Decorating our home maybe one of the most fulfilling and the most enjoyable tasks, but it’s also one of the most expensive.
That’s why we love finding thrift shops or those shops that offer discounts, but did you know that there’s a way better deal than this?
That’s right, why spend so much money when you can do it yourself?
We all know there are so many DIY inspirations out there, but we’re not talking about starting from scratch. We’re talking about upcycling the old furniture you have in your home to a modern, more stylish “new” furniture that you’ll love.
Take a look at these 52 old pieces of furniture that were turned into modern pieces that you’d think came from high-end stores.
1. Pet bed
If you have a dresser but don’t need all of the drawer space, you can make the bottom drawers into a bed for your pet. Your cat or dog will love the new cozy nook. Check the the step by step instructions for the project here.
The frame for this porch bench was made out of stacked cinderblocks. They then threaded wooden beams through the holes. All in all, it’s a super simple project.
This used to be a boring wooden coffee table. The artist modified it into an upholstered ottoman. The end result is stunning. You can see their guide here.
Metal barrels are one of the things that are very hard to dispose of. That’s why seeing this idea is such a relief! If you love barbecues and chilling outside drinking beer, then this upcycle is definitely worth your time.
Aluminum chairs often disintegrate over time. If all you have left of one is the frame, you can make it functional again by weaving cordage around it. Get more instructions on how to repair your own chair here.
If you are looking to refinish an old dresser, instead of simply painting it, try placing a silhouette graphic on it. This artist tried several different designs and every version turned out fantastic. Check them out here.
One quick and easy way to make plastic chairs more fun is to spray paint them. Choose whatever colors you would like. They’ll be much more inviting than scratched and dirty plain white chairs.
Have lots of spare tires? Well, this idea will surely make you excited. Not only are they cool, but they are also quite cozy. Perfect for your boy’s night out.
Here we have an old wooden barrel converted into a table. It looks like something you would see in a wild west saloon. It’s the perfect table for relaxing with a few friends and having some drinks.
A lot of families have old furniture items around that they aren’t able to use. However, with a little work, they can be transformed into something completely different. This person repurposed an old dresser into a beautiful armchair. See how they did it here.
These garden toadstools double as little seats. They are built on top of stumps. The tops are made from painted wooden salad bowls. You can find more details here.
Tires can be painted festive colors and used as the base for an outdoor patio table. All you will need is a glass tabletop to complete it. In addition, you can find out more details about how they decorated their entire deck seating space here.
When trying to save money, many opt for a boring metal bed frame. However, if you want a wooden frame on the cheap, consider using pallets. They look surprisingly stylish.
We love these colander kitchen lights. They are so simple, yet are the perfect choice for the space. Lighting fixtures are such an important part of making an area look good.
Extra storage space is something that always comes in handy. One good strategy is to use wooden crates. When attached to four ropes, they can be transformed into hanging closet shelves. Check out the instructions here.
This thrifted dresser was upcycled into a TV stand with additional storage underneath. It could also be used as an entrance table or buffet table. See more details about their project here.
A spool can make a nice rustic table. You don’t even have to do anything to it. Although, this person applied a little wood stain to theirs as a finishing touch.
It took a lot of time to refinish this 1942 vanity table. However, in the end, it was all worth it. The difference between the original and the updated version is night and day. Check out more photos of the process here.
Not only is the table made of pallets, but all of the chairs are too. Everything is painted and the table is topped with a piece of safety glass. Read the instructions for the project here.
This French dresser didn’t look like much at first. It had seen better days. However, they removed the drawers and made a few modifications and now they have a really pretty bench. Learn more about it here.
The dresser looks stunning now, but the original sure didn’t. Most people would have thrown it away. However, this ambitious crafter removed all of the old veneers and covered it in wallpaper to hide the flaws. See the before and after pictures here.
The technique can be applied to any old piece of furniture. This artist used it to refurbish a Dahlia dining table and add a flower to it. Their tutorial and video make it look surprisingly easy to do, although you will definitely need some artistic talent.
Here we have a great use for all of your leftover wine corks accumulated over the years. Put them underneath the glass of a coffee table for a really cool effect. Every vino connoisseur needs one of these in their living room.
The thrift store is a good place to start when you need to furnish your home on the cheap. There are some great finds to be had there, such as this china cabinet. They stripped the stain and refinished it to give it the final look. Check out the details here.
Here is a beautiful cerused oak table. Cerusing is a technique used to bring out the grains of the wood. You can see every detail in the table now. Get more information here.
It’s hard to believe that this living room table and shelf used to be a TV set, however, the pictures are proof that it’s true. It’s amazing how easily trash can be converted into treasure. This page shows how they did it.
As you can see, it takes a lot of work to weave your own Danish cord seating surface. However, it doesn’t cost a lot of money. If you have a good amount of time to spare and are up for a challenge, check out the tutorial here.
The desk was about ready for the garbage. However, the person took it on as a fun DIY project. With a little work, they made it look brand new again. We love the colors that they used.
It’s a plastic milk crate turned into a foldable camping chair. The best part is that the storage inside of the crate is still intact. Find all of the DIY instructions for the project here.
If you attach a cushion to the top of a drawer and then put some legs on the bottom, you’ll instantly have a footrest. It’s the perfect complement to any chair or couch. It’s both stylish and functional.
Cinderblocks are a really useful item. In this garden, they were used as both flower pots and an outdoor chair. It looks like something you would see in the courtyard of a castle.
This sofa is made out of pallets. It really matches the country style of the home, and the upside-down crate they placed in front as a leg rest or table is a nice touch as well.
The top of a kid’s trampoline was attached to some ropes to make this hanging chair. It is perfect for lounging out in during the summer. The canvas hung over the side provides a lot of much-needed shade.
It’s amazing what a coat of fresh paint can do to a worn-out dresser. It’s always much cheaper to redo old furniture than to buy brand new pieces. Yet, the end results often turn out just as good as buying new.
If you have a big barrel for whatever reason, it can actually be made into two separate coffee tables. Just saw it in half. Then lay a sheet of glass over it.
First the pallets were sanded down. Then they applied a coat of paint. That’s pretty much all it took to make this cool pallet table and patio seating area.
If you have any spare flower pots lying around, this might be a good use for them. Basically, they took two flower pots, attached them together, and lined the top one with a pizza pan. Get more details here.
The family started with three IKEA Expedit Shelving Units. They were very bare bones. However, after reworking them, they turned out great. They even added a chalkboard on the one end of the shelves.
The shapes were first drawn on clear contact paper. They were then cut out and taped to the table to create the outlines. See their guide to learn more about applying the fun animal stencils here.
It used to be a bulk divan that was heavy and awkward. Now it is a nice moveable bench. They modified it and added some wheels on the bottom to make sliding it around the room much easier.
If you have a spare corner in your home, you can build one of these too. It could be a chair or a bed depending on how big you are. Really, you just have to craft the frame and plop a cushion on top of it.
It’s crazy how patterned wallpaper can completely change a piece of furniture. The nightstand looks so modern now. Compared to the plain wood-stained look from before, it’s a big change.
We are fascinated with the idea of an outdoor lounger made of logs. It is a great way to recycle any old trees that you need to remove from your yard. According to the guide, you’ll need a chainsaw to carve the logs up.
The graphic on the top of the table is actually from a poster. It was applied using a thin layer of Mod Podge. It totally transformed the look of the thrift store table find. Get more details about the project here.
This succulent garden was built right into the middle of the table. It’s really neat. Succulents use very little water so they aren’t going to cause any rotting problems for the wood either. Get more info here.
This man built a bench around a tree in his backyard. It’s such a creative idea. There is nothing better than relaxing outside under a tree on a nice sunny day.
If you get rid of the mirror on a vanity table, suddenly you have a desk. That’s what this DIYer discovered. They loved the carved patterns in the wood so they knew they had to repurpose the piece somehow.
The wood surface of the cabinet looked nice, but it was getting a little dated. Several scratches started showing up and the finish was wearing off. However, it was easily fixable with a little wallpaper.
This bench was built out of two chairs attached together. It was then topped with a French mattress cushion. Learn more details about how they did it here.
This cool hammock chair was made using two yards of canvas painted with a little bit of black canvas paint. It’s a simple project that anyone can complete. Get more info here.
52 brilliant ways to breathe new life into old furniture pieces
Ma Fatima Garcia
02.10.21
Decorating our home maybe one of the most fulfilling and the most enjoyable tasks, but it’s also one of the most expensive.
That’s why we love finding thrift shops or those shops that offer discounts, but did you know that there’s a way better deal than this?
That’s right, why spend so much money when you can do it yourself?
We all know there are so many DIY inspirations out there, but we’re not talking about starting from scratch. We’re talking about upcycling the old furniture you have in your home to a modern, more stylish “new” furniture that you’ll love.
Take a look at these 52 old pieces of furniture that were turned into modern pieces that you’d think came from high-end stores.
