Upcycling idea for an old chest of drawers

A stylish new look for planters

Old furniture is far too useful to be thrown away. With the right inspiration, you can easily create something new and stylish – like these eye-catching planters made from an old chest of drawers. If you've got some old drawers lying in your attic, it's time to dig them out. With the help of edding's acrylic concrete effect spray, you can give the drawers and the unit itself a fresh modern look in a few simple steps. The neutral colour combines perfectly with other shades, so no matter what your décor, your new planter is sure to look perfect in your home.

Categories: Upcycling & DIY hacks
Home decor
Products: Permanent spray
Materials: Wood
Difficulty: A bit more challenging
Downloads: Images (ZIP)

Step-by-step

Step 1

We've chosen to use the following spray paints in our example: edding 5200 permanent spray in rose gold (937), mellow mint (928), rust effect (936) and concrete effect (941).

Before you start, first wipe over your drawer unit with a damp cloth to remove any dust. Next, cover your workspace with paper or protective sheeting.

Step 2

Underneath the cap on the spray paint cans, you'll find a safety ring. Remove this using a screwdriver and shake the cans vigorously for around 3 minutes until you can clearly hear the mixing balls rattling around inside. Remember, if you take a break from painting, even for a short while, you'll need to re-activate the cans before resuming.

Step 3

For best results, we recommend holding the spray can around 25 cm from your painting surface and applying the paint in a crosswise motion. Start by applying an even coat of rose gold paint across the front of one of your drawers. Next, leave to dry thoroughly.

Step 4

Once the paint is completely dry, use the masking tape to create a wavy pattern across the front of the drawer.

Step 5

Spray the front again, this time using the rust effect paint. The masking tape will ensure that only the uncovered areas are painted in the new colour. If you’re planning to use the drawer as a stand-alone planter, you’ll also need to spray paint the sides. Wait for the paint to dry and then carefully remove the masking tape.

Step 6

Now, repeat the same steps with your second drawer. Spray paint the whole front in mellow mint, leave it to dry and then apply the masking tape in a wavy pattern.

Step 7

Spray the drawer all over using the concrete effect paint.

Step 8

Wait for the paint to dry and then carefully remove the masking tape. As you can see in the picture, your drawer will now have an attractive mint-coloured pattern on it.

Step 9

In addition to the drawers, you can also upcycle the main drawer unit, e.g. by applying a coat of the concrete effect spray paint all over, as shown here.

Step 10

Once all the paint is dry, you can put plants in it. It’s a good idea to line your unit and drawers using some plastic sheeting and a staple gun, so that they are protected when you give your plants a good water.