We spend a lot of time indoors during the winter months, looking around and often beginning to decide that some of our furniture is getting a little long in the tooth. Whether it’s stylistically outdated or just a worn-down piece that isn’t worthy of full restoration, these furniture pieces are often candidates for donation to a secondhand store. Before you load it in the car or just leave the piece out on the curb with a sign that says “free to a new home”, why not consider revitalizing your old furniture with a totally new purpose in life? Just because a piece is old or out of fashion, doesn’t mean it isn’t still a robust, useful piece of furniture which could still provide years of service to your home! These projects are a great way to recycle old material, without costing you an arm and a leg for a new piece, all while adding some pizzazz to your home! No need for a carpentry degree- these ideas are aimed at any enthusiastic DIY-er with an eye for creativity and design!
- Rustic Planters – Old bedroom side tables come in many shapes and sizes, and a very common feature is a drawer or two. Looking for a fun way to repurpose this piece? Turn it into an outdoor planter. Extend the drawer and voila, a perfect spot to display your upcoming spring flowers! Keep them on covered surface, like a porch, to add longevity to any wooden furniture doing outdoor duty- or find and use a sealant to weatherproof it, and help keep it looking its best for years to come!
- Kitchen Island – The kitchen is often called the heart of your home, and for good reason! Whether you’re making breakfast for the family or preparing a holiday dinner, you’re going to spend a lot of your time there. Need a little more surface area? Make your very own kitchen island by repurposing an old dresser. Attach a countertop so it matches the rest of your kitchen surfaces, and consider adding caster wheels to make it mobile- great for hauling dinner into the dining room once everything is ready!
- Crib Appeal – Now that the kids have outgrown it, you might think that a crib is a useless piece of furniture. With a little outside-the-box thinking, you can transform it into a cozy display cabinet, bookcase, or side table. Remove one side of the bars, and add a butcher-block to create a solid surface, and add shelves underneath between the legs to get some extra storage. Alternatively, create a hinged-surface that opens, allowing for a little extra hidden storage.
- Headboards – Headboards come in all shapes and sizes, especially when it comes to repurposing old furniture! Cabinet doors and drawer facings can be combined to create a rustic, country-chic headboard. Have old shutters lying around? These are one of the most popular repurposed headboard options out there- not only can they be painted in a variety of finishes to meet the look and style of your room, but they can also be a charming place to display cards and other hanging items.
- Vanity Transformation – Dressers are one of the most flexible pieces you could possibly have to work with. While a little more in-depth than some of the other projects, removing the lid and drawers from a dresser can give you a great spot for a sink. Add a mirror on the back and you have a brand new vanity that you can use in a bathroom. Alternatively, you could use that sink for ice storage, and add this vanity to a bar or other hosting area.
- Bedspring bottle holders – Mattresses don’t last forever, so once it’s time to replace yours, consider repurposing the old springs. By attaching them to a wooden panel, you can create a cool wine rack.
- Pet Beds – Every pampered pet deserves somewhere cozy to call their own. Drawers are a natural option, giving you great little space to start decorating. Add legs to get your pet up off of the floor, and add all the blankets and cushions to make it soft, comfy and warm.
New beginnings don’t mean you have to throw out the old entirely. Sometimes, you can find new uses for the things you might’ve otherwise discarded. If you have some free time and some old furniture, it might be time to get yourself some basic tools and try your hand at repurposing and upcycling. It can be a lot of fun!
