Furniture Makeover Ideas 2023

Explore our amazing collection of furniture makeover ideas created by talented artists. We call ourselves Furniture Fixer Upper! In this post, we share our favorite painted furniture ideas from the year. Each piece reflects the creator’s unique style and skill. Prepare yourself for an inspirational journey into the world of furniture refinishing as we share our favorite from each person in the group!

Each artist in the group is also sharing their own post, just like this, showcasing their favorites from this year as well. I can’t wait to see what everyone shares as we all have different tastes. That’s the beauty of it all!

watercolor painting of furniture in a home

After reading this post, you’ll see the top makeovers chosen by each member of our talented Furniture Fixer Uppers group in 2023.

Click here to subscribe

You’ll see their personal favorites, giving you more creativity and variety to explore. Stay here and get ready to scroll, because the inspiration doesn’t stop now!

But first up is my favorite makeover of 2023!

Cedar Chest Makeover

I want to tell you about my favorite furniture makeover project this year. It’s all about this super cool cedar chest from our portfolio here at A Ray of Sunlight.

You gotta check out the full details on our Painting a Cedar Chest blog post.

photo of cedar chest before the makeover

Now, let me tell you, I was all kinds of nervous about this one. I had this wild idea to add a floral design to the piece. Yeah, you heard that right, flowers on a cedar chest!

But the thought of messing up those pretty little petals? Gave me the heebie-jeebies. And don’t even get me started on where to put ’em. What if I botched the placement and it turned out looking like a hot mess?

But ya know what? I sucked it up and went for it. And oh boy, am I glad I did! The finished product was something straight outta my dreams.

Those flowers? Perfection. The placement? Couldn’t have been better. It seemed as if the chest and the design were made for each other.

And now, I’m hooked on epoxy floral designs. I mean, who wouldn’t be? They add such a unique touch and make the furniture pop!

So, you can bet you’ll be seeing more of that in our future makeovers. Can’t wait to see where this new obsession takes us!

close-up photo of cedar chest after the makeover

Next up, is my favorite makeover from Denise at Salvaged Inspirations for 2023.

Modern Nightstand Set

Denise from Salvaged Inspirations did a remarkable job on this project, and it’s easy to see why it’s my favorite! She refurbished these old-fashioned nightstands to bring back their charm.

photo of nightstand before the makeover

The first step was removing the vintage details that were dating the pieces. This is where her artistic eye shone through.

By doing this, she managed to keep the charm of the old while introducing the sophistication of the new. It’s a delicate balance, but she nailed it!

But Denise didn’t stop there. She went one step further and added new legs. By making this simple change, the nightstands instantly transformed from vintage to modern. It gave them a fresh and updated appearance.

Here’s our blog post about adding legs to a nightstand to learn more tips on how to add legs to a nightstand!

And let’s not forget about the colors! The neutral palette she chose is absolutely spot on. The tables have a versatile and stylish appeal, so they can fit into any decor easily.

Denise’s vision and creativity created modern nightstands that honor their vintage roots. They are perfect. For all the details and inspiration, read her blog post about the Cobblestone Painted Nightstand Set!

close-up photo of nightstand after the makeover

Next up, is my favorite makeover from Kathy at Petticoat Junktion for 2023.

Painted Antique Desk Makeover

Kathy from Petticoat Junktion truly hit it out of the park with this painted antique desk makeover. It’s no wonder it’s my top pick!

photo of antique desk before the makeover

She went for a bold black color, heavily distressed to give it that worn, antique look. This technique adds depth and character to the piece, making it a real eye-catcher.

What really sets this project apart, though, is Kathy’s decision to keep the wood emblem on the middle drawer. This choice adds a touch of the unexpected, creating a striking contrast between the distressed black paint and the natural wood.

It’s a small detail, but one that makes a big impact, lending a unique twist to the overall design.

So, if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next furniture makeover, I highly recommend checking out her Painted Desk with an Antique Chalk Finish blog post for all the details.

You’ll not only get to see Kathy’s impressive skills in action, but you might also find yourself inspired to think outside the box when it comes to your own projects.

close-up photo of antique desk after the makeover

Next up, is my favorite makeover from Christy at Confessions of a Serial DIYer for 2023.

Gorgeous Painted Hutch Makeover

Christy, the creative genius behind Confessions of a Serial DIYer, has done it again with this incredible hutch makeover.

The original piece, a relic from what looks to me like the 90’s, was far from inspiring.

photo of Hutch furniture before the makeover

But Christy saw beyond its outdated appearance and transformed it into something truly special. The end result? A stunning hutch that would be a showstopper in any home – including mine!

The styling of the hutch is impeccable. Christy has a knack for taking ordinary objects and arranging them in a way that makes them extraordinary.

She’s mixed different textures, and heights to create a visually interesting display. It’s the kind of styling that invites you to stop and take a closer look, to appreciate each individual piece and how they all come together.

But the real cherry on top of this makeover is the paper she used to line the drawer. It’s a small detail, but one that makes a big difference.

The pattern is fun and unexpected, adding an extra layer of interest to the piece. It’s little touches like this that really set Christy’s projects apart.

So if you’re looking for some DIY inspiration, I highly recommend checking out her Black Painted Hutch blog post for all the details of this project. You won’t be disappointed!

close-up photo of Hutch furniture after the makeover

Next up, is my favorite makeover from Gail at My Repurposed Life for 2023.

Antique Church Pew Update

It’s not every day you come across an antique church pew, especially one that needs a little TLC.

But that’s exactly what Gail from My Repurposed Life did, and the results are nothing short of stunning.

photo of Antique Church Pew before the makeover

There was a large crack down the side of the pew, and many other spots of damage. Instead of running away, she saw it as an opportunity to breathe new life into this beautiful piece.

What I love most about this project is Gail’s decision to repair the damage and then stain the wood, to preserve its original charm.

If you have old damaged furniture that you want to repair here’s our blog post about repairing old furniture.

Instead of masking the pew’s history with paint, she highlighted it, showcasing the natural beauty of the antique. It’s a testament to her skill and vision, and the end result is a piece I’d absolutely love to have in my own home.

Gail’s makeover shows that old things can become beautiful with patience and creativity. If you want to get the full details of this project, check out her Church Pew Makeover blog post.

close-up photo of Antique Church Pew after the makeover

So there you have it! These are some of our favorite furniture fixer-upper projects from the past year. Each one is truly unique and showcases the creative genius of its designer.

But don’t just take our word for it. You can pop over to each of these talented bloggers’ posts and see for yourself.

In fact, each one is sharing their own list of their favorite makeovers from this year.

furniture fixer uppers group photo

Take a look at each of their top picks here!

More Furniture Makeover Ideas

Click here to subscribe

Follow us on YouTube to get more tips for painting furniture.

Or share your project with us on our Facebook Group and be part of our community. See you there!

3 Comments

  1. Denise - Salvaged Inspirations says:

    Thanks for sharing all these fabulous makeovers Natalie! LOVE the chest you restyled! I can’t wait to see all your FFU makeovers in the upcoming year. So thrilled you’re part of the ‘crew’! XOXO

  2. Christy James says:

    So glad to have you join our group this year, Natalie! Merry Christmas! XOXO

  3. gail wilson says:

    I’m no longer the new kid on the block! I’m so happy you joined us because I know I can learn so much from you, Natalie!
    PS I love that cedar chest!

    gail

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *