Frugal Ways to Give Old Furniture a Makeover

Photo by underwhelmer

The following is a guest post by Caroline Smith from GetSlipcovers.com:

Although everyone wants to have a stylish, comfortable place to live, there are times in life when money is tight and frugality is more important than appearances. Fortunately, there are ways to furnish your home without breaking the bank. Refurbished furniture can be used to create beautiful surroundings when the budget contains very little extra cash for decorating.

First, check with friends and relatives to see if they have furniture in storage that is still structurally sound. Basements all over the world are stuffed with couches, cabinets and tables that have been discarded because of stains, scratches, and broken hinges or hardware. With a little effort and little expense, all of these can become useful once more.

Next, check the local thrift stores and yard sales for inexpensive tables, chairs, bookcases, consoles, and other well designed pieces. Often, furniture at these locations is being replaced only because the style is no longer in vogue, and prices can be a tenth of the furniture’s original cost.

Once appropriate pieces have been found to fill the allotted space, it is time to work some makeover magic. Consider some of the following ways to rejuvenate furnishings so that they add to the décor of a room:

• Cover stains and tears on old loveseats and ottomans with colorful, inexpensive slipcovers.

• Paint over wooden pieces or strip them and re-stain them if they are in reasonable condition.

• When pieces are in pretty bad shape, repair any structural damage and then use a hammer and pick to distress it further. Paint and wipe away sections of paint with an old rag to give an antique appeal.

• Use inexpensive cloth remnants to make tablecloths and coverings for the dining room table and end tables.

• Make cushions for dining room chairs using a matching fabric of some type or give them a whole new look with cheap dining chair slipcovers.

• Make old lampshades a delightful addition to any new setting with the use of a little fabric paint and some old lace or stenciling.

• Remove outdated hardware on bookcases and cabinets and replace with more modern styles.

Other unusual ideas to give old furniture a new makeover may actually make it the center of attention. If the eclectic style appeals, try some of the following ideas:

• Use a textured roller to create intriguing patterns on a table top.

• Apply patterned wallpaper to drawer faces of dressers or cabinets.

• Paint an assortment of baskets in bright colors and use on bookshelves instead of a bureau.

• Use small broken chips of ceramic tile to create designs on old end tables.

With a little ingenuity, time, and patience, old furniture can sometimes be a more interesting addition to a living area than expensive new purchases. Giving old furniture a makeover can certainly add up to big savings over time.

This is a guest post by Caroline Smith of Get Slipcovers. Caroline enjoys finding creative ways to recycle old furniture and loves discovering new money-saving tips.