How To Upgrade Furniture You Already Have For A New Look

When it comes to changing the atmosphere of your living space, it doesn't always have to depend on the renovation budget or time-consuming projects. Whether you want to save money, reduce your environmental impact, or fall in love with a thrift shop piece that doesn't fit in your existing space, there are plenty of ways you can upgrade your furniture in under a weekend.

According to HGTV, designer Nate Berkus claims home decor is ultimately about finding pieces that have significance to you and incorporating them into your space, even as you grow through life, move, and your style evolves. While it can be tempting to throw out old or gifted furniture that looks dated, restoring furniture to its former glory or an entirely new design is less expensive and retains sentimental value. Plus, it's more eco-friendly (via Danthe Furniture). New furniture releases over 1,000 times the CO2 into the atmosphere than restoring or refinishing an existing piece. Here are some great ways to upgrade furniture you already have for a new and improved look.

One of the best ways to clean up a thrift store find or an old hand-me-down piece is to refinish the wood. We often turn away from an item or discard it because it looks beaten up or outdated, but with a little TLC, a piece can come back to life and better suit our rooms. Before refinishing your furniture, it's essential to consider a few things. According to HGTV, higher-quality constructions do better than mass-produced furniture in refinishing projects. While newer pieces can still benefit from refinishing, the technique may differ based on how fragile the item is and the material type. For example, a plywood desk will require a simple sanding, stain, and sealer. On the other hand, a solid oak writing desk may require stripping, sanding, putty, staining, and possibly a special sealer. Additionally, older pieces are typically sturdy enough that they won't break during the refinishing process, and it's harder to damage the wood by accident.

For a painted thrifted piece, the paint usually covers up imperfections, dents, and stains (via Amish Outlet Store). While this shouldn't be a dealbreaker, it does mean you'll be placing extra work into the piece and possibly seeing some imperfections like dents or stains. However, this can add charm to older furnishings, especially in Japandi-style homes where imperfections are a highlighted part of the design aesthetic.

One of the easiest ways to freshen up a dated piece of furniture is to give it a coat of paint. This tip works well on pieces that you cannot refinish. Painting furniture may seem daunting because there are so many decor options and products available. As Erin Spain points out, it's almost as easy as painting a wall. Before painting your furniture piece, it's important to prep it according to the material and the product you're using. Properly prepping allows your paint to last longer and resist chipping. You have many paint options, including popular latex and chalk paint. Latex is a good option because of the low VOC, different finishes, and the array of colors (via The Spruce). Chalk paint gives the furniture an old-time feel and is a buildable product that allows you to customize the piece.

If you're unsure which color paint to use, many AI apps allow you to take pictures of your room and change the color. Use a basic photo editor or photoshop to get an accurate mock-up (via Salvaged Inspirations). Additionally, under the professional or for contractors section of commercial paint companies, you should be able to download photoshop and image files of exact color matches that you can plug into CAD or Photoshop or overlay using a photo editor.

If reupholstering isn't an option, you can also paint virtually most fabrics. According to A Piece of Rainbow, cotton and poly blends are the best materials to paint. Although you can paint over textured fabrics like velvet and woven threads, using liquid dye may be an easier option.

You can use different paints on fabric pieces, including chalk paint, fabric medium mixed with acrylic, or latex paint. However, almost every material has a specially designed paint, meaning you don't have to mess with mixing fabric medium into acrylic if you don't want to (via This Old House). While mixing your own paint is a cheaper option, it can leave an uncomfortable crunchy cast. Chalk paint is an affordable option that reduces the cast and acts as more of a dye. However, if you can get your hands on specially designed paint for your material, you can preserve the original texture and softness. Make sure when you paint fabric that you keep the surface moist. This tip helps the paint spread smoothly and absorb into the fabric.

If your room has eclectic, artsy, or bohemian style, updating your furniture with stencils and stamps is an ideal way to add pattern. You can purchase these items from a craft or home improvement store, make your own, or source them from a wallpaper manufacturer. Additionally, you can buy stamps at a craft store or find a decor stamp manufacturer online. These stamps are made specifically for furniture, but basic craft book stamps will also work.

