15 Creative Repurposed Furniture Ideas to Transform Your Space
There’s no doubt that bringing home a new decor item is exciting. But have you ever considered giving an old piece of furniture a new life? Repurposed furniture is not only budget-friendly, but it also allows you to exercise your creativity and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, as of 2018, there were approximately 12 million tons of furniture and furnishings waste generated, with roughly 9 million tons ending up in landfills. Old furniture made of wood was the largest waste material generated in this category.
In this article, we’ll explore the world of repurposed furniture, including its definition, benefits, and 15 creative ideas to transform your space.
What is Repurposed Furniture?
Repurposed furniture is furniture given a second lease on life, whether reupholstered, refinished, repainted, or redone. It’s a makeover that goes beyond a cosmetic update, often resulting in a complete functional transformation. For example, reconfiguring a coffee table into a planter or adding doors to a bookcase to create an organized kitchen pantry. It’s reworking a piece in a way that brings utility and beauty to your interior.
What is it Called When You Repurpose Furniture?
Repurposing furniture is also commonly known as upcycling. It’s a way to take something that may have seen better days and make it feel fully custom and unique. Repurposing furniture, whether it’s a bookcase or a nightstand, is one of the most useful, alluring, and fun ways to create a treasured heirloom out of nothing.
What Can I Make Out of Old Furniture?
The short answer is, anything. If social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have taught us anything, it’s that creativity has no limits when it comes to DIY furniture. What it comes down to is your willingness to try something new and your perseverance in rummaging through garage sales and thrift stores for home decor. Popular places to find items to upcycle include Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, and swap meets or flea markets.
Popular upcycled furniture projects include headboard updates, chalk paint magic on a vintage console table, old table transformations, kitchen island rehabs, refinishing mid-century cabinets, and lighting. So much lighting! The options for upcycled furniture are endless if you’re handy and have a good imagination.
How Do You Upcycle Furniture for Beginners?
There are tons of video tutorials to get inspiration on TikTok and Instagram. For beginners to DIY furniture, it’s recommended to start with reupholstering, painting, or staining. Look around your own home for items that no longer serve you, could use an update, or need a new function. For instance, an old IKEA bookshelf can be transformed into a savvy new piece.
One thing to keep in mind is that you’re already working with old furniture, and while refinishing or repurposing gives it new life, if you mess up, you’re destroying something of serious value. Read on for some ideas to get you started.
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15 Creative Repurposed Furniture Ideas
### 1. Convert a Cabinet into a Bar
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Take an old dresser, remove the doors, sand and paint it, and add some fun glasses and your favorite spirits. You’ve made a bar without any additional tools or time needed.
### 2. Transform a Dresser into a Sink Vanity
For a bathroom vanity with a lot of character, convert an old dresser. Just make sure the top of your piece of furniture is wide enough to accommodate the chosen sink and faucet.
### 3. Powder Coat Steel Furniture
Do you have a rusty patio set that has seen better days? Consider powder coating it to make it look completely brand new. This DIY project requires special tools, so it’s best to seek a professional who has experience repurposing furniture.
### 4. Repaint Side Tables in a Bright Color
Paint is your best friend when it comes to entry-level upcycling. Make statement pieces out of repurposed furniture by leaning toward one-off pieces and bright, bold colors.
### 5. Update Hardware on a Dresser
Adding dandy hardware is a super easy DIY hack for upcycling furniture. Measure the opening to ensure you buy the right size, then unscrew the existing pulls and screw in your new ones.
### 6. Repurpose an Old Door as a Coffee Table Top
Use old architectural salvage in novel and useful ways, like utilizing an old door as a coffee table top surface. Sand it down, apply a light blue semi-gloss paint, and attach affordable wood outdoor side tables as legs.
### 7. Refinish or Stain Wood Furniture
Wood colors and finishes are constantly going in and out of style, but that’s not a reason to chuck out a perfectly solid piece of furniture. Refinish or restain wood pieces to create a brand-new look.
### 8. Add Wheels to a Small Table
Add wheels to a small table to convert it into an entirely new piece of furniture. This works best on a small piece like a side table with a shelf underneath.
