Save on Pinterest

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.

1 / 11
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

2 / 11

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

3 / 11
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

4 / 11

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

5 / 11
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

6 / 11

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

7 / 11
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

8 / 11
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

9 / 11
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

10 / 11
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

11 / 11
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 lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.