafficMASTER wood laminate flooring was an cost-effective choice for this project. Since there were nine planks per box, we only needed one full box to complete this transformation project. Total cost of the laminate wood planks… only $25!
Two laminate wood floor planks fit almost perfect side-by-side. We simply used a table saw to trim the tongue & goove edges off each plank, stained the edges, and laid them side-by-side. Each shelf needed three planks to fill the space.
The color of their Handscraped Saratoga Hickory matched the expressso stain used on the console perfectly. TrafficMASTER can be found at Home Depot or on Amazon here.
In full disclosure, this is not a sponsored post and all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links to the products used. If you click and purchase through the affiliate link, you won’t pay any extra but I will earn a small amount for the referral, so your support would be much appreciated.
The console even looks great from the back side now that the back panel has been removed. The edges are a little more rough than the front, but the dark stain blends everything together nicely.
The basket shown in the photos is 4-1/2 inches high, perfect height to store items and keep them organized, without getting lost in a deeper basket. You could easily use larger baskets that are six inches high and they would look more like a drawer, filling the space.
I placed the basket here to give you an idea of size, but this top row really is perfect for media boxes and game systems. Then all of the actual games could be hidden out-of-sight behind the doors.
In the four shelves on each side of the doors, I imagine baskets, stacked books, or showcasing favorite items. How great would this be in a dining room filled with the dishes you use everyday? Just grab and go. No fussing with doors. Even your little helpers could reach these low shelves to help set the table. This console is so incredibly practical and beautiful.
This dresser turned media console… room divider… dining room sideboard… entryway table… chic toy storage looks amazing. So happy I was able to save this one!
For exact dimensions and pricing see the online Entri Ways’ Shop.
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It’s gorgeous!
Thank you Sandra!
I would never have guessed this started life as a dresser. It really looks like one of the television consoles you can buy today! You restyled this perfectly! Thanks so much for sharing this at Celebrate Your Story! I hope it inspires others to go the same route with an old dresser!
Thank you Chloe. It’s now such a versitile piece of furniture too.
Hi which brand of espresso stain you used please
I usually buy Varathane.