A dresser turned into a TV stand is a great way to save space in your living room. It also makes a great place to store remotes, DVDs, CDs, books, magazines and other items. I used our stand to store all of these items as well as my daughters’ toys that we kept in the living room.
Overall, this was a fun and simple DIY project and the perfect solution for sticking to a small budget! Let’s get into it.
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If you read my previous post on How to decorate your perfect room, then you know the challenges I am facing when redoing the living room.
I was really struggling to find a TV stand that I loved that fit into the space nicely. We had brought this original stand from my previous home, and it lacked the storage and size I wanted for this space.
I began seeing a bunch of inspiration of turning old dresser into TV stand and began looking for the perfect project. I thought this would be a fun idea to create something that I loved and upcycle and old piece that could use a nice makeover!
How To Turn Dresser Into TV Stand: Important Tip
Important tip: You can choose to set the TV on the stand, mount it above your stand or even add a flat panel television mount to the back of the dresser. If you are setting the TV on the stand, you want to ensure you keep the integrity of the dresser especially if you will be adding larger items on top such as a TV.
How long does a dresser TV stand last?
A good quality dresser to TV stand DIY will last for years if properly cared for. It is important to keep the wood clean and free of dust and dirt. Also, avoid placing heavy objects on top of the unit that could cause more wear and tear. It’s also a good idea to keep extra materials you may have used for the project, such as extra hardware or extra paint to be able to do touch ups on the project if needed in the future.
Now for the tutorial! Some steps are a bit more advanced, but overall it was a simple transformation!
DIY Dresser into TV stand: Before
I was so excited about finding this old dresser! It may not look like it now, but I could see the potential in this dresser for a great upcycle. This was a great piece to create a dresser to tv stand with the structure of dresser.
It was the perfect size to fill our space, I loved the layout of the drawers and how the top section was framed out in a way in order to create the look I wanted to when building a shelf in this piece.
I spent days constantly refreshing FB Marketplace till I found this one. They were only asking $30 and I was happy to pay the asking price.
You can also look at local thrift stores or other online resale apps to find a great deal. Keep updated and make time a few times a day to do a quick search on all the sites you are looking for. This will ensure you can get first dibs on a great deal and not miss out on a great piece.
It was sturdy and only had two imperfections. They were on the sides and back and we knew after we refinished the dresser they wouldn’t be very noticeable.
Although it may look like it, this actually isn’t real wood. I was hoping to find a dresser I could stain, but I can say I am extremely happy how this turned out and am so happy with the finished result!
During: Remove drawers, hardware and adding support
The first step was to take out the top two drawers as well as all of the hardware.
With how the molding of this dresser was it actually looked as though the top piece was separate, making it look as though it was made to be the way we were redoing it! It sectioned off the top where we wanted to put the shelf in such a cute way.
After the drawers were taken out, we began adding in shelves. We created this shelf out of plywood.
It is important to note that taking out drawers in a dresser to create something like a TV stand is more complex than you may think.
You must make sure you are not taking out vital support of the piece or it can be dangerous putting heavy items on top.
Next was the hardest part of the entire project.
There were small pieces of wood in the back and front corners of the dresser and in the middle.
In total, we cut out four different pieces of plywood to create this shelf.
It was difficult to get the exact measurements to fit around the small pieces and also make them fit together perfectly. Take your time on this step and take precise measurements.
Once the pieces were cut to size, we screwed them all into place.
In any great DIY project, patience is key. It was important to take our time when removing the dresser drawers and measuring out the shelves. Also, we had to ensure we were not removing anything that was supporting the weight of this old dresser that could make this piece unsafe to put a heave object like a TV on.
Paint: Color Place Ultra Interior Paint and Primer
I wanted a nice white paint for this easy DIY dresser to TV stand. Since I could not stain this as it wasn’t real wood, I thought white was a great option to modernize this dresser and match our current decor in our apartment.
However, the entire point of the whole upcycling idea was to save money!
So, we didn’t stop here and we all know paint can get expensive.
We chose to use the Color Place Ultra Interior Paint and Primer. It was less than $20 and was amazing!
Brandon was already familiar with this from work, he knew it would work amazing for the price and he was definitely right about that.
Grab this paint at your local Walmart or order it for pick up so you know your exact shade is there when you go.
I didn’t want it to be too bright of a white, I love the way the antique white turned out.
We put 2 coats of paint on the dresser. However, we did discuss the idea of only doing one coat of paint which is a good option if you would prefer a more rustic shabby chic look.
Hardware.
This made a huge difference in the overall transformation.
As you see back in the original photo, the hardware was dingy, outdated and just really had to go if we wanted this piece to fit our style and decor.
Plus, this was an easy way to update this piece to make it look more modern.
I chose a simple stainless pull from Walmart when we grabbed our paint! Unfortunately, they told us our local Walmarts we’re going to be taking these and other related items off shelves soon and only offer them online.
