Giving New Life to Old Furniture: 3 ways to bring it back

Bringing something back from the dead is an exciting concept, even if it’s just an old piece of furniture. Let’s talk about giving new life to old furniture and 3 ways to bring it back.

Is it worth keeping old furniture?

I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have been asked this question about antique furniture. I have also asked myself this question many times. And for the most part, the answer is usually a resounding YES!

If you’re not convinced yet to keep that old dresser, let’s chat. Here are a few reasons why keeping old furniture is worth it.

1. You love it – If you are wondering if you should keep an old piece of furniture, the answer should always be YES if it is something you really love. You can always give it a new purpose, switch out other old items that you don’t love as much, and have it be your next DIY project to give it new life.
2. It was grandma’s – If it was a family piece, that may be enough for you to want to give it a new lease of life and save it. If you can give it new use, it just might survive another generation in the family.
3. It’s quality and useful – I’m just going to say it. They don’t make things like they used to. Especially wood furniture for the price that you may find it at a garage sale, thrift store, or flea market.

How do you give new life to old furniture?

When you have an endless budget, it’s easy to buy whatever you want. But many do not have that luxury and need to stay within a limited budget. But don’t let that fool you.

Yes, purchasing new home furnishings is the easy way to decorate but giving new life to old furniture adds character to a room. With a little bit of elbow grease, some basic tools, and a bit of fun and hard work, you can give new life to old furniture.

Here are 3 easy ways to make that happen:

Do this: Paint it

In the world of upcycled furniture, this is an easy one. However, many people get very freaked out by this option and declare “you’re ruining in!” Let me just say, if paint is the thing that keeps wooden furniture out of the burn pile, then I’m all for it!

Having had a business for the last 13 years focused on just this concept, I have personally seen old furniture pieces become loved statement pieces, simply with a stroke of a brush.

If a piece of furniture has seen better days, and it is a piece that is not of significant antique value, then I say it is free game.

With the popularity of chalk paint in the last decade and beyond, giving a piece of furniture a fresh coat of paint has become easier than ever.

Old pieces can become new again, and turned into something to love, rather than pieces that are forgotten. This is especially important for sentimental pieces of furniture.

If you have kept Grandma’s dresser all this time but it’s been rotting away in the basement because it is not your style, painting it would honor her more than leaving it.

It’s time to repurpose old furniture, give it a modern update, and love it again.

The easiest way to paint vintage furniture is with a chalk and clay paint like Bungalow 47 Furniture Paint.

Paint the entire piece, just the cabinet doors, or drawer fronts, and turn it into a current style that can take center stage in your home.

With a little creativity, vintage pieces can become way better than new furniture. Plus having control over different colors and styles gives you the personal preferences your room might just need to make it sing.

Do this: Wax it or refinish it

If a wooden surface has become dull and you want to maintain that wood tone, try waxing it.

Two pieces in my little family room off the kitchen were bought second hand and both had seen better days. But I could tell both wooden pieces didn’t need much to make them look good again.

For me, clear wax was the answer to giving them a new life. Just a little will make a huge difference.

The little side table just needed a good cleaning and clear wax. It didn’t take much work, and now it is living it’s best life.

I also use wax on all the little wood vintage treasures I pick up to add patina to the surface. It’s so easy and a MUST DO for any thrifter!

This piece I rescued out of an old barn. With a bit of elbow grease, some patina wax and a layer of clear wax, the once forgotten piece now serves as a beloved little coffee table. Wax brought it back to life.

Of course, you can refinish a piece or even update a wood surface by using Restor-a Finish. This is a great product that offers a quick solution to a piece that had some surface damage but still had structural integrity.

Do this: Rebuild it

This could be a bit of a challenge for some, but if you can run a saw and use a hammer, furniture items can get a new life with a bit of a rebuild.

Such was the case for this cabinet I found years ago at an estate sale. The piece was displayed in pieces (the drawers had fallen apart), there was a funky thing happening with the old finish, and it was being ignored in a big way. 

I purchased it pretty cheap, since it was not in good condition, and happily put it in my car.

Knowing that I would need to rebuild it a bit, and add crown moulding, I knew paint would provide a uniform color for the cupboard.

Being able to rebuild the look on the outside, and add shelves to the interior, turned it into a major storage feature. Now it holds a good portion of my milk glass collection.

This cabinet, painted in a bold color (called Paddleboat in the Bungalow 47 Paint line) has been one of my those pieces in my living room home decor that adds much character to the space. 

How do you bring an old piece of furniture back to life?

A great way to bring an old piece of furniture back to life is to choose the method that will get you actually doing the project. If you aren’t a painter, don’t let that stop you.

Using a product like our furniture paint is very forgiving. It allows even the novice to have success with painting.

If creative ideas are flowing out of you, and you have a few skills to be able to rebuild a piece to be more useful, then make it happen.

However you choose, just know that using the right product plus a bit of time could make all the difference to save a piece of old furniture.

Make it yours, create something useful, and love it back to a new life. If you haven’t done much before, start with a small piece to gain your confidence and in no time you will see how your efforts can make a big impact.

Standing the test of time

Old furniture can become new once again. Whether it be dining chairs, an old dresser turned bathroom vanity, a full dining room set or just the dining table, making changes can bring furniture back to use and back to life.

Giving new life to old furniture is not only rewarding but quite fun. Old furniture will stand the test of time when cared for a bit. All it needs is you!

For ideas and inspiration, follow me on Pinterest.