11 Awesome Furniture Hacks

It doesn't matter if it's a piece you picked up at a garage sale or a family heirloom—it can be hard to toss old or broken furniture you love. Instead of tossing it, reimagine the piece. Here are 12 old or broken furniture pieces to inspire you.

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school gym lockers furniture hacks

Gym Lockers

These old gym lockers were repurposed and turned into a living room storage system. The lockers were cut, power washed and painted before being topped with some pallet wood.

Photo: Courtesy of Maple Creek Living

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Sewing Machine Table

This DIYer took an old sewing cabinet, attached a shelf unit, covered the shelves with paper and painted it red. This furniture hack can now be used as a dining room hutch or extra storage in a kitchen.

Photo: Courtesy of Reuse Repurpose Upcycle

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flower cart

Old Cart

Some of the oldest and most hard-working pieces can be transformed into works of art. This old cart is now used as a flower planter.

Photo: Courtesy of Texas 811

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Broken Table Legs

This woodworker took some broken table legs and attached them to a slice of maple and created a small stool. The stool would be a great addition to a kitchen pantry where you may need help with hard-to-reach items or as an extra side table in a den.

Photo: Courtesy of Tim Boyden Art

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brokenmirrorstand jewelry

Broken Mirror Stand

This necklace organizer is made from an old mirror stand. The glass was removed and the stand was painted to match the bedroom walls.

Photo: Courtesy of The Joy of Repurposing

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Old Patio Furniture

This table is made from an old trunk. The DIYer attached legs to the underside of the trunk to raise it up to table height and it’s now used on a patio.

Photo: Courtesy of Reuse Repurpose Upcycle

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clocktochalkboard

Clock

Even that old clock can have a new life. Try using some chalkboard paint to create a board for messages reminders.

Photo: Courtesy of Love, Pasta and a Toolbelt

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basketfootstool

Basket Footstool

Don’t toss that old basket just because one piece has come undone. Instead, try using some fun fabric to turn it into a footstool with storage space for lap crafts or magazines.

Photo: Courtesy of Tickled Red

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chairplanters

Dining Chairs

Grab your favorite paint color and give those old farmhouse chairs a new purpose. These two broken dining chairs were transformed into pretty planters.

Photo: Courtesy of Rust-Oleum Make It Yours

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train table desk

Train Table

This desk was once an old toy train table. It took some quality paint and a little work, but the desk now provides extra storage for books and puzzles and is a great addition to a child’s bedroom.

Photo: Courtesy of Ocean Front Shack

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antiquedresser

Antique Dresser

For this furniture hack, a little paint and some imagination, turned an old dresser into a media console. The console has plenty of room for storage and has updated hardware for a new look.

Photo: Courtesy of Reuse Repurpose Upcycle

Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham spent years working in newsrooms, for television and newspapers, and has won several awards for her writing. In 2015, she left her full-time job as a newspaper editor to focus on freelance writing and editing. She has been a Family Handyman contributor since 2017.
In 2019, Rachel lived through a major remodeling project on her home, and she uses that experience to inform her Family Handyman content. She's also an avid gardener (both native plants and vegetables), enjoys keeping up with decor trends and spends a lot of time traveling, cooking and hanging out with her family and their giant dog.