If you are on a budget, repurposing old furniture can be a wonderful way to spruce up your home without breaking the bank.
But aside from saving you money, doing this contributes towards a healthier planet because it prolongs the lifespan of old furnishings and pieces that would otherwise end up in landfills.
This is a significant issue around the world, with one study revealing that Australians discard up to 24 kg of wooden furniture, armchairs, sofas and textiles every year. Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency in the USA estimates that roughly nine million tonnes of discarded furniture end up underground annually.
So, how, then, can you transform old furniture into new, eye-catching fitments that will elevate a room?
Here are five suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.
What Does Repurposing Furniture Mean?
Before we highlight the ideas, it is worth clarifying what we mean by repurposing furniture.
Often referred to as upcycling, the act of repurposing furniture involves giving it a new lease of life – as opposed to throwing it out to the rubbish tip.
Typically, this requires repainting, refinishing, reupholstering or remodelling the furniture, sometimes to bring it back to its original purpose, but other times to give it an entirely new function.
The key to good repurposing is to create something beautiful and useful, and while you can’t do this with every piece of old furniture you have, with a little imagination and a flair for DIY, the possibilities are endless.
Oh, and if you do have any old pieces of furniture and fittings you want to chuck out, make sure you do this responsibly. Check out this page for more information on how to go about doing that.
What Can I Make Out of Old Furniture?
Ok, so here is the good bit.
If you are active on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, you’ll find thousands of ideas of what you can make out of old furniture. A good starting point is #furnitureflip, which has had over 5 billion views since it launched.
To find materials to work with, it’s worth regularly visiting thrift stores, garage sales, car boot sales and Facebook Marketplace. You might even consider just driving around your local neighbourhood because, apparently, over 48,000 tonnes of furniture is left by the curb every year.
Once you have found what you need, here are some of the things you can do.
1. Transform an Old Door Into a Coffee-table Top
Old doors, particularly from cupboards, can be a real jewel when it comes to repurposing and one of the easiest things to make with them is a coffee table top.
All you will need to do is sand it down and then apply a semi-gloss paint. Make sure you brush lightly in the direction of the grain.
Once that has been done, simply attach a pair of legs, which you can do with metal pipes, cinder blocks, hairpin legs or other pieces of wood. Just be mindful to cut them to an even length. Otherwise, the table will be wonky!
2. Turn a Cabinet Into a Bar
One of the easier DIY projects you can do with repurposed furniture is to turn a cabinet into a bar.
For this, all you need is the doors of an old cabinet, which you should sand and paint. Once you have done this, simply place it on a surface where you want it to sit and dress it with a bottle of your favourite tipple and a couple of glasses.
Voila! You have an instant conversation starter when guests come over.
3. Make a Bench From a Coffee Table
If you have a coffee table that appears too chunky for your living space, rather than get rid of it, a good thing to do is turn it into a bench.
To achieve this, all that is required is to cut the table lengthwise and then reposition the legs. However, before you do this, you will need to make sure it is strong enough to take the weight of people who will sit on it.
That said, if you can stand up to the task, make sure you staple fabric over foam to make it extra comfortable.
4. Repaint
Sometimes, repurposing isn’t about creating something completely new. It can be about bringing it back to life and one of the best ways to do this is through paint.
For instance, if you have a side table that has seen better days, it is amazing the difference you can make to it by applying a couple of coats of glossy, bright paint.
Before you do this, though, be sure to sand off the old paint, clean the debris, and let it dry for a bit.
5. Make Beautiful Mirrors
If you find yourself with a few too many small picture frames to dot around the house, a clever tactic is to turn them into mirrors.
Not only will this bounce extra light off the room, but if you place them in a hallway or bathroom, they can be nice little design touches.
Cutting glass can be quite dangerous, of course. So, make sure you take the proper precautions when you do it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, repurposing old furniture offers a budget-friendly way to refresh your home while contributing to environmental sustainability. With just a bit of creativity and effort, you can transform outdated pieces into stylish, functional additions. Not only does this practice reduce waste, but it also gives you the chance to personalize your space with unique, handcrafted items. By taking on these projects, you’re not only saving money but also playing a role in reducing furniture waste in landfills.
