Don’t throw your outdated or shabby-looking furniture to the curb just yet. You can update the look of furniture and find a new use for it in your home with very minimal cost and a little bit of elbow grease. The following budget-friendly suggestions can help:
1. Painting or Staining
You can really refresh the look of an old piece of furniture with a new coat of paint that can take your piece from dirty, peeling and scratched to shiny, smooth and attractive. Be certain to thoroughly clean and sand the surface of the piece before you paint it so that the new paint will last longer and look great. Staining your wood furniture is also a good way to alter its appearance. Use a polyurethane sealer for a glossy finish and to protect the piece’s surface. You can paint a number of pieces using the same shade in order to unite furniture that is mismatched. When refinishing, painting, or staining an old piece, think about ways that you can repurpose the newly updated item, such as turning an old buffet table into a TV console.
2. Adding a Slipcover
Alter the color and lines of a sofa or armchair dramatically using a slipcover. A white slipcover that is draped rather loosely over a couch or sofa can give it the casual look that is currently in fashion. Search discount stores for inexpensive slipcovers, or use a sheet that is large enough to cover the entire piece. You can complete the look by adding some inexpensive decorative pillows. Also consider sewing the slipcover or pillows yourself to save even more.
3. Changing the Hardware
If the hardware, drawer pulls and knobs on your chest of drawers, side table, or cabinets are rusty or tarnished with age or have simply gone out of style, you can easily change out the hardware to refresh the look of the piece. Vary the styles of the knobs on a piece to create an interesting look, or paint the knobs using your own designs.
4. Decorating with Trim
Updating the look of old furniture using decorative trim is another option. Ribbon, buttons, and fabric scraps can be useful to create a new look. Simply hot glue or staple the item along the edges of a coffee table or the cabinet doors of an old hutch or other item. Hammered upholstery tacks can give an outdated piece great new definition and attitude.
5. Adding Tile
And finally, you can use old or leftover tile to create a mosaic tile accent on a table or the doors of an old armoire. This adds a burst of new color and brightens up the piece. Arrange the pieces of tile, seal them in place, or grout and seal them if you prefer for an updated look that is eye-catching and inexpensive.
Remember also that you can update or repurpose decorative items as well as furniture to make them more in step with your current style. For example, rusted outdoor metal wall art can be painted and used as an unusual focal point above your mantel; a metal fish wall hanging in dated colors, can be spray painted in modern hues and used as an accent in a sun porch.






















