Easy CD Storage in a Vintage Dresser

If there's one decorating pet peeve I have, it is having extraneous items uncontained. This is an issue with me, because I tend to have a lot of extraneous items. Another decorating pet peeve I have is electronics and media type items (aside from books!) in view. I know it's a quirk, but the look of TVs, CD players, speakers, CDs, and the like, just don't fit in with my idea of an attractive room.

I have a large entertainment armoire, with doors that close. Inside is the television, dvd player, stereo, etc. The armoire also has a bottom area for media, with doors as well. For a while, I kept my CDs in there, although it was awkward storage; most of the CDs were inaccessible and forgotten in the back. I decided to keep them in a great CD tower I found at the thrift store instead. The result was easy access, but it certainly bugged me because of my dislike of such things in view.

Then, I acquired a short dresser from a moving neighbor. Not really needing it in the bedrooms, I put it along an empty stretch of living room wall, thinking I would keep fabric scraps, craft items, or use it for some kind of storage.

However, in considering how it would be best utilized, I realized the height of the drawers were actually perfect for CD storage. I began placing the CDs in the drawers, and was amazed at how many it held, and how perfect the result-easy access and viewing, all the while keeping them completely contained and out of sight!

I suggest going to a thrift store or yard sale, freecycle, or otherwise finding a secondhand dresser for this project. Here's why: there are many vintage dressers that are the perfect size, and have interesting details, overall shape, or other features that, once painted or altered, will make the dresser seem less like a bedroom dresser, allowing it to seamlessly fit in with the rest of your décor.

It's also less expensive, of course. Including paint, and even new, stylish handle pulls, you can have an entire dresser with far more CD storage than a one brand new CD tower. Below are some ideas for choosing and altering a vintage dresser to serve as CD storage.

Choosing the right dresser

When scouting for a dresser, keep in mind of course, how many CDs you have. My small dresser with three drawers holds about 450 CDs. If you have a gigantic collection, consider getting a traditionally tall dresser with many drawers. Painting or altering it will allow it to look less dresser-like. Placing potted plants or flowers, framed photographs, or such living-room oriented type things on its top will have it be more at home out of the bedroom.

Nicely, there are many small dressers in thrift stores. I believe the one I have is originally a dresser for a child's room. I see such things all the time. Make sure all the drawers pull in and out well, and the structure is not compromised at all. The only issue with using dressers as CD storage is that once full, the drawers are quite heavy.

The heaviness is not so much a practical every day issue, though, as it is for the piece of furniture itself. Find as strong and sturdy a dresser as possible. Also, because of the heaviness, make sure young children are not allowed to pull the drawers out.

Painting and altering the dresser

There are a million ways to alter and decorate a dresser for CD storage. Below are some ideas, but keep in mind if you like it the way it is, there's no reason to alter it, and that even a simple coat of paint goes a long way in making it into a "not-a-dresser."

You could: decoupage, paint and distress, sandpaper-distress, stencil, purchase vintage or new door pulls, paint a mural or design.

A note here, about storing the CDs; this is probably obvious, but line them in such a way (instead of stacking) so the spines are upright, and you can view the titles. Also, it might be wise to take a CD case with you when searching for a dresser, to make absolutely sure the CDs will fit lined this way. What a bummer it would be to find a perfect dresser, and realize the drawers are just a tad too short to use.

You'll be surprised at how many CDs will fit into even a small dresser, and you may even be lucky enough to have room left over for other storage!