Upcycling old furniture is a great way to breathe new life into an item and give it a new purpose. Recently, I took a trip to my local thrift store and found an old wooden nightstand that was in desperate need of some TLC. I decided to transform it into a modern pet feeder station, and the results were amazing.
Preparation
The first step was to sand down the nightstand to remove any scratches or dents. I also removed the top of the nightstand by unscrewing the base from the top and took the bottom out of the top drawer. I’ll explain why on the drawer bottom shortly.
I then applied a coat of primer and fresh coat of paint (color Grays Harbor by Sherwin Williams) to give it a modern look.
Hardware
Once the paint was dry, reattach your night stand top using two regular door hinges. Then, put the drawers back in place, the bottomless drawer going on top. Use L brackets and corner braces to secure the top two drawers to the nightstand base. These essentially become faux drawers meaning they can’t be accessed from the front. Inside will be a larger compartment, the size of two drawers, which can be used for food storage. I used this food storage container but you can use whatever suits the size of your piece of furniture. Lastly, I added these toy box hinges so the nightstand top would stay open while I access the food storage. It works perfectly!
Pet Bowls
For the pet food bowls, I started with a 1×6 board and cut it to the width of the night stand drawer. Then, trace the bottom of your stainless steel food bowls on the board. Cut out the holes by first drilling a couple of pilot holes and then using a jigsaw to cut out the circles. Double check that your bowls fit well. Install this board into the bottom drawer of your night stand using 2 L brackets.
Finishing Touches
The final touch was to add some new matte black hardware. I actually made two of these stations but the second doesn’t have food storage and the drawers are used for medications, treats, and dog supplies.
The end result was a beautiful, modern pet feeder station that my furry friend absolutely loves. Not only does it look great in my home, but it is also functional and practical for feeding my pet. Plus, I feel good knowing that I was able to upcycle an old piece of furniture and give it a new life.
If you’re looking to create a modern pet feeder station for your furry friend, consider upcycling an old piece of furniture. With a little creativity and elbow grease, you can transform an old nightstand into a functional and stylish pet feeder station that both you and your pet will love.