In this economy everyone talks about savings and deals, but have you browsed your own basement? When I work with a client I evaluate their existing belongings before making new purchases. Not only is it eco-friendly to re-use, upcycle, refurbish, or put a new twist on furniture a client already owns, it’s cost effective too. Breathing new life into old pieces takes creativity. It also takes a knowledge of what to do with the item and how to present it (the benefit of hiring a professional designer). Here are some of my favorite examples:
Photo via Sarah Greenman.
Photo via Sarah Greenman.
The total cost of this dining room chair makeover was $65! The owner turned the dated chairs, left by the previous homeowner, into bold, stylish furniture. The tutorial details the process of using spray paint and tea-tinted fabric to get a new look.
Before photo from Hyphen Interiors.
After photo via Hyphen Interiors.
As documented in my post about renewing furniture with fabric paint, Kristy at Hyphen Interiors featured a step-by-step painted upholstery tutorial. She used a mixture of paint and fabric medium to update the upholstery. For an even easier way to paint fabric, check out Simply Spray Upholstery Fabric Paint.
Photo via Desire to Inspire.
Upcycle an old drawer by adding wheels or legs and turning it into a side table or display shelf.
Photo via Iris Interiors.
A client had an old French coffee table that didn’t suit her taste or the design scheme. I transformed the table into a fun upholstered ottoman with paint and zebra fabric.
Via Benjamin Bullins.
Instead of tossing items that no longer work, find an entirely new use for them. I love this inventive sink crafted from an old bicycle.
Photo via DIY Enthusiasts.
Even repurposing something small, such as your great grandmother’s teapot, can play into an eclectic style.
Photo via BHG.com.
Antique benches can be stacked and anchored against a wall for a bookshelf and quirky way to display accessories.
Photo via Of all the Fish in the Sea.
Kim Frazier from Of All the Fish in the Sea hand painted a run-of-the-mill buffet with an ikat print making it a one-of-a-kind piece. Her DIY painted buffet tutorial is available on Design Sponge.
Photo via Casa Sugar.
Wallpaper took these shelves from blah to bold. The graphic print helps to fill out the arrangement.
Photo via Recently.
This bamboo table gets the gilded treatment with a few coats of spray paint. Click on the l
For more great examples, see our previous post on upcycling and mixing the old with the new. Do you have any furniture laying around that could use a makeover?
