Reuse Antique Sewing Machine Drawers For Countertop Storage With A Rustic Vibe

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Cluttered countertops can make the whole room feel messier. Adding countertop storage is one solution. However, shoppers with a rustic decorating style might not love what's available at home decor stores. Manufacturers often make modern organizers from plastic, metal, or engineered wood, featuring contemporary designs. If you're after something more old-school, there's a secondhand find you can repurpose. Antique sewing machine drawers are a thrift store find that make organizing beautiful.

Sewing machine drawers are small drawers from antique sewing tables, which were used as a base for sewing projects and storage, popular in the 19th century. These drawers offered space to organize small sewing accessories. Often made of solid wood, they held needles, scissors, pincushions, fasteners, measuring tools, and other accoutrements. They tend to have an ornate look and display traditional craftsmanship, typical of this time. People who love solid-wood furniture know that engineered replicas just don't feel the same. If you're part of this camp, keep an eye out for antique sewing machine drawers at thrift stores and flea markets.

For countertop storage, look for drawers that are housed in a frame. Check the condition of the frame and make sure you can slide them in and out, or they'll be a hassle to use for storage. Sometimes, drawers are sold alone. These aren't as useful for countertop storage if you want your all of your organizers to match. However, you can turn these into a storage bin or upcycle them as small shelves. Keep in mind that your antique finds may need a gentle clean. A dry, soft cloth will do the trick for dust. For tougher grime, you can lightly dampen it with water or mineral spirits. Once cleaned, these drawers fit any home decor style that values solid wood and antique designs, such as rustic, traditional, and mid-century modern.

Due to their size, these compact drawers are ideal for all sorts of small countertop clutter. They'll fit small items that make your kitchen look messier. Think items that get left out on the countertop, such as scissors and drop-zone items, like sunglasses, keys, and receipts. They're a good choice next to a tea or coffee station, nicely fitting tea bags or coffee pods. They can be useful on the bathroom counter as well. The drawers can fit makeup products and brushes, cotton rounds, and small toiletry tubes. These drawers tend to be narrow and long, so if you want to add a bit more organization, we like this idea from whimsybarn. The TikToker adds wood dividers to break up the long drawer into sections. Essentially, tabletop drawer provides you a spot to more easily corral items rather than stuffing them into a junk drawer or cabinet.

If you're looking for these antique drawers, you likely want to keep their traditional appearance. If the finish is looking worse for wear, you can refinish the drawers in a natural wood tone to bring it back to its former glory. A few updates can bring a little more pizzazz. The knobs are one place to start, since these are usually easy to switch out. Gold or antique brass knobs, like the 10-pack Asimerdeco Antique Brass Cabinet Knobs available on Amazon for $25, can make it more eye-catching. Or use a colorful ceramic knob like the Seimneire Leaf Pattern Pumpkin Knobs for a quaint, cottage kitchen. These knobs are also available on Amazon, and come in a pack of 12 in for $14. Adding colorful or patterned liners inside the drawers is another way to add your own twist. As-is though, these handsome wood pieces are already full of character.