I found very similar ones online here on Amazon.
Finished dresser TV stand in living room
I am so obsessed with the way this came out!
From looking at simple upcycling ideas to creating my own easy DIY dresser to TV stand has been so much fun!
I love that instead of going out and spending a few hundred dollars on a beautiful piece I was able to make one for a fraction of the price.
I couldn’t be happier with the way our fun and easy DIY turned out!
We used this tv stand for over a year and it help up great. We ended up selling it once we moved and made a nice profit from it. Now, someone else will be able to enjoy this upcycled dress to TV stand.
What an amazing job you did! Looks so contemporary, and what I like best is that the integrity of the furniture piece is still solid 🙂
Thank you! I love how much it still looks like the original piece yet so different. Such a great mix!
I love the new color! This looks sooo much better. I’ve been shopping for a TV stand and you inspired me to do my own like this!
I felt like I was shopping for one forever ( realisicly I was for about 2-3 months ) so I threw in the towel on that idea and decided to get creative lol! Took me about 3 days to find one on FB marketplace!
Wow this furniture transformation is amazing! I love the new hardware and the simple white color you chose.
Wow! What an incredible transformation! You’re really talented.
Thank you! Was very surpirsed how simple it was to do (:
Love how it turned out! And your metal siding! We have metal too!
That is actually the house we are flipping! I am in love with the metal siding and will definilty be using it once we move out of the apartment!
That’s a great idea and such a lovely upscale! I need to repaint they one we’re using in our bedroom!
I highly recommend going with a simple paint and primer! It worked so amazingly and was so inexpensive, win-win 😉
Quite a nice TV stand and you made it out well. Mine is a mix of wood and steel. But I am not an expert like you so I got it painted with a professional. I liked your zeal to create such a nice stand.
You did an excellent job. This brings back memories of the fun time I had when I made one three years ago.
This is such a great idea, and very simple to follow. Even you don’t know how to do a carpentry thing. This one is you’r chance to have a try! <3
Nice transformation! You gave the drawer a whole new look and function. The white paint gave it a more upgraded feel, too. Well done!
I love your finished result!! This looks so perfect!
This is such a great and easy DIY! It looks amazing!
You did such a great job..! That diy TVstand looks so nice..! Thanks for sharing how you’ve made it.
I love the transformation from the traditional brown dresser to funky tv stand with retro vibe. That is such an awesome way to upcycle.
Wow, I am so amazed with that work, it’s beautiful and I really love the new look of your TV stand.
That is so beautiful! I’m sure it’s one of your pride and joy of creation.
I love how you refabbed this dresser. Looks really nice. =0)
I love a good DIY project that transforms a furniture piece. You did a great job on this one. I like the updates you made with the white paint and more modern handles.
You have done an amazing job, the tv stand looks so modern! I am moving soon and I will probably buy some old furniture for my new place, which I will need to give a new life to. Your post is very inspiring.
such an excellent idea. i am meaning to change our tv stand for the longest time and still havent found time for it. this inspires me.
This turned out so cute 😍
This was amazing! I love changing old furniture into something. New and vibrant. You should try out fusion mineral paint I used it to DIY a jewelry stand and it was amazing. I will definitely be coming on your blog to check out more DIY’s!
I will definitely have to check that out! I’m glad you like this!
OMG… I never knew that useless things can look so great.
Thanks for the great idea.
I love seeing DIY projects and you did so well with this project. I love the final result x
I love this idea. Will have to remember this when we redecorate our tv room!
I absolutely love your craftiness! What a great addition to your interior! Bravo!
Awesome concept. I’m moving in the next few months and I may consider doing this. Definitely a creative idea.
Wow! What a great outcome! It looks new and perfect! DIY really saves you a lot!
ive been meaning to change our tv stand for the longest time. you did an awesome job here and this truly inspires me.
I like the result of this DIY. It looks good and beautiful as new! Looks really so satisfying!
Wow.. It turned out so great..! Thanks for sharing how you’ve made this gorgeous tv stand. I will definitely try this.
You manage to create art from ordinary things. What a useful skill that you have. I love watching the transformation. As if you are giving new life to those things.
Oh wow, I love how creative you are doing this TV Stand. It is really beautiful and would love to try it myself.
What a transformation! It looks so much sleeker and modern now. Thanks for sharing this.
Super cute and cretaive DIY! it looks awesome, well done you. I am actually not sure if I could manage doing it myself
We are moving to Florida next year and this is the type of entertainment center I am looking for! It makes much more sense. They are soooo expensive!
Wow the revamp of this old tv stand is amazing! I am inspired I would love to do this I need to go thrifting and repurpose some furniture.
Did you guys have to sand it at all to help with the paint portion?
No! This was not real wood, we did not sand at all.