I Found a Dresser at a Yard Sale

Posted on Decorating & DIYs
42 Comments

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I was on my way to see my grandson, Andrew, when I found a dresser at a yard sale on a side street.

It started with a dressed that I found at a yard sale on Saturday.

I’d stopped at McDonald’s to get an iced caramel coffee and was driving east when I saw the dresser. It’s been ages since I stopped at a yard sale. I reasoned that I was a little early and that stopping would eat up some time.

As soon as I parked and got out, I knew it was the dresser I’ve been looking for. I’d say it is a sage green color. It was sitting sloped in the grass in the owner’s yard.

Looking for a Dresser:

I’ve been looking for a dresser under a $100 for nearly four years, with no luck finding one.

The dresser didn’t have a price tag on it. I tried opening and closing the drawers. They slid in and out easily and worked just fine. Not a ding or a scratch could I see on it.

I went up to the woman running the sale and asked her how much she wanted for the dresser.

My living room with the green dresser at one end of my couch/chaise.

“Seventy-five dollars,” she told me. I told her I’d think about it while I looked at the other things she had for sale.

I was reluctant to pay $75. I’ve been paying medical bills that have been coming in of late. So I really wanted to get the price down a bit before I actually bought the dresser.

So I walked around and picked up a neutral-style painting for $2. But I knew adding something else wasn’t going to help my bargaining with the woman. So I put it back.

Would She Quote Me a Deal?

I walked up to her again and asked what kind of deal she was willing to make me. She thought about it for a minute and then said, “I’ll take $50.”

Sold!

I found a dresser at a yard sale, and I'd been looking for one for four years. This on is a sage green, and a I have blue decor and lamp sitting on it.

I paid for it, and she helped me wrangle it into the back of my SUV. I’ve actually carried recliners in the back of this vehicle.

I was very pleased, and imagining what I could put in the dresser once I got it home. Certainly, I could get rid of stacks of stuff sitting in my closet with nowhere to go.

Visiting Andrew:

So I visited with Andrew. We played patty-cake about 150 times. I kept changing the song’s wording, trying to sound like his mom or dad.

He loves to be pushed around in the rolling desk chair. Anything that is moving and not being still is what he wants. My daughter chases after him, trying to get him still long enough to change his diaper.

I don’t have photos today because I’ve stopped taking my camera lately. Andrew is far too busy moving and gets aggravated when I ask him to be still so I can take a photo.

My new piece of furniture in my living room.

My son-in-law said if I’d wait till they got out of church the next day, he’d come over and bring the dresser into the apartment for me. That was nice of him.

So all day Saturday, once I got home, I imagined where I’d put the green dresser. I decided to initially put it in the living room. In the back of my mind, I thought I might use it later as a coffee bar in the dining area.

I added a lamp and put it at one end of my couch/chaise. It stores things from other rooms. And I enjoy having the dresser surface next to where I sit and work each day.

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42 Comments

  1. I really enjoy reading about decorating and using handmade quilts. I never learned to quilt and have none. Where can I look for quilts that are inexpensive? I love your decorating style and at 63, I'm trying to learn how to decorate my home!

  3. A great post. First off, I am so so glad to hear you are getting around so good now. Nice that you are driving to see that grandboy….and the green dresser is wonderful. I love finding pieces that are so useful for storage and look so good. I also like the window you've made into a photo frame.
    OK…as you might remember, I've done container gardening this summer…finally having good luck with them….you mention here to re-pot to bring inside…the greenhouse should be finished in the next couple of weeks…we will move all the plants into there…I won't need to repot those, will I ?

  4. Love the dresser! Isn't it awesome when you're waiting to buy something and know you won't and can't spend a lot of money…and then serendipity comes into play and you find what you've been wanting at a great deal?! Makes it even more special than if you had simply ran out and bought something like that for quadruple the price.

  5. I love the dresser and what great use of color! Andrew sounds precious and so fun to play with. So glad to see décor changes because you always inspire me so!

  6. What a wonderful deal on that dresser! I love the sage green color… and the coral of the book shelf! The quilt is beautiful hanging over the sofa! You've created a very beautiful, cozy space! 🙂 ~Rhonda

  7. I am looking for a dresser too…yours is very nice Brenda..I need one badly here for storage…I hope Charlie's little head is doing better..it's always something with our fur babies isn't it?? You are right..if you spend to much time trying to take pictures of little Andrew..you will miss spending time to play with him..a very wise observation…

  8. I LOVE the dresser Brenda…I have one just like it but it has the original walnut stain on it…got it at an estate sale for only 20 dollars…the leg was broke on it is why…my husband was with me and he assured me he could fix the leg and he did! I have it in our bedroom with our tv on it…I use the drawers for my linens and old pictures and a few old quilts…it is one of my favorite pieces of furniture in this house…did I tell you we moved? my son in law built us a new bigger home across town from where we use to live…we love it! you always have such a way with decorating Brenda…I have been picking up a few pointers from you…Thanks! xoxo Carol

  9. Was Charlie's little bump kind of warty looking? My fur babies get those ~ I just clean the skin, pop it, then keep it clean for a few days. Sometimes they come back, sometimes not. Vet sez they are harmless…

