Got an old piece of furniture that needs a new life? Just because it’s worn around the edges and showing its age doesn’t mean it has to be shown the door. Sometimes all it takes to give a scratched, faded, stained or tired chair or table a second chance are some low-cost supplies, like fabric and paint, and a little ingenuity. You can also solve a problem—like brightening up a dark room or dividing off an oddly shaped one—by turning an old bottle into a lamp, for instance, or converting closet doors into a folding screen. Here are seven ways to recycle old furniture or repurpose one thing into something new—while saving yourself a bundle at the same time.
1. A Repurposed Lamp
This lamp was made easily and cheaply by converting a big, old water bottle found at a flea market into a base and topping it with a brand-new shade affixed to a harp. You can find lamp kits for under $10 at most hardware stores. We like the Portfolio Bottle Lamp Kit at Lowes.com. Photo credit: John Gruen.
2. Chair Revitalization
If the frame of an old dining room chair is in good shape but the
seat is torn or
stained, you can not only salvage it but also bring it up to
date by simply covering the seat with new fabric. This chair’s
frame was freshened first with a couple of coats of glossy white
paint. Then its old, stained seat cover was removed by using a
flathead screwdriver to loosen the staples holding it in place.
Tip: If a leg is wobbly, tighten the screws on the corner bracket under the seat or tighten it with wood glue before re-covering. Photo credit: John Gruen.
3. DIY Room Divider
Got an alcove or extra-large space that could benefit from a
movable partition? Consider making your own folding screen. This
one was made using three hollow-core doors that you can purchase at
any lumber store for under $20 apiece. You could also try two
Masonite bifold doors to easily make a four-panel screen since most
of the hinges are already attached. These doors were covered with
batting on one side
Tip: If the doors are too tall, you can ask the lumber store to cut them down and block them (a block is inserted to keep the frame solid) for a nominal charge. Or see if there are ready-made doors in the size you want. Photo credit: John Gruen.
4. Table Overhaul
If you’ve recently inherited a table from Grandma that’s scratched
on the top or doesn’t quite suit your style, give it a makeover in
no time with a fresh coat of paint. This one was given a white base
co
5. Fabricate a Footstool
Put up your feet at the end of the day when you craft a footstool
from an old wooden wastepaper basket. You’ll need one that’s
perfectly cylindrical or square, and it needs to have a wooden
frame so you can tack on the fabric with nail heads. Place the
basket bottom side down and trace the perimeter onto a piece of
microsuede. Cut out the fabric, leaving an extra inch all around.
Measure the height of the basket and its circumference, then cut
out a piece of fabric to these dimensions,
6. Make Your Own Headboard
Want a headboard to go with your mattress and box spring? You can
easily make one for $30 to $40 by having the lumber store cut a
piece of plywood to fit the width of your bed, then painting it a
Tip: Standard frames for box springs have holes cut into the leading edge that allow you to insert screws. Drive into your headboard with a drill-driver, then fix the screws in place with bolts to make the headboard more secure. Photo credit: Kate Sears.
7. Breathe New Life into a Bureau
You can turn a drab old chest of drawers into a statement piece in
short order—and for a song. Remove the drawers and sand the
surfaces. Wipe off
dust with a tack cloth before starting to be sure the
p
Tip: Loosen up a drawer that sticks or squeaks by rubbing a wax candle or a bar of soap along the edges that sit in the drawer glides. Photo credit: Kate Sears.
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