13 Easy DIY Upgrades For Your Old Furniture

Turn your old furniture from drab to fab with these innovative ideas.

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Try Contact Paper or Fabric

Is your nightstand or side table in dire need of an upgrade? Contact paper or fabric can fix that in a jiff! The materials are offered in a wide range of colors and designs, allowing you to personalize almost any flat surface.

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Refinish Your Furniture (Without Stripping!)

That antique kitchen table and that well-loved stool could use a pick-me-up, don’t you think? You can refinish your furniture to look new again and fit with the times by cleaning, repairing and restoring old worn finishes without using messy chemical strippers. Learn how to stain and refinish a table.

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drawer hardware tightening

Upgrade Your Hardware

While installing new cabinets and doors may be out of your budget, new hardware is affordable and can make a major difference! Make your dated cabinets look a bit newer with some sleek new stainless steel knobs.

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paint furniture chair
Kristina Ratobilska/Getty Images

Paint Old Furniture

If the finish is dated or wear and tear has gotten the best of some of your furniture, a simple paint job will do! If you’re all about the farmhouse style, you’ll love an upgraded “lived in and loved” look with layers of patina and gray-toned white paint.

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Add Cushions to Dining Chairs

Give your dining chairs a facelift by adding comfort and new style. These printed plush cushions feature geometric patterns and colors that will have people asking, “Did you get new chairs? They’re fun!”

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Add a Tablecloth

If your dining room table is looking a bit worse for wear these days, give it new life with a chic tablecloth. A bright color in an otherwise bland room will add character, while a white tablecloth will give your space a crisp, clean appearance.

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Style with Stencils

If you love the look of your piece of furniture and merely want to add a layer of intrigue, try stenciling. A small design can make a big change, allowing a tired piece of furniture to look new again. If you’d like to add stencils to a wall, you’ll find complete instructions here.

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Reupholster Dining Chairs
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Reupholster Your Chairs

Upholstery trends come and go, but a solid chair is forever. When the fabric rips, fades or becomes dated, you can reupholster! DIYers will save major bucks by doing the job themselves, and it only takes a couple of hours. Don’t forget to check out our guide to reupholstering furniture.

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Embellish Upholstered Pieces

If your furniture could use a touch of glam, go ahead and upgrade it quickly, easily and cheaply. Whether it’s your upholstered sofa or your bed’s padded headboard, you can purchase upholstery nails in your favorite finish and add them to your pieces for a whole new look.

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Warm toned living room with accent pillows
KatarzynaBialasiewicz/Getty Images

Add Throw Pillows

Sometimes flattened throw pillows can make the furniture they’re sitting on look tired. New throw pillows, on the other hand, can change everything. Use complementary colors, like yellow pillows on a blue couch.

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Spray
Geo Martinez/Shutterstock

Spray Paint Almost Anything

Spray paint is an easy way to upgrade furniture without spending much money or time. With proper surface preparation, you can apply a first-rate painted finish yourself.

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mirror
New Africa/shutterstock

Use Mirrors

If the finish of your old furniture is making a room feel outdated, cover it with inexpensive acrylic mirror material. Go to the hardware store and have it cut to size. If your dresser is looking drab, it’s the perfect opportunity for you to cover it in mirrors for a high-end look. If you don’t want to restore it, here’s how you can get rid of old furniture.

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Use a Slipcover on Your Sofa

That beautiful sofa of yours may have seen better days, but if the structure and cushions are fine, why not cover up the fading, stained fabric with a fresh coverup? If you’re going for a lighter look, choose a cream slipcover. It may seem like a bold choice until you realize you can take it off and wash it!

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Alexa Erickson
Alexa Erickson is an experienced lifestyle writer who has contributed to Family Handyman, Reader's Digest, Martha Stewart, Bob Vila and Thrillist. She’s written more than 50 articles for Family Handyman on a range of topics, including home design, DIY home improvement projects, and storage and organization. Additionally, she runs her own website, Living by Lex, where she writes about home decor, travel, tech and more.