DIY chest of drawers decor - various techniques and a selection of 40 photos

How to choose material for a chest of drawers

Of course, the most suitable material for making a chest of drawers is wood. It has many advantages over other materials. Firstly, it is an environmentally friendly material that will last a very long time. Secondly, wooden furniture always looks very unique and elegant. If you approach manufacturing with all seriousness, you can make incredibly beautiful and special furniture.

Chests of drawers are mainly used to store household items: dishes, books, records, bedding, towels and even clothes.

Note. For a chest of drawers, it is best to take rocks that are classified as hard, but any others are also possible.

Materials:

Pine. It is softer, but at the same time very easy to process. It is best used to create stools, bedside tables, and chests of drawers. The downside is that the surface scratches very easily, so over time it doesn’t look very attractive.
Birch. This is a harder wood with an attractive texture. The disadvantages are the inability to tolerate humidity and the ability to withstand only light loads.
Beech. One of the most suitable options, because it is quite durable, can withstand a lot of weight, but also does not like moisture and quickly absorbs it.
Oak. It is the most popular breed, because it has high strength and durability. At the same time, such a tree is not deformed, does not rot and is not affected by insects.

Furniture panels can be used as the main material.
You can take any of these species, but take into account some features so that the furniture lasts as long as possible. If the material cannot withstand moisture or cannot support a lot of weight, then you should not test its capabilities.

Even an inexperienced craftsman can make a chest of drawers with his own hands.

General Basics and Rules

This universal piece of furniture is very convenient, from the point of view of the fact that you can hide a lot of useful things there at your discretion and it requires very little space. However, this depends on which option is preferred. The modern market offers the buyer a variety of styles and colors to suit every taste, for example, Camellia, Grace, Beijing, Grand, Rondo models. You can buy an inexpensive chest of drawers in an understated style or an artsy one in the form of a timeless classic. But no matter which option is chosen, the item will need to be collected.

Chests of drawers Turin new and others can be stationary and mobile. The latest models, for example, Matrix, are equipped with rollers with stoppers; they can be oriented in different spatial directions in the room. There are such groups of them:

wall (will be against the wall);
suspended (they can be strengthened, for example, with the support of a conventional bracket);
third-party (located near furniture);
island (used as separation).

The top of the drawers is varied: a changing table, a built-in mirror or an ironing board.

It is important to remember that before you start collecting, you need to:

Unpack the set.
Find the assembly instructions.
Determine the presence of all components.

Take a look at the component parts, their unity, and the absence of damage during transportation. Carefully study the assembly manual and especially its order. Then you need to prepare everything you need and only then start assembling.

Necessary tools, accessories and additional materials

Before you make a chest of drawers with your own hands, you need to prepare all the necessary materials. When everything is prepared in advance, it is much easier to complete all the steps. First you need to decide on the material that will suit best. After this, you need to collect the tools and prepare drawings of the future product. The necessary tools include:

Boards of selected wood and plywood sheets.
Nails.
Self-tapping screws.
Screwdriver with different drills.
Pencil, ruler, meter.
Corners for fastening are plastic or metal.
Stationery knife.
Electric drill.

It is very important that all of the listed tools are prepared in advance. You won’t be able to make a chest of drawers in one day; you will have to spend a couple of days on it. But, if there is passion and a great desire, then this is also quite possible.

It is important to take your time and think through every step in order to create a reliable and durable item.

What do you need for work?

Before any type of carpentry work, you must first prepare all the tools and materials. These include:

nails;

Preparing tools

double-sided tape;
handles for dresser drawers;
set of self-tapping screws;
boards or sheets of plywood;
screwdriver and set of drills;
construction hair dryer;
a simple pencil;
meter, ruler, tape measure or other measuring instrument;
mounting brackets made of metal or plastic;
stationery knife;
electric drill.

Prices for the range of drills

Drill

You should also take care of safety glasses and gloves. Once everything you need is at hand, you can get to work.

Drawing up sketches and drawings with detailing

Independent creation of any furniture requires advance drawing up of a drawing and diagram of the future product. In order for a thing to be of truly high quality, to look attractive and have smooth details, you need to take a responsible approach to its drawings. The following details need to be taken into account:

What size will the structure be?
How many drawers and other compartments will it have?
Additional details and lighting.

