Uncover the hidden charm of a cast-off piece with a bit of creative thinking and elbow grease.
Check out our furniture makeover project ideas for inspiration.
Dresser Do-Over
The brown-on-brown color scheme of this dresser gives away its age.
The misaligned handles don’t do it any favors, either.
This vintage furniture makeover will be ready for use in no time.
First, we raised this dresser to the next level by adding feet.
The space below is great for extra storage and gives it an elegant look.
A fresh coat of milk paint completely rehabs the surface as something you’ll actually want to display.
Sleeping Beauty
If you’re thinking about kicking an unused crib to the curb, think again.
Disassembled, baby cribs are great for DIY furniture makeovers.
Just see how some creative thinking transformed this old crib into a headboard!
This project is great to keep in mind as the kids get older.
Make a thrifty grownup headboard from the ends of a disassembled crib.
Secure the ends together at the back with aFrench cleatto make a queen-size focal point.
Show True Colors
The good news is that wicker furniture is back in style.
This chair fit our space beautifully, but it was looking a bit too brown.
Help a chair with good bones but a less-than-impressive color scheme find its groove again.
Then update the frame with a paint color that coordinates with the new fabric.
When applying this, be careful to align the edges carefully and smooth out all air bubbles.
Lend the legs shimmer power with a coat of metallic spray paint.
Top with a clear coat to protect the metallic finish from fingerprints.
Pooch-Size Perch
Think of lots of broken parts as opportunities.
That’s what we did with an antique dresser that had a broken drawer.
A missing drawer opened the door for this dresser to house Fido.
For extra pampering, use one of the discarded drawer fronts to hold dog bowls.
The glass top is also outdated and shows smudges and fingerprints easily.
Salvage a Media Cart
An unattractive TV cart like this one is a cheap thrift shop regular.
With outdated materials, likely scuffs, and unsightly hardware, it’s not a highly sought-after item.
But, this piece is the perfect purchase for aflea market furniture makeover.
Prime and paint the cart.
Remove the doors, and decoupage the door fronts with decorative paper.
Cut a new back for the cart from 1-inch plywood, and decoupage it with coordinating paper.
Add new knobs to the doors and reinstall.
The bed becomes a charming settee when its parts are reassembled.
Cut the footboard in half vertically to form arms for the settee.
Cut a piece of MDF for the seat and a piece for a front rail.
Assemble all pieces with wood screws and glue.
Sand, prime, and paint the settee.
When dry, add nailhead trim.
For a cushion, wrap a foam pad cut to size with batting and a throw.
Or sew the throw into a cover for a more structured look.
Versatile Armoire
Oversized armoires like this were designed to house bulky tube TVs.
Even though flat-screens are now the norm, these roomy pieces can still be useful.
Shelves installed in the upper section added loads of storage.
Fresh paint and a few style updates, including new hardware, provided a fresh face.
Always remember to sand furniture before painting to ensure a smooth surface.
Armoire Step-by-Step
Get the inside scoop on how we transformed this old armoire.
Something of this size could be reimagined as a wardrobe, linen storage, and more.
Rope molding outlines the doors, and the panels are accented with pretty medallions.
The embellishments were rubbed with a decorating glaze to give the color depth.
Paint Upholstery
Looking for DIY furniture makeover projects for pieces with fabric?
you might transform dull upholstery fabric with the right kind of paint.
Watch and learn the trick.
Use paint to give the furniture a dose of character and contemporary styling.
Embellish the drawer fronts with pretty stencils.
Remove any damaged drawers in favor of small lined and labeled baskets.
Create shadow boxes from the small drawers: Line them with patterned paper, and hang on the wall.
Make your bookcase more useful with a drop-down desk and out-of-sight storage.
Cut doors to size from Medium Density Fiberboard, then prime and paint the bookcase and doors.
Finish the doors with a new knob and pull.
Color and pattern transform the old vanity into a petite desk perfect for a small room.
Remove the mirror, then sand, prime, and paint the vanity.
Be sure to fill any scratches or holes left from the mirror with wood putty.
When dry, cover the drawer fronts and knobs with pretty papers using decoupage glue.
They have a great shape and sturdy construction but unsightly or worn-out upholstery.
Fortunately, chairs like this one can be redeemed with a reupholstery job.
Fun, fresh fabric gives this chair a renewed appearance.
Reupholstering a chair involves some work, but the results are rewarding.
Get the step-by-step instructionshere.
Refresh with Pattern
Check out this fun furniture makeover idea.
Turquoise paint lightened the look of the sideboard, while glass pulls give it a vintage-meets-modern look.
High-gloss paint is extra durable and works best for furniture used in high-traffic areas.
Primer, two coats of white paint, a simple cushion, and new casters complete the exterior overhaul.
See what a fresh coat of paint can do for this furniture piece in need of some attention.
A simple redo gives the country style a modern edge.
Remove the table legs and make a paper pattern for new simple legs.
Cut the legs from MDF and attach to the top with screws.
Keep the shelves for support and extra storage.
Repurpose a Table for Your Bath
A bedside table isn’t just for the bedroom.
A vintage find can have a full makeover and serve more than one purpose.
First, sand the table to give it a smooth finish.
For storage, you might add a shelf near the bottom of the vanity.
Then paint the table.
For a streak-free finish, use spray paint.
To provide a waterproof surface around the sink, top the vanity with a piece of granite.
(This one was free from a local stone company’s scrap pile.)
After the drilled granite is placed on the table, drill through the tabletop to accommodate plumbing pipes.
A vessel sink with a single lever faucet is a perfect fit for this compact space.
Blot with a rag to remove small patches of paint.
Respray with one coat of the mirror paint.
