A dove and a moose walk onto a playground—yes, that’s how this story starts. The real point: we finally scored a dresser for Clara’s big-girl room, and it even has dovetail joints. Finding a solid, secondhand dresser felt like a small victory, so I’ll share how we picked it, where it’s going, and what else is happening in the room.
We wanted a longer, lower dresser for Clara’s future room so she can reach drawers on her own as she grows, instead of a tallboy with upper drawers she can’t access. We also wanted something from a non-smoking household (smoke smell is tough to eliminate) and with plenty of drawers—Clara’s nursery dresser has worked brilliantly as a changing table, so a similar style with at least six drawers was the goal. When we found a nine-drawer dresser in good structural condition, it felt like jackpot: lots of storage and the chance to clear out a cluttered space.
We found it on Craigslist after searching the term “dresser” in our area a few times a week for about a month. Patience and consistency paid off. The dresser was a great price and solidly built, which is what you want when buying used furniture—especially pieces with dovetailed drawers and sturdy joinery that can be refinished or repainted and last for years.
Once we got it into the room we tried a few layouts. The dresser ended up just to the left of the door as you enter, because it’s shallower than the daybed and keeps the room feeling open. The daybed fits nicely along the opposite wall, so the arrangement balances depth and flow without blocking walkways.
Here’s the other side of the room so you can see the overall layout and how the daybed and dresser relate to each other. The extra storage from the dresser will be a huge help: nine drawers mean space for clothing, toys, linens, and seasonal items all in one place.
The dresser isn’t perfect—there are surface marks and signs of use—so we’re deciding whether to refinish it or paint it. For now we’re using a “stick and move” approach: place the piece, add rugs, window treatments, art, and lighting, and let the room evolve. That gives us time to determine whether a deep wood stain, a moody navy, or a crisp white finish will suit the space best. We’ll update once we decide.
So where does the moose come in? Remember the estate-sale ceramic animal lamp we painted white in an earlier post? That lamp became a moose, and it now sits proudly on the dresser as a playful architectural accent. The lampshade was recovered with leftover fabric from Clara’s monthly photo project, using the fabric’s reverse side to tone down the pattern for a softer look.
I promised a photo of the moose lamp with its finished shade, so here it is. The fabric-covered shade was part of a book project, which is why I waited to share it, and I’m happy with how the lamp plays with the other textiles in the room.
Now you’ve basically seen one wall coming together. We’re excited to hang something over the dresser soon—hint: it won’t be traditional framed art. As we add layers like a rug, window treatments, and a new light fixture, the overall direction of the room’s color palette will become clearer. I’m planning to introduce colors like navy, teal, and yellow at some point to keep things lively and kid-friendly.
For a little fun: here’s the daybed with the upholstered lampshade interacting with pillows and a blanket. The cozy vignette makes the room feel inviting already, and the dresser adds a practical and attractive anchor to the space.
And of course, someone had to model the scene. Who’s the cutest fake sleeper you know? Does her name start with C and end with -lara?
What have you been searching for on Craigslist or at thrift stores lately? Any favorite secondhand furniture sources you recommend? Did anyone try a thrifting challenge recently? We love hearing about your great finds and creative projects—share what you scored and any tips for spotting solid, reusable furniture with good joinery and finish potential.