The process of creating a chest of drawers with your own hands begins with choosing a location and developing a project.
Note. The most optimal sizes are about 100 cm wide and 85 cm high. The thing will be comfortable, not bulky and roomy.

To create a diagram of a future chest of drawers, you can use special programs. The drawing must be drawn by hand, and then, when creating furniture and assembling it, use this drawing. Rules for drawing drawings:

The thickness of the board should be at least 1.5 cm.
The distance between the edges of the drawers and the back wall must be at least 1 cm.
If inset facades are added, then the need for a gap with a thickness of about three millimeters must be taken into account.

The optimal height of a chest of drawers is considered to be 80-85 cm, and the width - 80-130 cm.
You can create your own drawing of a chest of drawers with dimensions and precise details, or you can find a ready-made one with standard dimensions on the Internet.

Preparing parts and cutting maps

When preparing parts for a future product, you need to follow these steps:

Finished drawings are applied to paper.
Next, you need to attach the patterns to the tree and trace them evenly with a pencil.
Parts of the optimal size are cut out of wood, clearly following drawn lines.
Next you need to prepare the edges of the parts that came out during the cutting process. To do this, use plastic tape.

The creation of elements is best done in special woodworking shops, where there are jointing and thicknessing machines.
Measurements and cuttings must be taken with great responsibility so that the finished furniture looks as attractive as possible and can withstand the required weight. Even small deviations from measurements can become a big problem.

Features of drilling and assembling a chest of drawers with your own hands

Once absolutely all the parts are ready and you have the necessary tools, you can begin the most interesting part of the work - assembling the chest of drawers. In this case, the steps are:

On individual elements you need to mark the places where the fastenings will be located (screws or dowels). For greater accuracy, it is better to rely on drawings.
First, take the tabletop and attach it to the walls - here you will need corners or strips. After this, a strip is attached to the structure, which will serve as the bottom.
Next you need to attach the legs or wheels to the bottom. If you attach wheels, the product will be easier to move.
The next step is attaching the back wall. For it, fiberboard is taken, which must cover the ends of the side walls, table top and bottom. Attach the back wall with small nails.
After this, you need to assemble the drawers and attach the guides for them in certain places.

Your product is ready.
Install it in the planned place, lay out your things and use the new piece of furniture. Important! It is best to check the evenness and stability of the structure at the stage of attaching the back wall; for this purpose, its diagonal size is measured. If there are any irregularities, they are immediately eliminated.

If you do everything as the instructions for making a chest of drawers with dimensions, drawings and details say, then creating a chest of drawers will not be difficult even for a beginner. In addition, you can always watch training videos.

For chests of drawers made of wood, traditional finishing methods are best suited: painting, varnishing.

Updating an old chest of drawers

Sometimes it is a pity to throw away shabby old but high-quality furniture. In this case, it can always be transformed.

Restoration

Restoration is a labor-intensive process that goes beyond the simple transformation of an interior item. But more often than not, you can’t do without it when working with old things. Before you begin restoring the chest of drawers, you should carefully inspect it for value. It is possible that it may turn out to be a handmade item made tens or hundreds of years ago. To do this, first of all, you should pay attention to the fittings: handles, legs, screws. If they are not the same, there are differences in the notches, then, most likely, they were made by hand and not by an industrial method.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful decor of a chest of drawers in the form of a designer

If the decision to restore is made, the following things will be required:

special glue for wooden surfaces;
putty;
several types of sandpaper;
screwdrivers;
gloves;
respirator;
toothpicks;
old toothbrush, toothpaste;
brushes;
wood varnish.

Updating a chest of drawers involves several steps.

Cleaning and preparing the product

Cleaning the surface must be done carefully so as not to damage any decorative parts. To begin with, wipe the surface with soapy water; a toothbrush will come in handy for cleaning small parts. Furniture fittings can be removed if necessary.

