I have NEVER before been a fan of having a TV in a bedroom.
However, my stance on this has thus changed, since becoming a sole parent in TV screen competition with a teen son threatening to remove my recent Netflix series addiction…
I never even use to watch TV! Shame on me for firing it up one night to see what everyone else was talking about. Ok, well, aside from PVRed Survivor and Fixer Upper of course.
Anyway, the ‘ol travel trailer flat screen was stored between my bed and the wall for YEARS.
So when I upgraded my Shaw cable package to include a 2nd TV remote thing that worked off the main, (maybe it’s Shaw’s fault?) the TV came out of hiding and was plunked on my dresser to see if I’d even use the thing.
Boy did I! My Netflix prayers had been answered!
Plugging in a speaker system really meant for a computer, this rig up all jammed together on the top of this white numbered dresser did the job ok for the time being. One day I’d dress it up some I’m sure.
Then one day some stacked wood in the workshop gave me a brainstorm…
Who needs Pinterest when you have a messy garage workshop to inspire you?!
Well, I had to act on it to see if it worked. Which it did! So here’s what I did…
Making the reclaimed pallet wood TV stand shelf (showcases some Amazon affiliate links)
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Reclaimed pallet wood planks for two risers and one larger board for the top.
Cordless drill, drill bit and screws.
1. Gather up a large plank of wood for the top, and smaller stacked wood for the risers.
2. Stack some pallet wood as risers to desired height, then cut from smaller to larger as shown, leaving the fronts the original cuts so they look naturally aged.
3. Drill a hole into the centre of the stacked wood, then loosely insert a long screw. Slightly twist the stacked wood into the desired position, then tighten the screw all the way.
4. Do another riser, then lay the larger plank across the centres of both risers.
5. Add felt protectors to all four corners of each shelf riser to protect the surface of the newly painted dresser thankyouverymuch!
6. Position shelf on top of dresser (once painted), then screw the risers to the dresser top from behind.
7. Screw the shelf to the risers from the top, driving a long screw into both.
I obviously didn’t care if I made holes in this old dresser. That’s the beauty of free repurposing I suppose. I first used it in my entry WAY back… rescued from someone’s barn.
8. Position TV and components. Strap or screw the TV to the shelf from behind for stability.
9. Insert, “WOW, it worked and I LOVE it!” here.
I was truly stunned it worked so well, and looked so cool!
Now let me show you how to get that plain dresser to sing a new song…
Painting the dresser (showcases some Amazon affiliate and store links)
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Various Funky Junk’s Old Stencils
Fusion Mineral Paint in Coal Black and Casement (white).
1. Remove knobs from dresser, then lightly sand with a sanding sponge to prep. Wipe down with a damp cloth or tack cloth to remove all dust and allow to fully dry.
2. Empty and stack drawers.
3. Stare at the towering baskets filled to the brim from contents of said drawers, and reason you’ll deal with that another day. MUCH later.
(they are still there)
4. Paint the main frame of the dresser with black.
I painted on 2 coats of Fusion Mineral Paint’s Coal Black. It went on like a dream!
5. Replace the drawers, and paint the fronts with white.
I painted 3 coats of Fusion Mineral Paint’s Casement, and lightly sanded in between each coat. It’s a beauty just left like this! However I had other plans…
6. Position and tape word stencils where desired.
TV shows are about little escapes all around the world. Vacation types of words were chosen to emphasize my style of escapes that I love, subway art styled.
I just made sure things lined up so all the holes were filled. Kinda like doing a word puzzle.
Stencils used were Funky Junk’s Old Sign Stencils HERE
6. Using a dry-loaded stencil brush, each image was tapped with Coal Black.
It went on beautifully! I tapped the brush to darken the image as much as possible.
Learn more about how to stencil HERE.
7. Add some rusty junk for the handles (because you can), and call it done!
Of course if little black or white knobs are more your thing, that would send all the focus back on the lettering, looking equally pretty.
However, you know me… it ain’t a finished project without junk.
“Oh my goodness…” is something I still say every day I glance at this thing. I really just LOVE it. My little TV seems to have even more importance and has become something I don’t even wish to hide. Kinda like a show shrine… : )
I was going to glaze/age the drawers at first, however I fell hard for the crisp black and white contrast against those white walls, so for now it will stay.
What do you think? Could they use aging or do you like them as is?
Regardless, I am in LOVE with the dresser’s new look along with the Antiques Mirror and faux barn door headboard!
And love my continued evening Netflix watching even more…
Disclosure: I work with Fusion Mineral Paint to showcase projects using it and because I love the stuff. I was not monetarily compensated for this post. The stencils are from my own line.
If you have to have a tv in the bedroom, you have to have a really cool tv stand like this one! Totally awesome!
Donna, I usually do not like black and white furniture but this came out amazing! The stenciling really makes it and I love the crispness of it.
Looks great!
You always get me thinking of new ways I want to decorate. 🙂
In this case, I like the dresser as is. I love the crisp graphic look you’ve attained–kind of contemporary and cool! A great blend with reclaimed wood.
This looks super cool Donna. Love the juxtaposition of the black and white with the wood platform. I need to get me some Fusion Paint.
Amazing! You are simply amazing. Love your creativeness and the dresser 😍
No one would ever even notice the TV because they’d be too busy oohing and aahing over the dresser! Just beautiful!
Love it the way it is. You’ll love having a TV in your bedroom. 🙂
Do you still have your camper?
The whole things is a work of art, but I must say what I totally love is the crusty hardware you used for drawer pulls. Genius. Adds such character.
It is such a neat and tidy way to handle the tv. It incorporates it into the room, repeating the rustic wood, black and white theme. You did a great job on this.
Thanks for sharing.
You know I love it!!!!
Pretty amazing, Donna. I love how your stencils coordinate so well with each other. Hope you have a happy rest of the weekend 🙂
What a transformation, Donna! Love how your stencils look on this dresser and love how you incorporated various junk finds for the hardware. Pinned.
You must be the only person in the whole world who can take rusty junk and just plonk it onto a freshly painted and stenciled dresser and it looks awesome. If I had to try that the hubby would be scratching his head in bewilderment trying to figure out why on earth I stole his hinge to make a handle. Well you know what Donna I’m going to try and tell him that Funky Junk made me do it. He’ll just have to get used to idea 😉
The tv riser, looks amazing, but Donna…those junk handles! So junkalicious!!