  10. Wish I could fly you down here and decorate my house! Love the reds and all the little touches color you use.

  11. Yay! on the dresser find! Great price too.

    I'm glad you had fun with Andrew and I love what you used to contain the smelly stick things. Much better than the normal ones that come with those 🙂

    xo

  12. You hit the jack pot when you did your "wheeling and dealing" for your dresser.. So glad you found just what you were looking for. I haven't been to a yard sale in years.. Used to go every Saturday.
    Your home looks great with the new arrangement.. I love your sewing machine table at your back door. It will look nice with your house plants on it.. I'm hoping my kitties won't eat mine when I bring them in from my deck.
    I know your time spent with Andrew and Mom and Dad are special times. So happy for you !
    Let us know if you find anymore treasures if and when you go yard saleing.
    Charlotte

  14. Congrats on the dresser! If it is in a yard sale as opposed to an estate sale, they are just trying to get rid of it anyway, so people will usually come way down.

  15. Great find! Glad to see your reds coming back!

  17. I'm happy about the dresser…it was meant to be! You were in the mood for a change and then there was the catalyst!

    Oh I had to laugh about the rolling chair…remember those days when my little grand wanted to spin around in the computer chair. AND diapering on the run, lol, yes! 🙂

  18. I love how nice and cozy your home looks. I can imagine how peaceful it must be sitting on your sofa reading, with a nice steady rain outside -and your pupsters curled up beside you.

  19. I love how nice and cozy your home looks. I can imagine how peaceful it must be sitting on your sofa reading, with a nice steady rain outside -and your pupsters curled up beside you.

  20. I love how nice and cozy your home looks. I can imagine how peaceful it must be sitting on your sofa reading, with a nice steady rain outside -and your pupsters curled up beside you.

  22. Great find! Nothing beats getting a good yard sale bargain!

  23. You scored at the yard sale, Brenda! That's an awesome find and your place looks great. I really like all that red in your table area. Big surprise, huh? 😉

  24. Everything is always so perfect! I wish I could move things around and pull it all together like you do. I got rid of alot of my stuff when we moved because I thought I couldn't get it in a small space. Turns out I have more room in this apt than I did in my house and I'm so sad that I let go of so much. You certainly have a knack for decorating. Love your style.

  25. That Dresser base is JUST P E R F E C T….But especially where you chose to place it. and btw I think I want to go find an old trunk TO PAINT WHITE.

  26. What a great dresser and for $50 it looks pretty great. I have missed your reds and so I'm happy you are bringing back your quilts and some red items. I like to change things up myself as I get bored with the same things. Rest and enjoy making those changes.
    hugs,
    Linda

  27. Hi Brenda! Yay! That's a nice dresser at a nice price too! Love it in your living room! Poor little Charlie. Chloe Dawn had these little 'Schnauzer Bumps" that would come up on her and I tried to get the vet to lance them and he said would just pop on their own. Gross. They did! Love seeing your colorful place! Take care.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia 😉

  28. Love the dresser and love that you are bringing back the cottage look.

    Grace & Peace

  29. Looks great, Enjoy!!! Love yard sales….never know what treasures will be found .

    Janie

  30. the dresser looks wonderful Brenda, what a great deal for an intact dresser. most of the time they have sticky drawers and wobble. you did good. Iove that white trunk, why don't I remember seeing it before? The lamp and wicker, cushions etc. all look perfect! so glad you got to enjoy your time with Andrew, that's worth everything in the world!

  31. Love your dresser, Brenda! Don't you love how a little detour can lead us to a treasure. Your vignette with the white-painted trunk is stunning, too. And I adore your quilts. Everywhere I look, I see inspiring ideas.

  32. Looks great Brenda! Nice find. 🙂

    So glad you got to spend time with little Andrew.

  33. What a wonderful find! I think the reeds look so much better in the mason jar–great idea!

  34. Oh girl, you did great with that dresser! Always talk 'em down, that's my motto 😉 So glad to see red and blue back in your decor, you know how I love it.

    Mary

  35. Oh, I just love a great deal on furniture pieces. How great that you stopped at the garage sale and found it! Pieces like that generally go quickly… gotta grab 'em and go! Lucky you!

  36. Love the dresser. What a bargain. Good for you. I am always re arranging. I'm calling it 'tweekin' now for your party!
    Thanks for sharing your find! Have a great Thursday.

  37. That dresser is GORGEOUS!!! And what a steal! I'm so happy that you were able to score something you really wanted at a wonderfully reasonable price!! And yes, the mason jar with reeds and fragrance looks beautiful sitting on that new dresser! Everything looks beautiful!

  38. What luck coming upon that yard sale. That's a very nice dresser. I love how you mix and match things.

  39. I always do an invisible happy dance when someone stronger helps load/unload for me. Great find, looks just right in your living room, more storage too.

  40. That dresser was a steal! It looks great in its new space. And, the scented reeds look adorable in the mason jar. So creative!

  41. Love that you found a useful, beautiful, and affordable piece. I love yard sales!! Your vignettes are lovely.

  42. Great find Brenda! Isn't it amazing how one piece can help you cast a new vision on a whole room? Sounds like it got those creative juices flowing! 🙂 Love the fragrance sticks in the mason jar…

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