To combat plaque or stubborn dirt, it is better to use fine sandpaper, but the main thing here is not to overdo it and not damage the furniture. If you plan to completely change the color, then the entire surface will have to be lightly sanded.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Decorating a chest of drawers with rulers

Decorating a chest of drawers

Once the chest of drawers is clean and dry, it needs to be repaired. You will need to inspect the product for scratches, damaged screws, and so on. The cracks are covered with putty, the fittings are replaced with new ones.

Painting

You will most likely have to paint it, since it is unlikely that an old chest of drawers will match the modern color scheme of the interior. You can repaint it a single color. You need to paint carefully, especially in the corners. You need to use special paint for working with wood. If desired, you can varnish the chest of drawers.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

Design solutions

There are many ways to decorate an updated chest of drawers. You will certainly be able to choose the most suitable method.

Decoupage

The easiest way to make this decoration is on a white surface. Decoupage is a modification of a product using special napkins. They can be purchased at craft stores. In the bedroom you can use a floral print, and for the children's room - images of your favorite cartoon characters. The work includes several main stages:

Coating the chest of drawers with white acrylic paint and drying the product well.
Preparing and cutting out decorative items. At this stage, you need to pull out all the boxes and determine exactly where each image will be placed.
Glue cut out patterns using PVA glue. It is better to smooth the pattern on the chest of drawers with a special roller so as not to damage the thin paper.
Coating the surface of the chest of drawers with varnish.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Dresser decoration

Decorating a chest of drawers

Decoupage can be done not only with paper, but also with fabric. This option will be much more economical if you glue scraps at hand. Most often, drawer fronts are decorated in this way, choosing colors to match the curtains or upholstered furniture. The handles must be removed from them before starting work. Next you need to perform the following steps.

Cutting fabric. The flaps are made several centimeters wider than the facade. This is a must for bends.
The box is covered with PVA glue, the cut fabrics are applied, and all wrinkles and bubbles are carefully smoothed out from the center to the edges.
Coat the ends of the facade with glue and make bends. You can attach it to the inside of the facade with a stapler.
Screw on handles and other fittings.

English style chest of drawers decor

The decor of an English-style chest of drawers will look stylish in any modern interior. An old piece of furniture from Ikea would work well for this design. Two evenings will be enough for you to work. For decoration you will need:

scarlet and blue acrylic paint;
putty;
brown oil paint;
toplazur (wax-based coating);
decorative nails for furniture;
putty knife;
masking tape;
paint brushes and rollers;
sandpaper.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

The work consists of the following steps:

Removing all fittings from the chest of drawers and cleaning it of dirt and dust.
Cover the surface with a thin layer of putty. It should not be smooth, but textured. You can make a few spots on top and smear them a little.
After drying, the product is coated with white acrylic paint.
Marking areas to be painted with masking tape.
Preparation and dilution of blue and scarlet paint. The more pigment is added, the richer the color will be. When painting, do not be afraid of spotting. That's how it should be. You can paint in two layers.
Sanding the sides and top of the dresser with sandpaper.
Using a sponge, the entire surface is covered with toplazure (it is better to choose a “walnut” tone).
Driving nails at equal distances along the façade.
Installation of handles. Coating them with oil paint (to darken).

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Dresser decoration

Decorating a chest of drawers

Antique decor

The design of an old chest of drawers will look quite stylish. Usually this method is chosen by lovers of creativity, Provence or country music. To work you need to prepare:

dresser;
sandpaper of different hardness;
acrylic paint (2 colors);
craquelure varnish;
soft sponge;
wax candle;
paint brushes;
screwdrivers.

Before decorating begins, take out all the drawers, remove the dresser top and handles. Then all surfaces are sanded with sandpaper until smooth and wiped with a sponge soaked in water. After drying, apply the main coat of paint and allow the product to dry again. Now you need to make abrasions using sandpaper and rub them with a candle, as well as some areas of the main surface.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

After this, apply paint of a different shade (darker or lighter - everyone chooses for themselves) and wipe the waxed areas with a sponge. The paint will come off easily there. You can paint or decorate the chest of drawers using the decoupage technique, and then cover it with craquelure. This type of varnish will add small natural cracks to the wooden surface.

Once the varnish has dried, the chest of drawers can be assembled and used for its intended purpose.

