Thrift store find becomes one-of-a-kind entertainment center

DIYer: Jessica Hughes of Bluffton

Project: Dresser makeover

Jessica Hughes turned an $80 thrift store find into a stylish entertainment center. Here's how she did it.

I'm a big believer in not buying the first piece of furniture you lay your eyes on. Although it is tempting to make an impulse purchase, finding the right piece of furniture to fit your style takes time. When I saw this dresser at the Litter Box thrift store on Hilton Head Island (it was only $80), right away I envisioned it in my living room as an entertainment center. I chose this antique piece because it was the perfect size to hold my TV and it had a lot of storage space for movies and a DVD player.

SAND, PRIME, PAINT

From start to finish, the project took less than a week -- two days for sanding, a day for priming and two days to paint the top coat. I started by sanding down the dresser (which was so much fun) and then chose to prime it because I wanted a smooth and easy finish, plus I wanted a paint job that would last for years. I took time finding the right paint color to match my living room furniture. I took home many color samples from Home Depot until I had the perfect match. Usually I would buy new knobs and handles, but this piece had beautiful hardware, so I updated the pieces with silver spray paint.

The project was easier than I thought. There were zero hiccups along the way and everything ran smoothly. The sanding was the hardest part because of the fine detail in the wood (I used a hand sander). If I had to do anything different, next time I would buy an electric sander to save time for other projects.

This story was originally published April 19, 2015 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Thrift store find becomes one-of-a-kind entertainment center."