How to Transform a Thrifted Dresser into a Superhero-Worthy Spiderman Masterpiece🕸️
Greetings, thrifty friends! Whether you're new here or returning, I'm Maria, and I'm delighted to have you on my modest blog. Feel free to discover more about me and my passion for thrifting by clicking here and here.
I've always loved sprucing up old furniture for fun. I got super into using chalk paint when it became a hit, keeping myself busy with all sorts of projects and even doing some custom pieces for commission. But then my grandkids came along and stole the spotlight, so I had to take a break from my crafting. But guess what? I'm itching to dive back into making cool furniture pieces again! Keep an eye out for some awesome furniture makeover updates coming your way soon, so subscribe! ✨
By the end of 2020, my grandson was living with me and totally obsessed with Spiderman! We must have watched Miles Morales and his Spider-verse adventures a million times together. So, I thought, why not make him a cool Spiderman dresser? It turned out to be super handy for him. I recently sold it this spring to bring happiness to another young boy. I wish I had better photos to show off, but hey, back then, having a blog was just a wild idea!
I had a clear plan in my head when I started hunting for the perfect used dresser. I wanted something small with sleek drawers, made of strong, solid wood to survive my energetic (than) toddler grandson. I found just the right dresser in the clearance corner of a thrift store in New Holland, and it was only $5!
So, the dresser was pretty good overall, but one drawer had this ridge that didn't quite fit the bill. I fixed it up by filling it with wood putty and sanding it smooth. Next, I gave the whole thing a good clean with Krud Kutter. I also swapped out a wonky drawer slide with a new affordable option to resolve the sticking issue, and boom, the drawer was good as new!
After cleaning and wiping off any remaining residue, I lightly sanded the whole thing and applied a primer. I painted with blue paint I had lying around. Luckily, it made a dramatic backdrop for Spidey! If you use furniture or chalk paint, you'll save yourself a lot of prep work and the use of multiple products.
I was feeling artsy and decided to jazz up my grandson's dresser with a cool Spiderman graphic. A poster seemed to be the most logical choice as my artistic abilities are not that advanced. I let Thrifty J (my grandson) pick out his favorite poster (great choice, buddy!). After carefully cutting out Spidey with an exacto knife and positioning him just right, I glued him onto the drawers with decoupage medium making sure to align him precisely. After allowing ample time to dry I finished it off with a coat of decoupage medium and polyacrylic over the entire piece. Who's the superhero now?!?
With a design this dramatic enhancing the drawers was a must! I jazzed up the insides with a vibrant red paint sample from Lowe's to make them pop. Then, at Joanne's, I stumbled upon this awesome Spiderman fabric with a cool graphic design. With a 40% off coupon, I snagged it for around $6! I cut and attached the fabric to the sides of the drawers for a fun surprise when you open them using a mix of Elmer's glue and water. After drying I added more of the glue mixture to the top of the fabric. The end result was a stylish upgrade that didn't compromise the smooth operation of the drawers.
For the top we picked out another poster that he absolutely loved (steering him towards a landscape-oriented one) and carefully attached it to the top. I lightly moistened the edges with water and tore them to give it a beautifully weathered appearance. Using the same decoupage medium, I securely affixed it to the top and added an extra layer after delicately sanding the poster's edge to really enhance that distressed look. On top of that, I splurged on a high-quality piece of glass with sanded edges, custom-cut for just $32, to provide an added layer of protection for the design.
I repainted the original hardware by spraying them with spray paint that closely matched the blue of the dresser, which was leftover from another project.
His love for the Spiderman dresser never wavered, even when he moved to a cozier room where its functionality truly shined. Despite being used on and off during various relocations, this special piece proved its resilience, outlasting his Spiderman phase. The photo below, taken four years later, shows only slight wear, proving its durability. The treasured moments of picking out posters together and seeing his joy each day as progress was made added depth and warmth to this project. Those are the memories I'll cherish forever.💗💗💗💗 This spring, I passed it on to another grandmother for her Spiderman-enthusiast grandson, ensuring its story lives on in a new home filled with love and excitement.
Looking back, I could've used metallic thread to make spiderwebs for added drama. But hey, for my first try at something like this, I think it turned out pretty cool and matched the vision I had in mind.
Here's a cost breakdown of what I spent:
Dresser $5
Posters from a comic store $12 each x 2 = $24
Fabric $6
Blue paints - had on hand
Red sample paint - $4 sample pot
glass $32
Decoupage medium - around $5
Polyacrylic _ had on hand
drawer slide $7
--------------------
$83!!!!!!!!!!
So for $83, I saved this dresser from the landfill and gave it new life, where it continues to live on and bring joy.
✨Think outside the box when redoing furniture - anything paper or a thin fabric can be added to furniture with decoupage medium, even pretty napkins or wrapping paper! Depending on how large you want your design, you could design it yourself on Canva and print it out or use a free online image. For larger sizes, instead of buying a poster, you can print out your image at an office supply store.
⭐ PRO TIPS ⭐
When considering furniture for refurbishing, overlook ugly hardware - that's easy to spray paint, enhance with Rub 'n Buff, or replace for an entirely different look.
Primer also helps with smells, so it's good to prime the inside of the drawers as well. While primer will hide some foul odors, it's best to pass on furniture that smells of mold, mildew, or smoke to avoid health issues.
Consider the size of your image versus the furniture piece you want to use so it aligns properly without a lot of dead space. This poster was the perfect size for this dresser, and his body was not obstructed, which made it easier to cut out.
Leftover wallpaper, contact paper, or fabric is great for lining drawers and drawer sides. Just make sure it's not too thick to interfere with the drawer sliding.
Pass on furniture with structural issues. While peeling veneer can be repaired with wood putty, furniture that is splitting, has mold, or needs skilled repair is better left behind.
Choose solid wood or high-quality vintage furniture for your makeovers. Modern particleboard pieces don't hold up, and the melamine gloss makes it hard for paint to stick.
Market refurbished furniture in ways other than its intended use. Dressers can become media consoles, hutches can become coffee stations, old entertainment centers can become accessory closets, etc.
Paint will not cover the graining of oak wood. If you want to hide the grain completely, you'll need to build up thin layers of wood putty, which is a tedious process. If you're not willing to embrace the grain, you should avoid oak pieces.
When you're ready to give old furniture a new lease on life, let your creativity soar! You can stain, paint, stencil, decoupage, or bleach furniture. Or, go wild and try a combination of techniques!
For stained wood, go with polyurethane. If it's painted wood, polyacrylic is your best bet!
Apply Shellac on mahogany or pine furniture to prevent the tannins in the wood from seeping through.
Use wax on chalk painted pieces to provide additional protection and add a slight sheen.
Are you giving a new life to thrifted furniture for your own enjoyment or to spread joy to others? Share your amazing transformations in the comments below and inspire us all! 👇
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Comments