Thrift This Piece Of Furniture For A Gorgeous Kitchen Storage Solution

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Kitchen storage comes in a variety of forms, and when you need more of it, there are essentially two ways to go about it — expand existing cabinet space with, say, an old-fashioned kitchen storage hack like a lazy Susan, or add new storage units altogether. Thankfully, there are alternatives to installing expensive cabinetry. Thrift furniture may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a kitchen unit, but a sturdy wooden dresser offers a surprising and elegant solution for adding storage to your cooking space.

A secondhand wooden dresser not only provides a ton of great storage but also offers a work surface that can be used as a cocktail station or an at-home coffee bar. Typically made for smaller items and folded fabrics, a dresser in the kitchen is ideal for storing items such as placemats, kitchen towels, and small cutlery. However, with larger drawers and compartments, you can also accommodate plates, bowls, and certain dinnerware. Be careful to cushion fragile items in dresser drawers, as you may damage the pieces when sliding them open. It may require a bit of searching to find the perfect wooden dresser for the kitchen (not to mention a little work to make it suitable for the space), but the money saved and the elegant aesthetic it adds are well worth it. Plus, your kitchen gets a one-of-a-kind unit that looks more distinctive than regular cabinetry.

Since kitchen floor space is valuable, calculate exactly how much space you can spare for your thrifty storage solution in length and width. If you want to use the top of the dresser as a workspace or bar, it should be around counter height. If you simply want to use the compartments for storage and the top for displaying objects, the dresser can be taller. Alternatively, if it's just additional counter space that you need, consider thrifting for a sturdy chef's table, which is quickly becoming a trendy alternative to kitchen islands.

A dresser that has doors instead of drawers also works because these compartments are taller and can be used to store larger objects. You can also consider removing the doors of the dresser to make open shelves that are easier to access. And while this is an optional bit of work, there are a few essential touches to give your thrift furniture before it's suitable for use in the kitchen. For one, any secondhand or thrift item requires a good cleaning with disinfectant, which is even more crucial for kitchen units. Second, since it's not designed for the kitchen, the wooden unit may need to be treated for protection from moisture and heat damage. Consider giving it a few coats of varnish, and if it's near a heat source, a layer of DRI-One fire retardant spray from Amazon.