9 Creative — & Cheap — Ways to Upcycle Your Old Furniture

We all have that junkie old dresser or desk that’s been chillin’ in the garage for the better part of a decade, but thank goodness for that slight tendency toward hoarding — because that banged-up old furniture is just destined to be turned into a work of art.

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If you’ve ever flipped on an HGTV show, then you know that upcycling is totally in. But it’s also kinda intimidating. Not just anyone can turn a hunk of junk into something you’d actually like to display in your home, right? Wrong! Honestly, it’s pretty easy to DIY your old stuff. Paint, time and a little bit of elbow grease are all you need to turn your old furniture into a new masterpiece.

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Here are some of our favorite projects.

1. Pretty purple desk

An antique sewing table was given a completely new look with purple paint, gold accents, knobs and floral watercolor paper.

2. Chalk-painted dining chairs

These thrift store finds were transformed into stunning dining room chairs for less than $50! Find out how to get the high-end look for less with this thrift store transformation tutorial.

3. Industrial dresser

Vintage-turned-industrial, this DIY furniture makeover involved paint, stencils, new hardware and a lot of sanding.

4. Gray-painted hutch

This damaged hutch was in need of a major face-lift. With a few repairs and a couple coats of paint, this restored piece looks brand new!

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5. Chipped paint nightstand

Brighten up a solid wood nightstand with colorful paint. This DIY furniture makeover added new hardware and used sandpaper to create a distressed look.

6. Upholstered cane chair

From drab to fab, this upholstery project transformed a vintage cane chair into a pretty patterned statement piece.

7. Simple chest of drawers

This worn-down desk was repurposed into a white chest of drawers for only $2.50!

8. Funky farmhouse chair

Painted upholstery, new fabric and black nail trim accents completed this trash-to-treasure DIY project. Check out the full list of materials for this furniture makeover to make your own.

9. Kitchen island

You would never believe that this functional kitchen island started as a $5 cabinet found at a garage sale. To get inspired, take a look at the entire step-by-step guide for how this kitchen island was created.

Have you upcycled any of your old furniture? Share your tips and tricks for furniture makeovers in the comments below.