17 Thrifted Furniture Flips That Are Easy To DIY

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So you're ready to start flipping thrifted furniture, but where do you start? Flipping furniture can be an exciting and rewarding hobby, but it can also feel overwhelming when you're just getting started. Whether you want to launch a side hustle or you simply want to upgrade your own interior, it's important to start simple. However, just because a DIY is easy doesn't mean it won't make a massive impact on your space.

Thrifting is an excellent way to find high-quality pieces for your home. When it comes to the most valuable items to seek out at a thrift store, you should be on the lookout for furniture pieces that can be easily upgraded. From new paint jobs to sparkling hardware, there are tons of ways to create a custom piece. These hacks are proof that you can totally transform any piece of thrifted furniture with a relatively easy DIY makeover. Discover the flip that best suits your style, space, and goals.

If you're searching for the perfect piece to display your knick-knacks, you can easily convert a thrifted standing cabinet with a few simple changes. First, prime and paint the wood with the color of your choice. Then, swap out the hardware for a more modern alternative. Finally, add undermount LED lights to illuminate the shelves of your display case. Choose between something modern like the Daybetter LED Light Strips or the classic spotlight-style GE Wireless LED Tap-Lights. You can also give glass cabinet doors a stylish upgrade without breaking the bank.

There are several reasons why you should be using a decorative bench in your entryway. This addition will boost the style and functionality of your foyer. But benches can be useful all over the house, from the bedroom to transition spaces. You can create a chic bench by thrifting a piece that works for your space in size, rather than style. Remove the cushion and reupholster it in the fabric of your choice, and consider adding an additional layer of cushion, if desired. Depending on the type of cushion (and whether it has a frame or not), you can use a staple gun to adhere the fabric, or even opt for a fabric glue like Dritz Original Liquid Stitch.

Not every wood finish can be sanded and re-stained to perfection. However, you can use paint products to achieve a wood grain effect. If you have a sideboard or dresser that has a wooden top and you don't like the wood tone (maybe it's overly orange and you want a pale, white oak look), try covering the surface with a beige paint, followed by a brown, decorative glaze. Finally, swipe the surface with a deck brush for a more authentic look. This trick can be a way to save a piece where the natural undertones are just not what you want. In fact, it's one of the main reasons why you should never skip orange oak furniture at the thrift store, despite what you've heard.

If you love the geometry of a vintage coffee table, but you don't love the material used for the inlays, simply swap them out! Whether the inlays are made of glass or stone, you can create a multi-dimensional look with smaller tiles. For a subtle appearance that highlights texture, use small end-grain pieces to create an earthy appearance. You can also opt for terra-cotta tiles for a true mosaic look that reflects the current trends. As an affordable alternative, try using peel-and-stick floor tiles that mimic wood or clay. For example, these Art3d Peel and Stick Vinyl Floor Tiles can be cut with a utility knife for an easy fit.

When you find a large, solid wood piece, it's worth considering a makeover that preserves the wood grain. For dressers and chests, try a whitewashing technique, rather than just covering the piece in paint. Make sure to strip the existing stain before sanding. Whitewashing can be done in a variety of ways, one of which is by applying a white oil stain. This will still allow the grain to show through. Before you get started, make sure to learn the difference between limewash and whitewash painting styles in order to determine which best suits your project.

If modern, solid wood side tables with natural edges are out of your price range – create your own! All you need to do is source scrap lumber from your local woodworker (or on Facebook Marketplace) and attach hairpin legs, like these Smartstandard Heavy Duty Hairpin Furniture Legs from Amazon. Hunt for a wood slice from the trunk of a tree with an interesting shape and raw edges for a dynamic look. Use an oil sealant, like the Tried & True Original Wood Finish.

Swapping pulls is easy and affordable, so why not make a major statement with some unexpected hardware? Take your thrifted side table or nightstand from bland to bold with colored agate cabinet knobs like these Malimali Unique White Agate Cabinet Knobs. This will instantly give your thrifted piece a contemporary, eye-catching upgrade. If you want a subtler, modernist look, you can pull off this hack with a different style of statement knob, like the Koppalive Solid Brass Dresser Drawer Pulls. Choose a more muted paint color if you don't want to compete with the eye-catching pulls.

