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DIY Fluted Dresser

March 2, 2021 by thehappyhomeproject Leave a Comment

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This DIY fluted dresser is sure to add a modern look to any bedroom in your home! Made with only wooden dowels and wood glue, you can achieve a contemporary look for an inexpensive price that’s sure to be a focal point in any room.

woman sitting on the floor in front of a fluted dresser

At the beginning of the new year, I noticed that there was a fluted trend in home decor. While we were redesigning our master bedroom, I started shopping around online for this new trend. I found a stunning fluted dresser on West Elm’s website but unfortunately the price tag was not in our budget.

Despite the price tag, I was inspired to create a similar piece of my own but for way less. There is something exciting about pouring your heart and soul into a project and seeing your hard work pay off. I was excited to get started!

This DIY fluted dresser project was indeed a labor of love. However, it was completely worth every minute.

fluted dresser placed in front of a white wall

DIY Fluted Dresser Materials Needed

+ wooden dowels

+ Gorilla wood glue

+ drawer pulls

+ electric sander

+ sandpaper

+ miter saw

+ tape measure

+ paint (I used the color “Muslin” by Benjamin Moore)

+ dresser

DIY Fluted Dresser Inspiration

First and foremost, you will want to choose a dresser (one with drawers that have a flat surface). I suggest starting your search at a local thrift store or on Facebook Marketplace.

I bought an old mid century modern dresser back in my college days at a local thrift store. It was in rough shape but for $50 I couldn’t pass it up. I had intentions to restore this old beauty but the condition I bought it in was far beyond repair.

After seeing others transform furniture with wooden dowels, I was inspired to bring this MCM dresser back to life through this DIY!

before

DIY Fluted Dresser Instructions

Once I decided on which dresser I wanted to DIY, I used an electric sander to sand down the body and drawers. After it was sanded, I used a damp rag to wipe any excess dust and dirt off.

To prepare to glue the wooden dowels, I measured the height of each drawer so I knew how long to make each dowel. I used 5/16″ x 48″ wood dowels and cut them down to 5 3/4″ for each drawer. The size that you cut for your wooden dowels will depend on the dresser that you end up working with.

I used our miter saw to cut the dowels down to size. You’ll end up with a lot of cut pieces, so I suggest storing them in a large basket to keep them from getting lost in the process.

Once I had my pieces cut, I used Gorilla wood glue to secure each dowel down to the tops of the drawers.

wood glue on top of a drawer sitting on a carpet

Remember when I said that this project was a labor of love? This step in the DIY is the reason behind why I said that. Take your time during this step. Turn on your favorite playlist or TV show. I promise it’s worth it!

I repeated this step until all the drawers were fluted with dowels! When the dowels are completely dry, I use the electric sander to sand off the uneven edges and make everything nice and straight!

While the dowels were drying, I started the painting on the body of the dresser. I used the color “Muslin” by Benjamin Moore, which was the perfect neutral shade I was looking for!

The End Result

Once the wooden dowels and paint are dry, it’s time to put it all together!

To complete the look, I purchased black drawer pulls. The pulls added a nice touch to complete the look.

What home decor trends have you been loving?

Have you been as obsessed with the fluted design trend like I have been? Let me know in the comments which home decor trend that has been your favorite!

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Dresser details

West Elm Dresser

Filed Under: Fluted Dresser Tagged With: dresser, fluted

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Erika sitting on the couch in the living room posing for a profile photo

Hi! I’m Erika. Wife to my best friend + dog mama to two fur pups. I enjoy thrifting, simple living, interiors & budget-friendly design. You can always catch me with a cup of coffee in hand.

Follow along for budget-friendly DIYs, home living, and a little bit of in between! Read more about me here.

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