Learn how to make DIY Leather Drawer Pulls with labels for a child’s bedroom. A small dresser with curved drawers is updated with DIY leather drawer pulls.
I’m a firm believer in not rushing the decorating process. I don’t force decision-making. I’ll shop for the right piece of furniture for months. I’m okay with imperfection and unfinished projects in the meantime.
There is a small yellow dresser that I painted years ago. When we moved it back into the house, the top drawer pull broke. Yes. Literally, right after I refinished it.
No big deal, right? Buy new pulls. Not so easy.
The drawers are curved, and the pulls are also curved, a perfect fit for this particular piece. But a “perfect fit” makes it difficult to find a replacement.
In this house, the dresser never really found a home until it landed in my son’s bedroom when we put our house on the market. Now that it has a home, it was time to tackle the missing drawer pulls, with a DIY Leather Drawer Pull project.
DIY Leather Drawer Pulls : Supplies
Craft Leather
Rotary Cutter & Mat
Wood Burning Tool
Alphabet Hot Stamps
Leather Hole Punch
Screw, Washer & Bolt
DIY Leather Drawer Pulls : Instructions
Step #1: Cut the craft leather to length with a rotary cutter.
Note: When choosing leather, a rough suede-like leather or a matte leather will burn better than a gloss-finish leather.
Step #2: Place hot stamps on leather for alignment. Using the wood burning tool, imprint one letter at a time. I prefer to start with the middle letters and work out.
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Step #3: Measure your drawer, and punch holes in the leather where the drawer pull will attach.
Step #4: Use a screw, washer, and bolt to attach each side of the leather pull.
As a note, I used a gold marker to add a touch of shimmer to the burned letters.
This small dresser has undergone a dramatic transformation. It matched my style when we got it nearly 10 years ago, and now it’s a perfect fit in my little boy’s bedroom as a night stand.
The leather adds a masculine detail to a dresser with feminine lines, and the yellow color feels modern and playful. Decorating slowly is okay… if I had forced the process, I may not have ever thought to use leather.
Instead, I would probably have just filled holes and added knobs. Of course, that’s not a bad choice, but it wouldn’t have felt as custom and whimsical as leather drawer pulls.
How do you decorate? Do you like to take it slowly, or finish a project quickly? There are definitely benefits to both methods. Sometimes, we have to finish projects {due to deadlines, functionality, etc.}; but if I’m unsure and it can wait — I’ll choose that option.
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zan says
March 10, 2017 at 10:00 pmIt takes me a while to find the correct decorating pieces too. I agree that it should match your style and be functional in the space. The leather pull is a creative idea and probably something I would not have thought of doing. It’s great that you waited and custom made something for the dresser.
craftivitydesigns@gmail.com says
March 21, 2017 at 3:59 pmIt’s hard to be patient sometimes 😉
Vanessa @ {nifty thrifty things} says
March 12, 2017 at 2:37 pmThat’s such a cute makeover and I love the pulls! Cute idea! 🙂
XO, Vanessa
craftivitydesigns@gmail.com says
March 21, 2017 at 3:57 pmThanks, Vanessa!
Sarah says
March 14, 2017 at 6:40 pmYou always make the neatest stuff from leather!! I loved those leather coasters from before Christmas and now these pulls!! So unique. And they fit perfectly on the piece.
craftivitydesigns@gmail.com says
March 21, 2017 at 3:57 pmThanks, Sarah! I’m having fun with using leather — I love that it adds a more masculine touch to things.
Shani | Sunshine & Munchkins says
March 16, 2017 at 12:03 amYou are brilliant Lora! This is a great idea and it totally looks high-end. I have a hard time leaving certain projects unfinished, but there are others that stay unfinished for a long time (like our laundry room make-over *sigh*).
craftivitydesigns@gmail.com says
March 21, 2017 at 3:56 pmAw thanks Shani!! We spent forever on our Laundry Room too 🙂