If you want to give your thrifted dresser an easy boost of style, consider covering the front of each drawer in pole wrap. Not only is this a super trendy look, but you can complete the DIY in a variety of different ways, depending on your skill level. Either use thick pole wrap with a saw and nail gun, or opt for a thinner, peel-and-stick alternative. This Art3d Natural Bamboo Wall Panel is a flexible and affordable option that can help you try out the look before you use the nail gun.

An easy — and reversible — way to give your side table drawers a fresh appearance is by applying 3D wallpaper. If you want to try out the look, go for a peel-and-stick option. You can choose between a variety of styles depending on the aesthetic you want to achieve. For example, the JiffDiff Grasscloth Wallpaper is textured and ideal for a natural, organic look, while the Manhattan Comfort Carter Series Wallpaper (pictured above) is paintable. As a bolder alternative, consider this Abyssaly Black Silk Wallpaper. Just keep in mind that peel-and-stick wallpaper might not last as long as you think.

Turn a drab, dingy dresser into a statement piece with the power of color-blocking. Start by sanding your furniture piece. Then, use tape to create triangle-shaped stencils across the surface. Finally, spray paint the different sections in contrasting, bold colors for a modern look. If you want to add a touch of metallic shine, try separating the color-block sections with metallic tape, like the WOD Gold Metalized Film Tape.

The key to this hack is to keep the top of the buffet table in its original wood color. Paint only the body of the buffet, and choose a rich color with depth. If you tend to lean towards cool tones, Rain Cloud by Sherwin-Williams is a top-trending shade to try. For a warmer — yet equally trendy — alternative, try the ochre-toned Bosc Pear. To finish the piece, simply coat the wooden top of your table with a polyurethane to make it look brand-new, and embrace the two-toned style. Add gold hardware for a high-end look.

This hack requires floral-shaped molds and resin to create beautiful, botanical appliques. Use a product like the Prima Marketing Redesign Mould along with Craft Resin Clear Epoxy. You can cut and bend the dried resin pieces to create a climbing floral effect. For gluing, the Gorilla Max Strength Construction Adhesive is a tried-and-true option. Once you have glued on the resin flowers and leaves, paint the entire furniture piece in a beige color to make it look like the appliques are carved into the chest of drawers. 

Finials, or decorative spheres, were popular in 17th and 18th-century furniture. Even more recent vintage pieces borrow inspiration from these ornate styles of the past. However, the decorative, wooden balls atop your shelving unit or bed posts might not suit your style. The solution is easy: Saw them off! To make the alteration look intentional, lightly round or bevel the edges with a sander so they don't appear abruptly cut, and then refinish the surface with stain or paint to match the rest of the piece.

Give your thrifted dresser, chest, or credenza a timeless look with mid-century legs. Remove the current stand and design four new legs using scrap wood. Make sure to create a wedge in order to achieve the iconic, mid-century angled design. You can stain or paint the legs in the color of your choice. This is a simple way to add a touch of mid-century modern style to your bedroom. If you don't want to craft the legs from scratch, try these Aoryvic Angled Furniture Legs.

You can make a ratty sofa look brand new by giving it a "haircut!" Simply fold the dated skirt underneath itself and use a staple gun to create a cleaner look. Then, use a razor to shave off the loose threads and pills across the entire surface. Try the Electrolux Rechargeable Fabric Shaver for an affordable solution. This is a super easy way to bring old furniture back to life, and you can also use this technique on your existing sofas, chairs, and other upholstery before deciding to toss them out.

Sometimes it takes a little imagination to turn a thrifted piece into something completely different. This hack is proof that you don't need to use the entire piece in your flip. Take a china hutch and remove the upper half that includes shelving and a display case. This will leave you with a perfect sideboard. Then, elevate the bottom of the piece by attaching wood pallets that can be affixed to casters, like these Castrek 4-Inch Caster Wheels. If desired, you can replace the back panel with a more modern piece — especially since both sides will be on display, since it is mobile. The result is a stunning, versatile kitchen island that can be moved around your space with ease.

This hack can be applied to a variety of pieces, from cabinet door fronts to headboards. Anywhere you have inlays, cane webbing can be added to give your piece a new look. All you need to do is purchase a roll of decorative webbing, like this Vehipa Plastic Cane Webbing Roll, and cut it to fit your panels. Paint the cane webbing to match the shade of your furniture piece. Once the pieces are dry, use a staple gun to adhere the webbing to the wood surface. You can also paint over the staples to make them appear camouflaged.