Inspired ideas for upcycling furniture

Whether certain features are worn, broken or just not to your taste, a quick make do and mend job can transform a piece of furniture.

• Replace old or broken decorative mouldings on a chest of drawers or end table. An easy way to make a new piece of furniture look more ornate or to make an old piece of furniture look more contemporary.
• Change the legs, handles and knobs. A quick and easy fix that can help a project look as though it always belonged in the space. Try adding castor wheels for easy manoeuvrability or using mismatched handles for a quirky look.
• Refresh tired and worn out seating. Use offcuts of fabric, a foam pad and wadding, secured with a staple gun for a fast and fresh makeover. If you have wicker seats, spray paint is a great way to freshen up worn weave, while getting into all the nooks and crannies.
• Opt for a streamlined look and remove damaged doors or drawers all together. Use small decorative baskets or boxes in their place to transform a dresser or cabinet into a shelving unit.

Whether you paint, stain or strip, experiment with different finishes for a great new look.

• A fresh paint job is a really easy way to revitalise a project. Remove or protect any fixtures you want to keep, then check for any small repairs such as scratches and dents. Use wood filler then sand back the surfaces, before applying a good quality undercoat or primer. Allow to dry then add a couple of coats of a new colour, before replacing any fixtures and fittings.
• Experiment with colour. Get creative with the colour wheel and go for 2020 paint trends, clash or match with your walls or harmonise to your décor with neutral shades.
• Try different finishes. Go for a slick and shiny surface with gloss paint, more of a rustic look with chalk paint or try adding accents with metallic spray paint.
• Customise your project for a bespoke finish. Distress your paint job with sandpaper to expose the natural wood for a vintage look or try adding unique designs with stencils.
• Stripping a piece back to reveal the natural grain is also a great way to refresh a project. Using paint stripper or a heat gun, remove the old layers with a scraper and sandpaper. Finish with wax or stains to protect and seal the wood.
• Enhance the natural grain of stripped or unpainted wood with liming wax. Following the grain, apply the wax with a cloth then buff with fine steel wool to remove any excess. Seal with finishing oil or clear wax for added durability.
• Stain wooden furniture for a beautiful colour. Make sure your project is well prepared by filling, sanding and cleaning the surfaces. Apply your chosen stain with a brush, making sure to rub away the excess with a rag between coats. Allow to dry then seal with finishing oil.

Perhaps you have a piece that no longer has a place in your home. Instead of donating or dumping, give an unwanted piece of furniture a new lease of life with a thrifty DIY repurpose.

• Add a chunky worktop to an old chest of drawers for a stylish kitchen island with plenty of storage.
• Remove the drawers from an old filing cabinet, turn it on its back and fill with tall garden tools.
• Transform an old wardrobe into farmhouse kitchen storage with timber shelves and mesh or wire panels.
• Use an old ladder as a trendy bookcase. Paint in fun colours and lean against a wall to display your books, plants and pictures.
• Turn an old cabinet into a chic sink pedestal with a fresh coat of paint and handles to match your basin taps.
• Add chunky castor wheels and a glass top to a wooden pallet for an instant coffee table.
• Make an old dresser into a stylish TV stand with new legs, handles and a lick of paint.