From Drab to Fab: Easy Furniture Makeovers

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Paint it

Add some glamour

Try decoupage

Bring the outside in

Bring the inside, outside

Give your furniture a new look with a fresh coat of paint. If you plan on painting indoors, keep the space well-ventilated and consider wearing a mask. Alternatively, sand it yourself and ask your local auto body shop if they can paint it for you.

Spruce up old furniture with some mirrored glass and special finish paints. Visit your local glass shop, and have them cut mirrored pieces that you can attach to the furniture. Then get some paint, like metallic or textured, to give it a new look.
If you decide to use mirrored pieces, be careful–they can have sharp edges.

The beauty of decoupage? If it’s on paper, you can use it. With some glue, water, a brush, some sealant, and paper with a print, you can transform your furniture. You can use pages from magazines, greeting cards, scrapbook paper or vintage maps to give your furniture a quick and easy updated look. Check your local craft store for supplies.

Add some contrast to your indoor space with items found outdoors. Refinish an old garden gate and use it as a headboard. Take rough terracotta pots and put them on a shiny surface. Why not mount an old garden awning over an interior door to add some visual interest?

Have a covered patio? Make it cozier by hanging a painting on the wall, and furnishing it with a side table and lamp from a bedroom. Use an old bookshelf as a charming spot to display garden accessories. Just be sure to give it a simple coat of varnish to protect against moisture.

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