Refresh an Old Dresser With Leather Belt Handles

Out in the garage, under a big pile of foam, I found the little shabby white dresser table I used years ago in our first house. With knobs missing and a disgusting coat of dirt, it needed new life, and I welcomed the challenge.

Shiny bolts, nuts and two lavender belts from the thrift shop helped turn this tired white dresser into a decked-out charmer. And the only tools I used were a hammer, a flat-head screwdriver, scissors and a leather punch from my local craft store. Here’s how I did it.

Here’s the dresser updated with new handles made from belts and bolts.


The trusty old dresser was hiding out in my furniture stash in the garage. It was missing knobs and was layered with dust and grime.

But the oil paint I used on this little chest of drawers decades ago had held up remarkably well through moves, bumps, swipes and storage. Additionally, it was the last remaining piece of a solid maple bedroom set — the kind of furniture to appreciate and keep forever.


Removing the knobs was the first order of business.


Scrubbing the old oil-painted surface did wonders. Even if oil paint is an environmental no-no, I think its finish is unbeatable.


I cut the extra-large Goodwill belts to size with scissors. The length of each piece for you will depend on how big you want your loop to be and what will work best with your furniture piece in terms of scale. Just play around with folding the belt over to determine the right size. Eight inches makes a nice loop.


Mark the hole locations on the belt pieces the same distance from each end, then use a leather punch from a craft store.


Fold the belt pieces over and insert a bolt through each one. The bolts need to be long enough to fit through two layers of the belt and through the wood drawer front, with enough remaining to tighten a nut on the end.


Leather belts can be found in many different colors and textures, so it’s easy to customize and find the right one for your piece.


The little dresser with simple tabletop decor now adds character to my home office.

More: Turn a Shipping Pallet Into a Stylish Ottoman

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