### 9. Flair with Fringe
Add fringe or trim to an upholstered piece of furniture to take it to another level. Use a contrasting color for a pop, or keep it tone-on-tone for a textured look.
### 10. Elevate Mirrors
Make charming mirrors out of old picture frames. Use them in a powder room or a small hallway. And if you have a glass cutter, you can even measure and cut the mirror to size yourself.
### 11. Turn a Table into a Kitchen Island
Building a kitchen island from scratch can be costly, and relocating an island is not like relocating a regular piece of furniture. Find a beautiful table, attach a butcher block to the top, and create a readymade kitchen prep surface in no time.
### 12. Reupholster Stools in a New Fabric
For more advanced repurposers or for those who desire a weekend-worthy project, reupholster a lounge chair or a stool. You can find a bevy of worthwhile videos on YouTube or TikTok with instructions on how to do just so.
### 13. Change a Dresser into a Changing Table
The only real difference between a changing table and a dresser? Sometimes, it’s just the name. Create a shortsided box out of wood that’s the same dimensions as your dresser, then screw into the top.
### 14. Slice a Coffee Table to Make a Bench
When a coffee table is perhaps too big for a space, consider salvaging it by turning it into a bench. Slice the table lengthwise, reposition the legs, and add foam and fabric to make a seat.
### 15. Make an Ottoman from a Low Table
If your living room is lacking seating, but you have an extra low table lying around, it’s easy to attach cushioning to the top to make an ottoman. Use sturdy foam, your choice of fabric, and a staple gun to make it work.
Conclusion
Repurposed furniture is not only a budget-friendly option, but it also allows you to exercise your creativity and contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle. With these 15 creative ideas, you can transform your space and create unique pieces that reflect your personality. So, don’t be afraid to get creative and upcycle old furniture into something new and exciting.
What is repurposed furniture? Repurposed furniture is furniture given a second lease on life through reupholstery, refinish, repainting, or redesign.
What is another term for repurposing furniture? Repurposing furniture is also known as upcycling.
Where can I find furniture to upcycle? Popular places to find items include Facebook Marketplace, estate sales, swap meets, and flea markets.
What are some ideas for upcycled furniture? Ideas include headboard updates, chalk painted furniture, kitchen island rehabs, and refinishing cabinets.
What should beginners to DIY furniture start with? Beginners should start with simple projects like reupholstering, painting, or staining furniture.
How can you convert a cabinet into a bar? Remove the doors, sand and paint it, and add glasses and spirits to create a bar.
What can be done with an old dresser? An old dresser can be transformed into a sink vanity by ensuring the top is wide enough to fit a sink and faucet.
How can rusty patio furniture be revitalized? Consider powder coating rusty steel furniture to make it look brand new.
What’s a simple DIY project to start with? Repainting or staining wood furniture are simple and effective projects for beginners.
How can you update the look of an old dresser? Update the hardware by adding new pulls or knobs that fit the size opening.
What’s an innovative use for an old door? Use an old door as the top surface of a coffee table, sand it down, paint it, and attach wood legs.
What can be done to old wood furniture? Refinish or restain wood furniture to achieve a brand-new look.
How can you turn a small table into something else? Add wheels to a small table with a shelf to convert it into a different piece of furniture.
How do you add flair to upholstered furniture? Add fringe or trim to an upholstered piece to enhance its appearance.
What can old picture frames be turned into? Old picture frames can be turned into charming mirrors for small spaces.
How can an old table be transformed into a kitchen island? Attach a butcher block to the top of an old table to create a kitchen prep surface.
What’s a more advanced repurposing project? Reupholster a lounge chair or stool using fabric and YouTube/TikTok tutorials.
How can a dresser be repurposed into a changing table? Create a short box with the same dimensions as the dresser and attach it to the top as a changing surface.
What can you do with a coffee table that’s too big? Salvage the coffee table by turning it into a bench through cutting the table lengthwise, repositioning the legs, and attaching foam and fabric.
How can an old low table be repurposed? Attach cushioning to the top of a low table to create an ottoman.
