Looking to redecorate your home or bedroom on a small budget? You’ve come to the right place! Update your old furniture, or find a cheap piece of furniture at the thrift store to upcycle for your home. Here are our best furniture makeover ideas!
These painted furniture pieces would be perfect for any room in your house, whether you’re looking for a rustic feel, modern look, or just something to brighten up the space.
When I got married, I was really young, just barely in college and we didn’t have any money to spend on decorating our little apartment.
But, we still needed to make it functional, and I wanted it to be cute if I could!
I quickly learned that with a little creativity and some bargain hunting, it was possible to turn our apartment into a functional and adorable space.
So if you’re like us, and you’re working with a small budget but still want to make your living space feel like home, keep reading for some great tips and inspiring furniture makeovers!
Decorating on a Budget
I learned a thing or two from growing up in a DIY home, so we went to the thrift store and found an old dresser that had a broken corner and sticky drawers.
It was $30 and it was going to be our new tv stand. We took it home, painted it black and my dad helped me fix the broken corner.
We got a couch from a family member and put a baggy slipcover over it to cover the pastel floral fabric, and hung up a few decorations that my mom passed on to me.
It was so. much. fun and so fulfilling to create our own space with a very small budget. Fast forward, I still haven’t bought a new piece of furniture for my home.
The first tv stand/dresser got switched out with a larger version, and then when we moved across the country, I found an old buffet to make into a TV stand.
Every single piece of furniture in our home has been a thrift find. A used piece of furniture that I painted or refinished to match my style.
You don’t need a lot of know-how to paint or makeover a piece of furniture.
Follow this guide to learn how to paint furniture properly (you know, so the paint doesn’t easily scratch off), and then let your imagination go wild!
Selling our Furniture Makeovers
A few years after we were married I decided to quit my lame job and start painting and selling furniture.
I needed an outlet to be creative, and I wanted to be able to be a stay at home mom when that time came.
So I learned how to paint furniture the right way. I learned new paint techniques like glazing, dry brushing, white washing, antiquing, distressing, etc. I started in 2014, and I’ve learned so much!
I started out with a super cheap paintbrush (from the dollar store) and a can of homemade chalk paint.
But I hated the brush marks that were left in the finish, so I slowly upgraded my tools until I invested in a professional paint sprayer.
So most of my furniture makeover ideas are painted with a paint sprayer. But wait! Don’t make that stop you!
You can create beautiful pieces of furniture with a cheap paintbrush and some paint! I link the paint colors and the other products used in each post so you can recreate the look yourself!
(Check out this post if you want to learn more about painting furniture with a paint sprayer!)
Let’s dive in!
Our Best Furniture Makeover Ideas!
Add an extra spruce to your hallway with this DIY Painted Hallway Cabinet
Follow this DIY dark green nightstands makeover, learn how to easily fix your nightstands, and then paint them with non-toxic paint!
This mustard yellow dresser was such a fun easy project! From the powdered milk paint, to the way it chipped, and those stained legs! Here's how to create your own DIY painted chippy farmhouse dresser.
No topcoat needed! Learn how to paint nightstands with Benjamin Moore Advance and get my review of the paint.
Easily transform your wood (or laminate) furniture with some Rice Decoupage paper and a little creativity. Here’s how to decoupage furniture with rice paper without any stress!
If you’re painting furniture white, this post has got you covered. Learn the step-by-step process and the best tips and tricks to make it go as smooth as possible.
Stripping paint from wood furniture doesn't need to be hard! We're breaking down the steps so it isn't overwhelming. Here's the step by step process of how to strip paint from wood furniture.
There are SO many paint products and brands out there! Here’s our list of the must-have products that you need when you paint furniture.
Old sewing machine tables are a dime a dozen at thrift stores! Don’t pass them by the next time you see them, turn them into something new! Here’s a great way to repurpose sewing machine tables!
Learn how to turn your old dresser into a raw wood / whitewashed beauty with this step by step tutorial. Here's our DIY whitewash dresser makeover!
Check out how an old hallway cabinet goes from outdated to fresh and new with this step by step tutorial.
Step by step, let’s dive into how to whitewash furniture as part of this DIY cedar chest makeover.
Is Behr chalk paint and Behr chalk paint wax any good?! We tested them out on this mini buffet makeover. So here’s our Behr chalk paint review and details on how we used the Behr chalk paint and wax on a furniture makeover.
There’s nothing like revealing raw wood from underneath old wood stain. Whether you’re looking to refinish your furniture or leave the furniture in a raw wood style finish, here are our best tips for how to remove wood stain from furniture!
Today I’m sharing how to add legs to furniture, specifically this lane cedar chest. There are all sorts of ways to add legs, depending on what your furniture looks like on the bottom. But here's how we went about adding legs to a cedar chest.
Painting a desk black with General Finishes Enduro Poly creates a perfect satin painted finish. Here’s how to paint a desk AND transform it into a farmhouse style sofa table.
Changing drawer pulls is the easiest way to update and change the look of your furniture! These DIY leather pulls are super easy to make and can fit any weird hole spacing, so you don’t have to fill in the old hardware holes!
Transform an old trunk into a bar station or coffee bar! Check out this step by step tutorial for inspiration for your own old trunk makeover!
Check out this quick tutorial on how to refinish rattan furniture! It's easier than you think to bring rattan furniture and cane furniture back to life!
These antique buffets are some of my very favorite pieces of furniture to paint! I love keeping those long turned legs in a stained wood finish and painting the rest. Here's the dark green buffet makeover!
If you love chippy farmhouse furniture, this tutorial is for you! Turn your old dresser into a chippy blue DIY dresser makeover with some milk paint.
Update your antique china cabinet with some blue and white paint and fall in love with it again! Today we're sharing this show-stopping chippy blue painted hutch makeover!
Give your kitchen table a whole new look by removing the old stain. With a little bit of patience and elbow grease, you can turn your old worn out dining table into a stunning farmhouse table. Here's how to strip a kitchen table.
Update your old china cabinet with a little bit of paint and stain! Here's a great step by step antique china hutch makeover to get inspiration for your own china cabinet!
Want to paint floral designs on your painted furniture, without all the hassle of actually painting?? Check out these super easy furniture transfers that completely transform a piece of furniture! Here's how to apply furniture transfers!
Don't mess around with other black furniture paints like chalk paint or milk paint that are a pain to topcoat! This is the best black furniture paint if you want a nice smooth satin finish on your wood furniture!
How to stain wood darker with this old antique desk as a great example! And you don’t even have to sand down to bare wood!
Bleaching wood is an inexpensive and easy way to brighten up wood without covering up that beautiful grain. Here's how to bleach wood!
Who doesn’t love these little upcycled benches made out of old vintage beds? They are perfect as a porch bench, or as an entryway bench. This one, in particular, was made into the perfect red porch bench. Here is how to make a bench from a headboard and footboard.
I’m so excited to share how to turn a dresser to tv stand for your farmhouse style living room. (We removed some of the drawers and made them into shelves for the elctronics!) Then I’ll show how to give your painted furniture an antiqued finish with furniture glaze that also deepens the color for a unique painted finish. We also refinished the top in a fresh wood finish!
Easily mix Mid Century Modern and Farmhouse with a rustic MCM dresser makeover. Here's how to make a mid century modern farmhouse dresser in olive green!
How to easily makeover your old thrifted furniture into card catalog / apothecary style nightstands for your farmhouse style bedroom. With a router and card catalog hardware, we easily transformed this Ethan Allen chest of drawers into an apothecary style dresser.
The easiest way to paint a dresser is to paint it with chalk paint! Even faster is spraying! Here is how to spray paint a dresser with chalk paint!
Today we’re talking all about how to paint a dresser black and how to replace a dresser top with this black dresser with wood top.
Changing hardware on a dresser is the easiest way to update the overall look. So let’s dive into how to change hardware on a dresser!
Turn your old dresser into something you will love with this step by step tutorial on how to paint furniture with chalk paint, and how to glaze over chalk paint! Here’s the blue painted dresser makeover!
Don’t pass up old desks or vanities at thrift stores! After they are separated, they make the perfect size nightstands for a small bedroom. These nightstands are also the perfect height next to a bed! Here’s how to DIY those old pieces of furniture into two farmhouse nightstands.
We found these vintage nightstands with amazing drawer fronts that resemble the ever so popular apothecary or card catalog style. We knew that we had to have them just because of that! But they came with one downside, they were pretty short! Bummer. With some help from the circular saw, some new legs we were able to transform these old nightstands into an amazing one of a kind set!
Turn two completely different dressers into a mismatched set of large nightstands! Learn how to make two different dressers a match!
4 Different Ways to Add Legs to Furniture
The next 4 furniture makeover ideas are all about legs! Learn how to add metal hairpin legs to a dresser, or how to add bun feet to a dresser in a couple of different ways.
How to add metal hairpin legs to a mid century modern dresser!
Is your furniture too short? Adding legs to a dresser not only adds height, it gives a modern touch to your old furniture. Learn how to EASILY add legs to dressers, my favorite place to get legs for a dresser, and how to quickly modify your dresser so you can put those legs on.
A different way of adding legs to furniture when there is no where to attach the legs to!
Adding feet to a dresser doesn’t need to be hard, or a long process! This DIY dresser makeover was quick and painless with only a couple of general tools (a hammer and a drill) needed!
Do you remember when woodshop was a typical class in every high school? Back in the day, my husband LOVED going to his woodshop class. He built this gun cabinet there, and now I’ve turned it into a farmhouse cabinet. Learn how to turn an old gun cabinet into a farmhouse cabinet!
Thrift stores are so hit and miss. Most are overpriced, but I still have the hardest time driving by without stopping. Every once in a while I find an amazing deal, or just the piece I was looking for and it makes all of those extra trips inside worth it. These once ugly arm chairs were one of those finds!
Stop painting the same thing over and over. This unique stenciled furniture finish will set your painted furniture apart from the rest in no time! Check out this must see tutorial on how to stencil furniture with a distressed raised texture.
Add more storage space in your bathroom by turning a damaged buffet into a stunning bathroom vanity with a raw wood look!
What is the Best Paint for Furniture Makeovers?
Honestly, the best paint for your furniture makeover… well it depends. What style of finish do you want? Modern? Farmhouse? Distressed? Blended colors? Chippy? High Gloss?
Choose the style of finish that you want, and then you can easily pick which paint to use for your next furniture makeover.
I’ve put together a great guide on the best paint to use on furniture so you can easily pick your paint!
Unique Looks and Techniques for Furniture Makeovers
Looking to add a unique touch to your furniture makeovers? There are many different techniques you can try, such as:
- Stenciling: Use stencils to create patterns or designs on your furniture. This is a great way to add some visual interest and personality to a piece.
- Decoupage: Cut out images or use paper patterns to create a decoupage effect on your furniture. This is a fun and easy way to add some color and texture.
- Distressing: Sand down the edges or corners of your furniture piece to create a worn, vintage look. This works especially well with shabby chic or farmhouse styles.
- Mix and match colors: For a fun and eclectic look, try mixing and matching different paint colors on your furniture. You can go for the tried and tested combos like black and white or experiment with bold and unexpected color pairs.
Here’s all about stenciling furniture and distressing furniture. You can also check out our tutorial on how to decoupage furniture with rice paper if you want to try out decoupage!
Most recommended tools for furniture makeovers
If you’re new to DIY furniture makeovers, there are a few tools that can make the process easier and give you better results. Some recommended tools are:
- Sandpaper: Before painting or staining furniture, it’s important to sand down the surface to create a smooth and even base. Sandpaper comes in different grits, with lower grit numbers being more coarse and higher numbers being finer. For furniture projects, start with rough sandpaper and work your way up to a finer grit for the best results.
- Paintbrushes: Good quality paintbrushes are a must for furniture makeovers. They make painting smoother and reduce visible brush strokes. Opt for brushes with synthetic bristles for better paint retention and a nicer finish.
- Paint sprayer: If you want to paint furniture without brush marks, this is the way to go. While not necessary, investing in a paint sprayer can make furniture makeovers much faster and easier. You also get a smoother and more professional finish with a paint sprayer, so it’s definitely worth considering.
Our post on furniture painting tools and supplies tackles this topic in more detail so check it out!
Where to Buy Good Quality Furniture for Cheap
The best places really depend on your area. So you’ll have to do a little bit of digging in your local town to see what places have the best quality used furniture for cheap.
I created this list of places to find and get good furniture for cheap. These are the places that I look at when I’m trying to find my next DIY furniture project. Can’t wait to see what you create!
More Furniture Makeovers
- DIY Dresser Makeovers
- Blue Painted Furniture
- Floral Painted Furniture
- Dark Green Painted Furniture
- Antique Painted Furniture
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