Designsbymckay

Saw these at a local market for $60 each and loved the idea, so I decided to try making my own 🎣 Such a fun little DIY and I’m so happy with how they turned out!

My 6-year-old promised he’d sleep in his own room if I made it “cool”… 2 months later he’s slept in here twice 😆 At least he thinks the room is cool

me: I don’t need another project
also me: turns it into $550 in 6 hours 🤡

Something they’ll actually keep forever 💕
The sweetest, simple DIY Mother’s Day gift.

$30 thrifted, outdated boxy dresser… to a modern coastal piece

Here’s exactly how I flipped it👇🏼

Pulled everything apart first… drawers, doors, hardware, all of it. Gave it a really good clean (don’t skip this, it matters more than people think).

Fixed all the little dings, scratches, and chipped areas so the finish would actually look smooth in the end.

Light scuff sand over the entire piece, nothing crazy, just enough to give the paint something to grab onto.

Wiped it all down so there was zero dust left behind.

Then painted it in Blue Heather by Benjamin Moore, this color completely changed the vibe.

Let it sit a full 24 hours before sealing (this is where a lot of people rush and mess it up). I used a matte polycrylic to lock everything in without making it shiny.

Finished it off with simple elongated k***s and lined the drawers to give it that “custom” feel.

And honestly… staging is what sells it. Good lighting + a clean setup will make you way more money than people realize. Bad photos = people scrolling right past.

Last step, list it. I always price based on what I’ve sold before + what similar pieces are going for around me.

This is one of those pieces I almost passed on.

Nothing about it stood out… the color was off, the shape felt heavy, and it just didn’t have that “wow” factor. But I’ve learned by now those are usually the ones worth grabbing.

I stripped the top all the way down to raw wood to bring back some warmth and contrast, then went in with this deep charcoal that completely changed the feel of the entire piece. It instantly went from outdated to something that looks like it belongs in a designer home.

Swapped out the hardware for brass, cleaned up the lines, and suddenly it doesn’t even look like the same dresser anymore.

Would you have picked this one up or left it behind?

I started furniture flipping over 4 years ago as a side hobby while I was teaching elementary school.
It didn’t take long to realize it was easier, more flexible, and paid a lot more.