Inexpensive Dollar Tree storage drawers get an impressive industrial farmhouse makeover.
Do you love organizing and industrial farmhouse decor? Do you hate spending a lot of money on storage containers? Well, you're in luck! For this month's Dollar Store DIY, I'm sharing how I gave basic Dollar Tree storage the perfect industrial farmhouse makeover.
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- Dollar Store Storage drawers
- ORB Spray paint
- Scrapbook metal labels (I found mine at Michaels in the scrapbook section)
- Antique fasteners
- Fine grit sandpaper
- Balsa wood
- Wood furniture buttons
- Wood Stain (I used Minwax Espresso)
- Rapid Fuse wood adhesive
- Drill and 3/22 drill bit
HOW TO GIVE DOLLAR TREE STORAGE AN INDUSTRIAL FARMHOUSE MAKEOVER!
Thanks to a large stash of craft supplies the only items I needed to buy for this project were the actual storage drawers from Dollar Tree. If you don't have all the supplies needed you can still keep costs down by using coupons and watching out for sales.
I started with these mini storage drawers from Dollar Tree. They come in a variety of colors and can usually be found in January when stores are promoting storage and organizing items.
I started by pulling out the drawers, taking off the plastic pulls, lightly sanding the blue shells with fine grit sandpaper (this allows the paint to adhere better to the plastic) then I gave each one a few light coats of ORB spray paint (this is my favorite and holds up the best against chipping). I also spray painted the wood furniture buttons as well.
I had a few labels leftover from a previous project, but since some were spray painted gold I used gold and black metallic craft paint to make them all match. If you are purchasing new labels you can skip this step.
After the labels were dry I used a 3/22 drill bit to drill holes in the plastic drawers then attached the labels with decorative brads.
Since I removed the original pulls I added small wood buttons to use as knobs to open the drawers.
I didn't plan on adding stained wood to the sides, but after I had everything together the drawers still felt a little "cheap" and flimsy. Cutting thin balsa wood to size and staining them with espresso stain gave the drawers a more finished and expensive look.
I just applied a little Rapid Fuse wood adhesive to the sides of each piece of wood then added them to the sides of the plastic frame.
I'm pretty in love with the industrial farmhouse style of these little drawers. I don't know about you, but I think it's pretty hard to tell they originally came from the Dollar Tree. What do you think?
(click on the photo below)
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These are amazing! Awesome job, girl!
ReplyDeleteWell done. They would be a great gift for some people I know. Thanks, tanya
ReplyDeleteAmazing! They look so good. I will definitely be doing this project. Thank you for all your great ideas.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing idea and so timely too! I'm in the process of moving my home office and looking at inexpensive storage solutions that function well but look great on display. Pinning to bookmark and share - thank you for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThis is incredible! You've got me inspired to try something similar with an old 2-drawer rolling cart collecting dust in our basement.
ReplyDeleteThis looks amazing! What great inspiration, thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteWould these hold recipe cards? Going to shop these and wonder what size the actual drawer is? Such a great idea!! Would love to donate all my recipe books that I never use, except for maybe a couple of ideas out of each one. Clear the clutter!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, they are not large enough to hold recipes, but that would have been a great idea! The drawers measure roughly 3 x 4 1/2 if that helps.
DeleteThese are great! One question though, did you have trouble adhering the balsa wood to the sides so as not to interfere with the opening/closing of the drawers?
ReplyDeleteNo, not at all! The drawers have a little opening in the sides that was the perfect size for the balsa wood to slip into. I added glue to the top and bottom of the wood, slipped it in the opening then added the drawers once everything was dry. I hope that helps :)
DeleteKATIE!!! I LOVE these. I've already pinned them, but I'll pin them again! lol. I'm featuring them at the Creative Gallery party tomorrow night. LOVE that you added the wood on the sides too - such a nice touch!
ReplyDeleteThanks girl! I really appreciate the feature and all the shares :)
DeleteSo very clever, inexpensive, beautiful AND functional. Can't beat it! Pinning :)
ReplyDeleteThat is quite brilliant!! Truly amazing that you could transform plastic to look like it could be center stage!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea! If it ever warms up here in Michigan, I think I'm going to try this on a set of drawers I already have.
ReplyDeleteOMG that is freakin brilliant!! I love it! Gonna have to do this!
ReplyDeleteXO Ellen from Ask Away
www.askawayblog.com
These are absolutely amazeballs. I would NEVER have guessed that they started out as dollar store plastic drawers! Great job.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I've pinned this for future reference. Well done!
ReplyDeleteGreat drawers! Where did you get the balsa wood?
ReplyDeleteThe balsa would wood is from Michaels (use a 40% off coupon!), but you should be able to find it at most craft stores.
DeleteThis is so freaking amazing! I must have 4 or 5 sets of these and have been looking and looking for a way to update them so they don't look like cheap plastic drawers. This is INCREDIBLE!
ReplyDeleteCan I ask one thing - did you do anything on the back of the drawer? In other words, did you put the balsa wood on the back side of the frame to cover the drawer back or just leave the plastic drawer showing?
ReplyDeleteLove these! What is ORB paint?
ReplyDeleteORB is short for Oil Rubbed Bronze. It's the color of spray paint I used for the shell of the drawers.
DeleteThese are breathtaking gorgeous . I love, love, love them thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteI love these and am thinking about doing something similar to a "dresser" sized one I have. But I have the same question as Tammy, did you apply the balsa wood to the back as well?
ReplyDeleteThank you!
Wow these came out great!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I'm going to try the same idea, but on larger storage containers to make night stands, since I have been looking for something different for months. I will try a gun metal gray instead since originally I thought this was the color you used (in the 1st pic it looks more gray than bronze). My husband loves it too and thinks it will be perfect against more girly items in the bedroom. Thanks a bunch!
ReplyDeleteLove these ! Going to try it with my own
ReplyDeleteIf I’m using acrylic paint instead of spray paint, do you recommend I sand the plastic down as well or leave as is?
ReplyDeleteYes, you should always lightly sand so the paint has texture to adhere too. I would strongly suggest using spray paint over acrylic paint though, since acrylic is more likely to chip on plastic.
DeleteI AM SO GOING TO DO THIS TO MY OLD WALMART 3 DRAWER PLASTIC DRAWERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INSPIRATION!
ReplyDelete