Converting A Dresser Into A Hanging Closet for Kid Dress Up Clothes
Converting a dresser into a hanging closet for kid dress up clothes is a fun and creative DIY project that will help you organize your child’s play costumes and accessories! Whether you’re looking to save space or just want to add a unique touch to your child’s room, this project is easy and cost effective!
In just a few simple steps, you can create a custom play clothes closet that blends in with your home decor. Simply remove the drawers, install a closet rod, and paint the dresser with Dixie Belle chalk paint to give it a fresh new look.

I bought this solid wood, waterfall dresser when I was in college and had moved into my own apartment. I never particularly loved the style of the dresser, but I bought it for a decent price so it was worth it.
I bought this dresser in Illinois and then moved it to Ohio for college. After college in Ohio, we moved it to Georgia, then to South Carolina and then to North Carolina! HA! This dresser has lived in more states than most people!
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Unfortunately I cannot find a before photo of the dresser, so you’ll just have to imagine what it looked like before.
Supplies Needed
- old dresser
- White Lightning furniture cleaner
- chalk paint
- paint brush
- closet rod or tension shower rod
How to Convert A Dresser Into A Hanging Closet for Kid Dress Up Clothes
Step 1: Remove the drawers
This was a taller dresser, so I only removed the top 3 drawers and left the bottom drawer so that my kids could store their dress up hats, crowns, and shoes in the bottom.
Step 2: Clean dresser
Before painting any piece of furniture, I always clean it with White Lightening. Check out my tutorial for How To Clean Wood Before Painting.
Step 3: Paint the dresser
I painted this dresser using my favorite furniture paint, Dixie Belle chalk paint! I painted the exterior of the dresser in Drop Cloth and the interior in Vintage Duck Egg.

Step 4: Install a closet rod or tension rod
The inside of my dresser had drawer glides, so instead of screwing in a closet rod, I actually used a tension shower rod I had laying around! I rested it on the drawer glide and it worked perfect!

This dresser makeover was so easy and took only a couple of hours to complete. My kids absolutely loved it and we used it for many years. I finally sold the dresser and it permanently resides in North Carolina…even though I’m now in Wisconsin! HAHA!


Check these out: Before & After Projects Using Dixie Belle Chalk Paint


Stephanie—home cook, DIY addict, seasonal decor fanatic, and proud chicken wrangler living in a Victorian house that’s always a project. Whether I’m cooking with garden-fresh ingredients, herding mischievous chickens, or tackling another DIY, I’m here to share the fun (and chaos).