Upcycle a Goodwill Dresser in funky & fun “Cartoon Style”
Follow this creative and whimsical design approach on your next DIY project to ensure miles of smiles. Cartoon style gives your piece a free-hand, free flowing look that makes the ordinary look extraordinary–in a Dr. Suess/Marvel comics kind of way!
Step 1: Pick up a piece for pennies at Goodwill
Look for furniture items to transform at your favorite, friendly nonprofit Goodwill retail store. Any item with simple lines will work, so your options are truly unlimited—even with a limited budget. Thanks to your smart shopping at Goodwill, you are likely to find a piece or two to upcycle and only spend a buck or two in the process. The dresser featured here was functional and fine—and so ready for a new look and design!
Before you head to Goodwill, pack up a grocery bag of items to donate. Donations are always welcome and the team there will make it easy for you to drop them off. Donate electronics and keep all parts together. Collect clothing items in one bag; school supplies in another. The Goodwill folks will appreciate your thoughtfulness all the way around!
Step 2: Prep then paint
Get your dresser ready for painting by giving it a quick once over with a medium-grain sanding block. This will rough up the surface to make it paint-friendly. Wipe it down with a warm, damp cloth to remove the dust create from sanding and any fingerprints or dirt from handling. Remove any hardware; use painter’s tape to keep any sections paint-free.
White paint was applied in no time at all using a small roller brush. Three layers were applied with ample drying time between them. You might need a small brush to get in any tight places.
Be patient and allow your now white dresser to dry completely.
Step 4: Marker on the magic
Use a bigger-sized permanent black marker for this step. Like a comic strip or cartoon, you are going to basically outline your piece with your marker. Where two sides come together, draw a line there.
Each dresser drawer got a black line on its outer edges. The knobs, also painted white, got some black around their perimeters, too.
Consider adding additional details and more black lines to your dresser’s parts. The dresser top was given the appearance of a beveled edge thanks to the black lines. The drawer fronts got added dimension with lines sketched inside the borders.
What other details might you call attention to with a simple black line? You could add thicker lines to parts to give the impression of shadows. Curvy lines in some sections might make your dresser look like it has carved parts. Given the free form feel, don’t worry if your lines aren’t perfectly drawn in as we want your piece to look like a sketch/drawing.
Expert Tip:
When using your black marker, you might need to go over your lines several times to ensure they are crisp and sharp. Also, if you make a mistake while drawing in your lines (something I did several times!), simply touch up that part with some more white paint. Let it dry then return with a steady hand and draw your line in again. It’s really that easy!
6. Stage it to draw out your smile
Don’t you think this dresser would look great in a kid’s room? It has a certain playfulness about it. How cool will it look in your foyer with a small lamp for light, a basket for mail and a bowl for your keys? Wherever you place it, it will make you smile in delight—just like a funny cartoon does, too!
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Tim Kime
Artist, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach
