As beautiful and functional as your old furniture may be, there will come a time when newer pieces will replace it.
What happens to your old furniture then? Do you dispose of it, lessening the clutter in your home? Or do you upcycle it and make it part of your new home?
If you choose the latter, then this blog is for you.
When it comes to upcycling furniture, the possibilities are endless. If you can dream it, you can do it. Upcycling is an opportunity to get creative and make something new out of something old.
Of course, upcycled furniture can be anything, but it is generally furniture that has a new lease on life — a second chance at being useful.
It’s also a great way to reduce waste and extend the life of items that would otherwise be thrown out. You don’t need to be an experienced handyman or woman to try your hand at upcycling; all you need is some basic crafting supplies and a bit of creativity.
The most common types of upcycled furniture are tables and chairs, outdoor chairs and benches, pallets and crates, crates for storage, and even old doors that transform into picture frames or mirrors.
In this blog, let’s look at some creative ideas to find the best furniture to upcycle.
7 Ideas for Upcycling Your Old Furniture
Upcycling is all about giving new life to something old, so think about what you might use a particular piece of furniture for or when you’re renovating your home within a budget.
A sturdy chest of drawers could become a small kitchen island if you add some small wheels to the bottom or even just cut down the legs; an old table could make the perfect children’s play kitchen or laundry station if you add some hooks or pegs to hang items from. Or you could make a unique bedside table from a wooden stool by adding a glass top and painting it to match your existing decor. Here are more such ideas to upcycle your furniture.
1. Reupholster Your Old Sofa
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Upholstery is one of the most popular creative ways of upcycling furniture. If you have an old chair or sofa lying around in your home, you can use it to create something entirely new and fresh. You can bring it new life by reupholstering it with new fabric. The process requires a lot of patience, but you will love this DIY project once you get the hang of it.
Even if the upholstery on your chair is in good shape, changing it to match your unique style is a fun and easy way to give it an upgrade.
2. Convert Doors into Photo Frames
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If you have an old wooden door around, turn it into a photo frame!
Take apart an old door and use the lumber to build picture frames of different depths and sizes. Paint the wood with water-based paint or stain and leave the wood grain showing or paint it over with glossy paint (for a faux marble look). You can also make little plaques from them by rounding off one end for hanging on the wall.
3. Turn a Dresser into an Entertainment Center
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Dressers are one of the best pieces of furniture to upcycle as there are many ways to repurpose them.
A large dresser with many drawers can be turned into an entertainment center. You’ll just need to add shelves for your TV and electronics and holes in the back for wires. If you have a large TV, make sure the dresser is sturdy enough to hold the weight.
4. Turn a Dresser into Kitchen Storage
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There’s never enough kitchen storage in most houses, so turn that unused dresser into extra space for your pots and pans. This will work best with a tall dresser because there’s more room for deep drawers. Just make sure you sand down the surface well before painting or staining it, so your silverware and dishes won’t get splinters.
5. Brighten Up Your Home Office
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If you’re working from home in an area that’s not quite big enough to fit a desk, use the top of a small bookcase as a desk organizer. This will help keep all your essentials within easy reach and make it easier to get organized.
This is also a great idea if you’ve got a stack of books threatening to topple over. This multi-shelf storage unit doesn’t take up much space and can brighten up your home workspace.
You can simply place it on top of your desk and fill it with all of your home office essentials — anything from paper clips to pens, notebooks, and more. You can even add some indoor plants inside the bookcase for a pop of color.
6. Repurpose an Old Coffee Table
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A simple coffee table can be turned into a stylish bench with just a few tools and a bit of paint. All you need is an inexpensive storage ottoman or footstool, along with some foam and fabric to upholster the top of the ottoman. Cut out the foam in the shape of the ottoman lid and cover it with fabric before placing it on the top. And if you want to make it more comfortable, add some foam cushions.
7. Paint Dining Chairs for Eclectic Living Room Chairs
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One of the easiest ways to spruce up an ordinary dining room set is by painting or staining the chairs. This idea works with most types of chairs – metal, plastic, wood – so play around with different paints and stains until you find one that works best for you.
You can also use different colors for painting each chair and place it around the living room for an eclectic feel.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to save some money or simply want to be environmentally conscious, upcycling old furniture is a great way to breathe new life into existing pieces. Try out these ideas for upcycling your old furniture to refresh your home and add a touch of personalization.
