Strip Any Scrap,1

Guide To Decorating A Bathroom With Repurposed Bedroom Furniture

Even though there are many options for readymade bathroom cabinetry, most are very costly. If you want a high-end and unique look for your bathroom but you don’t want to part with thousands of dollars, you can add metal tree wall sculptures and convert old bedroom furniture into a distinctively stunning bathroom for a fraction of what you’d pay for exclusive cabinetry or carpenter built customized pieces.

Provincial bedroom furniture from the late 1950’s is ideal for a glamorous bathroom design. A low, wide dresser easily converts into a double sink vanity while the ‘high boy’ offers storage space for linens and towels. There’s even a surprise use for the headboard or footboard, but first let’s talk about prepping the dresser to serve as a vanity.

If the wood finish on the dresser is damaged, you can opt to strip it to retain the natural wood grain and apply new stain. You might also consider painting the dresser (and in this instance you may not be required to entirely strip it), but you will need to scrape away any damaged, cracked, or curling finish and make sure all surfaces are smooth; you can fill in any scrapes or gouges using wood putty. Paint will show every flaw in the surface, so you want to make the exterior as perfect as possible before painting.

After the dresser is newly painted or stained, use a floor grade varnish like Diamond Varathane to seal the wood. The floor grade varnish will protect the wood from inevitable bathroom moisture. You can choose either a glossy or semi-gloss finish. Use at least three layers of varnish on the entire dresser and five layers of varnish on top, unless you are going to replace the top with a piece of marble or granite. Apply each coat, let it dry thoroughly, then lightly sand with fine grade steel wool; wipe away every trace of dust between coats for a smooth professional looking finish.

Vessel style sinks that rest on top of the vanity allow you to make the most of inside vanity space and create a designer look. When installing your plumbing and connecting the sinks, modify the drawers so that the space is not wasted. They must be notched in order to accommodate the plumbing; you can hire a local contractor to do this step for you if you aren’t able to do it yourself.

Remember that if you have a “high boy” to repurpose for the bathroom, you still need to varnish it, just as you did with the vanity. This will stave off swelling and warping of the wood. The top space of the “high-boy” can be used to display fresh flowers or a silver tray topped with a jewelry dish and atomizers of your favorite perfumes and colognes.

Now onto the headboard or footboard: Use either piece as a basis for a mirror over the vanity; depending on the amount of wall space, one piece may be a better fit than the other. The glass mirrored panels will fit on the flat surface of the wood and the decorative molded wood edging will provide a frame. You may have to cut off the ‘legs’ so that it will fit low enough over the vanity. Stain or paint any cut edges to match the vanity and varnish then the entire piece to protect the wood. Once it is ready take the headboard or footboard to a glass shop and have them cut and install mirrored panels that will fit on the flat surfaces.

Install your mirror, bring in your fluffy new towels, decorative accessories and accents like copper metal art and metal art work, and enjoy your stylish, unique bathroom.

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