Volumetric decor

The voluminous decor of a chest of drawers does not require large financial expenditures, and the work will only bring pleasure. Moreover, using this technique you can transform cabinets, sideboards and other pieces of furniture. The design may require stencils; they can be easily made from thick cardboard.

Restoration and painting of the cabinet

Decorating a chest of drawers with pictures

Decorating a chest of drawers

For decoration you will need:

putty knife;
stencils;
acrylic-based putty or volumetric paste;
acrylic white and brown paints;
brushes and sponges;
masking tape.

The work is simple, the main thing is to do everything carefully, after removing the handles and taking out the drawers. The stencils are attached to the surface, and a thick layer of putty is applied to them. Most likely, the applied layer will have to be smoothed out a little with a spatula before removing the cardboard. The three-dimensional pattern is left to dry.

Cabinet decoration

Beautiful chest of drawers decor

You can cover everything with one color. Or select a volumetric element. To do this you need to do the following:

Paint the chest of drawers, for example, white.
Rub the raised parts with wax.
Cover everything with a brown tone, and wipe the waxy areas with a sponge. They will remain white.

This method is suitable for both an old chest of drawers and a new one.

Decorating a finished product

The finished furniture design is not a very attractive thing. Therefore, it is very important to bring it to perfection through decoration. Wood is a very beautiful material that requires minimal processing. Decoration options are:

A varnish coating that gives wood shine and also protects it from any impact.
Use paint of any color that will blend favorably with interior elements.
The use of coating film, which is a fairly modern method of decoration.
In addition to all this, you can use different colors for each drawer, and also decorate them with unusual patterns. For this purpose, special stencils are sold, which are glued, then paint is applied, after which everything is opened with varnish.

When choosing the final option, it is important to consider the overall style of the room and interior items.
The design of the finished structure is optional. The main thing is that the detail fits perfectly into the overall design of the room. If you use your imagination, you can make a completely unique and unusual thing that all guests will admire.

Dresser decor options

There are many options for decoration: using fabric, acrylic or oil paints, leftover wallpaper, paper, three-dimensional decor. Even if you just change such a small thing as fittings - buy interesting metal or wooden handles, metal locks with keys at a furniture store, and replace these small parts - this can completely change the look of your furniture.

The video shows step-by-step decor of a chest of drawers using acrylic paints.

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Interior layout options

Now that it’s already clear in general terms how to make a beautiful chest of drawers out of wood with your own hands, we should talk about what options there are for this furniture and how to arrange it.

Light furniture does not visually reduce the volume of the living room, dark furniture looks more massive.

This interior element looks great in many rooms, so you can try different options:

The most standard option is a linen chest of drawers for a bedroom or nursery. It is quite simple, but at the same time very elegant.
There is such a thing as a chest of drawers. It differs from other options in its great length and sophistication.
For a children's room, such a product is a must, and can be combined with a changing table. It can accommodate all children's things, toys and other accessories.
There is a subspecies that has an open shelf. The TV is usually placed on it, and the shelf is used to store books. This product is best suited for a bedroom or living room.

Chests of drawers made of natural wood emphasize the nobility and luxury of the living room.
A wooden chest of drawers, made according to your own design, will definitely not leave any of your guests indifferent. But this thing will also attract the attention of the creator himself, because he will be proud of the thing of his own production. In order for the product to be of the highest quality, you need to take a responsible approach to the selection of materials, the creation of drawings and the manufacturing process.

Required Tools

To assemble the chest of drawers K800, 700, 1102 and others, you will need a minimum of equipment that is found in almost every home.

Namely the following:

screwdrivers for tightening bolts or screws, ordinary ones can also work, but only with them you will have to spend more time on assembly;
hammer, as you need to nail the back cover;
tape measure, without it it is difficult to assemble the item;
an awl, you can use it to make holes into which screws will be inserted.

In order to improve visibility and convenience, the chest of drawers are located on the floor, and the devices are in the box. This usual procedure is necessary so as not to lose small components and speed up the process. It’s also worth studying the manual, diagrams and drawings to avoid possible mistakes, and then assembling the room’s furniture.