I’ve been looking for a bookcase at Thrift Town for awhile now. Not to create a locker out of like I did in this project, but actually to use as a seating bench with cubby storage underneath. However, when I saw this bookcase for $15 at Thrift Town, I thought it had the potential to be a very cute locker…perfect height when turned sideways for school-age kids to come in and hang their backpacks up, and a spot for an “inbox” on top for things like books, papers to sign, etc.

Here’s the before shot:

Admittedly, this bookcase was in poor shape. Two additional laminate shelves would not even stay in place. So it was going to need reinforcing before it would be stable enough for it to be of any use. First thing I did was flip it on it’s side and used wood screws to secure the other shelves (now more like dividers) into place so I had three distinct locker or “cubby” sections.

In order to reinforce the unit, I went to Home Depot and bought some inexpensive plywood. They cut it to my exact specs. When I got it home I decided it maybe fun to modge podge maps all over the side facing out to give it a bit more dimension and interest. I had found a book of maps from a recent trip to Thrift Town, and this was the perfect opportunity to use it.

While the modge podge was drying, I used Rustoleum’s two in one spray paint (primer included) in antique metal in order to give it a true “locker” look and feel. I then secured the plywood onto the back of the unit. I also added metal hooks to each partition in order for items to be hung.

Here’s the final look all staged for my Thrifty Thursday segment on Good Day Sacramento! Click HERE to watch the segment live. I think it turned out pretty cute! It would look great in a mudroom, playroom, in-home daycare, or child’s room.

Happy thrifting!

Gina Doglione-Nielsen is featured every week on Good Day Sacramento’s Thrifty Thursdays, and owns GNJ Consulting which handles Public, Social, and Media Relations for Thrift Town Stores. Gina lives in Northern California with her amazing husband Josh, and is constantly on the go with three “very active” and “strong personality” bambinos; aka Team Nielsen, and loves every minute of it.