When you stencil or stamp your furniture, you can use any paint you would use for painting furniture. Just ensure it's pigmented and doesn't need to build up to achieve the desired effect. If you want a more mute and vintage look, go for chalk paint. Or, if you want a bright and colorful detail, opt for latex or acrylic paint.

According to Salvaged Inspirations, you can make your own template using a thick transparent sheet, which you can purchase at any craft store, a template to trace, and an Exacto knife. To stamp or stencil your furniture, pour the paint onto a plate and brush it onto a stencil with a round stenciling brush or use a stamp to lightly dab it onto the piece (via YouTube). When you reload your brush or stamp with paint, lightly dab off excess onto a secondary surface like a second plate or napkin.

If you're looking for a glam hack for cheap, you can take standard furniture and add dollar store or craft mirrors onto the surface. Typically, mirrored furnishings range from $150 upwards to $4,000 based on size and quality. However, if you have a spare weekend and some elbow grease, you can turn your old nightstand or dresser into a designer dupe. Just make sure you know the best mirror cleaning trick.

According to Cleverly Me, it's best to use furniture that doesn't have any intricate or raised carvings on the surface. Next, remove the knobs and measure your piece. Based on the look you're going for, you can use mirrored tiles from a hardware store or dollar store mirrored backs. If you need a custom size, a hardware store should be able to cut the mirrored tiles for no extra cost. Before you apply your tiles, paint the furniture a base color. This color will poke through the joints where there are no mirrors. Use metallic silver or gold spray paint on your piece if you want a glam look. If you want a dramatic look, paint it a dark color, like black, or use a stain for exposed dark wood grain. Once the paint is dry, affix the tiles with a strong marble or stone glue and use clamps to hold them in place. Once everything is in place, attach your knobs with the same strong glue and allow proper setting time, typically 12 to 24 hours.

Rattan is all the rage in home decor right now. According to Decor House Furniture, rattan furniture is resistant to rain, snow, and freezing temperatures, meaning it's perfect for outdoor use. It's also low maintenance, fade-resistant, and lightweight, making it an ideal addition to the interior decor. You can add rolls of rattan to virtually any surface to add a natural and warm look to a room. When purchasing rattan rolls, you may see them listed under many different names, like webbing, cane, or wicker (via Ohoh Deco). Each one refers to rattan but indicates different patterns or spacing.

You can add rattan to the kitchen or console cabinets instead of chicken wire or burlap. Alternatively, you can staple it to wood frames for artwork on end tables (via Remodelista). You can also use rattan to create a makeshift headboard by putting it onto an existing plywood headboard, affixing it onto the plastic with glue, or pinning it in place. While you can paint rattan any color, you need to prime it properly. Use spray paint or a paint sprayer (via H20Bungalow). Since rattan is highly detailed, it's important to use thin paint that won't cause build-up, meaning it's best to avoid latex and acrylic paint.

Decorating lamps is a great way to customize your space. According to Better Homes & Gardens, there are many ways you can customize a light, including painting the lampshade with leftover interior home paint or using RIT all-purpose dye to customize a white shade. You can also glue tassels to the bottom seam with fabric glue to give a vintage or Hollywood regency vibe. Additionally, you can use food coloring and corn starch to create watercolor effects on your lampshade.

You can spruce up a lamp base with just a little bit of spray paint (via Decor Hint). Brands like Rust-Oleum sell paint with different textures and finishes, which make your customization options endless. However, before you paint, make sure you properly prep the surface by taping any electrical wiring and using light grit sandpaper to help the paint penetrate. Additionally, if your spray paint doesn't have a primer built-in, make sure to prime the surface. You can also mix baking powder and acrylic paint to make glass bases look like ceramics (via House Beautiful). This tip is a great way to bring Scandinavian and boho themes into a room.