DIY Record Player Stand: $10 Chair Upcycle

I found a thrifted chair for $10 and turned it into a funky mid-century modern record player stand with vinyl storage. Here’s how you can do it too:

Material List

Thrifted chrome chair frame ($10)

1. Walnut plywood (for boxes)

2. Solid walnut boards (for armrests)

3. Wood glue

4. Finish nails

5. Walnut edge banding

6. Steel rods (⅛”, for vinyl dividers)

7. 2 ½” lag bolts + nuts + washers

8. Bar Keeper’s Friend (for cleaning chrome)

9. OFF (protective spray)

10. Oil finish (for walnut + plywood)

11. Furniture pads (for leveling/support)

Tool List

• Plunge saw (for straight + angled cuts)

• Drill + drill bits

• Clamps + cauls

• Edge banding trimmer

• Clothing iron (for edge banding)

• Cut-off tool (for steel rods)

• Planer (for walnut armrests)

• Measuring tape + square

• drill + bits

• Sandpaper / sanding block

Shop this episode!

Step 1: Start with the Vision

• Take apart the chair and keep the chrome frame.

• Build two wooden boxes to act as the record storage:

  • Top box = record player stand

  • Bottom box = vinyl storage

• In this specific situation, the chair was constructed in trapezoid shapes instead of squares, which effects the type of math required!

👉 Tip: Use cardboard or foam board mockups before cutting wood. It saves money and catches design flaws early!

Step 2: Geometry & Planning

• The wood boxes needed to compensate for slope of the chair:

  • Bottom box = 1 ⅛” taller in front

  • Top box = 1 ¼” taller in back

Quick sketch moment!

I sketched out cuts to keep walnut wood grain flowing in the right direction.

Step 3: Cut the Plywood

• For this project, I splurged on walnut plywood (worth it!).

• I used a plunge saw to cut nine pieces.

• All edges were cut at 45° miters for clean corners.

Step 4: Assemble Boxes

• This was a simple build - only wood glue + nails (no fancy joinery).

• Once all the pieces for the boxes are cut, assemble them together!

Step 5: Edge Banding

• I covered plywood edges with walnut banding.

• I ironed it on, and trimmed the excess with edge trimmer.

• It was time-consuming but gave a polished, pro finish.

Step 6: Walnut Armrests

• I cut and planed the solid walnut boards.

• Then I oiled for a rich, natural grain.

• I predrilled holes into the wood and then screwed the boxes into the chrome frame.

Step 7: Clean the Frame

• The chrome frame in the chair that I purchased had rust.

• I scrubbed with Bar Keeper’s Friend and it removed 80% of the rust and grime!

• I finished with a protective layer of OFF.

Step 8: Attach the Boxes

• I positioned boxes on the frame to get ready to screw them in.

• I drilled and secured with 2 ½” lag bolts + washers.

• I clamped pieces first to avoid plywood blowout.

Step 9: Add Vinyl Dividers

• I used ⅛” steel rods as dividers inside the top box.

• I drilled shallow holes on top, and made small divots on the bottom.

• The result created neat, minimal storage rows for records.

Step 10: Finish & Style

• I made sure to oil the plywood which made the wood grain pop beautifully.

• I added record player, stacked vinyl, and styled decor in bottom cubby to bring this piece together!

And that’s it, DIY friends! From a $10 thrifted chair destined for the dump to a one-of-a-kind mid-century modern record player stand with vinyl storage—this flip proves that with a little creativity (and some brain-bending geometry), you can totally funk up even the most unexpected pieces.

Stay positive, stay creative, and KEEP ON DIY’N!