I’m sharing a few of my favorite easy ways to update old furniture. Because, if you have seen the before and after tour of our home, it is not a lot of structural changes or big revocations. Instead, it’s a big change of design style. I kept all of the same furniture and just updated it to fit my evolving style.
PAINT
Obviously, paint is the easiest and can have the most impact. But it doesn’t only apply to interiors and exteriors. It works great on furniture too. A few years ago when chalk paint was very popular, I was using MudPaint instead to update a small side table. And loved the smooth texture.
Last spring, I used black spray paint to update our white dining room chairs. It was probably the best decision I’ve ever made for this dining room. The black added warmth without being too bold or too modern. And it only cost a few dollars, instead of the cost of new chairs.
I also used black paint to update the barn door in our bedroom suite. Before it was wood and had a little more of a rustic farmhouse look. Painting it black was an easy update and allowed me to keep the door while giving it a fresh look to match our newly updated bedroom.
STAIN
Stain is also on the list of easy ways to update old furniture. It requires a little more work than paint, however, the effort pays off. Our entryway console has been stained and painted many times, but staining it black has been my favorite update so far.
And I was able to do the same thing with our nightstands. Before they were modern and graphic, but I sanded and re-stained them for a more classic wood look. They are great for storage and function so I had no reason to replace them and this was an easy way to get a new look.
FABRIC
Fabric is another easy way to update existing furniture. Our black coffee table is actually an old tufted ottoman and that I covered in faux black leather. It makes a great surface for a table that is easy to clean and still comfortable for putting our feet up.
I’ve also used fabric to recover a headboard. Before creating the channel headboard we have now, I updated our old one with an extra curtain panel. It was an easy way to update the style of our bedroom without having to purchase a new headboard.
Overall, I’m a big believer in keeping what you have and finding easy ways to update old furniture. I really try to be mindful of spending and not buying a lot of new home decor. If I can, I’d rather DIY it or update it when possible.
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