Sick of spending a fortune on new furniture every time the home trends & furniture styles change? Trust me, I feel your pain! But before you start browsing those pricey catalogs again, let’s talk old furniture upcycling!
So, old furniture upcycling is basically the process of transforming old or discarded furniture, perhaps an old sofa or coffee table, into a usable one! Most people usually do this by sealing the furniture joints & painting them. But today, you can also achieve the same result by DIY techniques – stenciling, decoupage, mixed media, etc.
Want to spice up your old furniture and give your home a fresh vibe? Then, simply read on to discover expert tips, hacks & budget-friendly ideas below!
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5 Old Furniture Upcycling Design Ideas you MUST Try Today!
Now, let’s discuss the top five old furniture upcycling ideas to turn your old, everyday furniture into stylish and eye-catching pieces:
1. Old Furniture Upcycling Ideas with Reupholstered Chairs
Chairs can get worn out fast with all the sitting we do, isn’t it? And eventually, a lot of people go for new ones once their old chairs fade, creak or lose their aesthetic appeal. But hey! Constantly buying new chairs can get pricey, right? So, reupholstering them is indeed a way better option—like, it’s cheaper and doesn’t take too long.
Basically, you can pick any fabric you like (cotton, linen or even jute) to totally transform the look of fabric chairs as per your style. Like, you can choose neutral cream or beige fabrics to complement the decor of your room, or go with the teal or fuchsia to make them pop.
As for hardwood chairs, just paint them for a fresh vibe. It’s cheaper and way more fun than buying new ones.
But, how do you reupholster your old chairs & what steps do you follow exactly? Let’s see!
How Do You Reupholster Your Furniture on Your Own?
- First, remove the old furniture fabric by carefully prying up the staples & lifting them with a staple remover. Then, inspect the frame for any damage & reinforce or glue it properly for more sturdiness.
- Measure your chair properly, as in the width of the arms, seat & back, and cut your upholstery fabric accordingly. Remember to keep 2–3 inches extra fabric for the seams.
- Next, evenly stretch the fabric on the seat’s underside & staple it. Then, move it onto the back and tuck the spillover fabric between the joints.
- Finally, reattach all the decorative buttons or tassels back to your chair & polish them a bit for more shine. Voilà! You just nailed some old furniture upcycling hacks with reupholstered chairs & fabrics!
Quick Tip: Always accessorize reupholstered chairs with throw pillows, rugs, accent lights or contrasting runners to make them stand out.
2. Varnish the Tables & Consoles
Do you know that you can upcycle your old tables & consoles, just by slapping on some fresh paint or varnish, like we did with the chairs above? Well yes! Just remember to sand the table lightly with a fine-grain abrasive, especially after the first coat. Then, just add a few more thin varnish layers for the perfect adherence & a smooth finish.
Just remember that while varnish makes wood look nice and polished, it also darkens it a little, especially at the joints. Nevertheless, you can choose from matte, flat, high-gloss, semi-gloss, or satin finishes. Like, there indeed are so many choices, so pick one that matches your other wooden furniture!
Quick Tip: Always use wooden conditioners, especially those with alcohol or oil-based solvents, to even out the wood’s absorption & prevent uneven staining.
3. Unconventional Lighting for Old Furniture Upcycling?
Lighting plays a huge role in your home, right? I mean apart from helping you see & focus on things, it finds that sweet spot to brighten & cheer up your interior. In fact, there are tons of DIY ideas you can try here – perhaps wicker basket lights, tea cup candles, jar lights, industrial pipe lights, paper lanterns, etc.
Moreover, you can totally get creative with what you use to hold your lights. Mannequins, for example, are super trendy for those into maximalist decor since you can stick the light on their head. Furthermore, old stuff like crutches, fans, or even brooms work great for your DIY old furniture upcycling hacks!
Caution: Avoid using plastic, acrylic or polypropylene jars to curate your DIY lights as those may melt & lose their shape if exposed to high intensity LED or halogen lamps for long.
4. Repurposing Your Household Items
We mentioned earlier in this article that you can totally turn old wooden ladders into cool shelving units to spice up your home. But guess what? There are plenty of other household items that can give a new life to your old furniture upcycling ideas as well!
For example, you can totally use leftover tin cans from your food for a DIY garden. They’re perfect for holding soil, and you can even decorate them to fit your style. They can also be great for holding your indoor flowers, which bring many health benefits to your home and help bring the outdoors inside.
In fact, even reclaimed wood can be transformed into a variety of home furniture pieces, such as benches, end tables and headboards. Wooden pallets are equally awesome for old furniture upcycling, especially to create shelves, couches, shoe racks, wine racks, and more!
Caution: Avoid using harsh cleaners, solvents, or bleach, as they might damage & discolor the wood’s finish.
5. Old Furniture Upcycling Ideas with Display Cabinets
Well, we all know how display cabinets add a sense of style, sophistication & personalization to any room, isn’t it? So, instead of tossing away your old one in the trash, why not give it a makeover? For example, you could turn it into a cool bar to showcase all your fancy, limited edition bottles. Isn’t it simply fun, practical & exciting?
Moreover, you can also accentuate your old display cabinet look by lining the inside with some fun, floral fabric and then painting the outside with contrasting botanical colors. Trust me, it’ll look so cozy & natural, as if on a rainforest retreat.
So basically, you can get as creative as you want with your old furniture upcycling ideas; your interior will definitely reflect your style!
FAQs
You can prepare & kickstart your old furniture upcycling by thoroughly cleaning & scrubbing it to remove dirt, dust & grime. Then, simply check the piece for any damage, especially at the joints, & repair all the cracks & splits with a filler compound. Finally, remove any leftover paint or decorations to reveal the natural, original wood, sand it lightly and go ahead with the repainting!
Trust me, literally anything & everything can be repurposed if done properly! Like, people often repurpose sofas, chairs, tables, and cabinets at home. But, you can even get creative with other stuff, like cans, ladders, and pallets and turn them into cool furniture pieces.
Yes, old furniture upcycling obviously helps the environment! It basically cuts down on waste and keeps stuff out of landfills. Plus, it turns old items into new resources and products. All of this basically translates to lower greenhouse gas emissions and less water and air pollution.
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Conclusion
So, as we saw, old furniture upcycling is a smart way to save money and make your home feel more like you. Basically, by reupholstering chairs, varnishing tables and repurposing household items, you can DIY some unique pieces that totally show off your style.
But that’s not all! You can also use other commonly found home-kitchen & craft materials to repurpose your old furniture on a budget. Like, throw on some cushion covers—everyone has them! They’re obviously a super easy way to spruce up your chairs or sofas, right?
Got any more ideas to the table? We’re all ears! Mail us the before & after versions of your old furniture upcycling journey & we’ll surely feature the best ones for free!
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Jack Morgan
Jack Morgan is a passionate interior designer with a keen eye for detail. He believes that a well-designed space can transform lives. His work is characterized by its warmth, functionality, and unique style.
