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Decorating on a Budget: Thrifty Finds Transformed

By: Ellen Goldberg, Jessica Dodell-Feder, and Anthony Santelli

From: HGTV Magazine

The experts at HGTV Magazine go yard-sale shopping. Check out their secrets to spotting potential and repurposing the castoffs into pretty pieces you'll love and use.

Yellow 3-Tier Bookshelf

Photo: Photography by Alison Gootee/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Find: A Shabby Bookcase

This bookcase has a good, solid frame, but with nicks and wear, it's time for a refresh.

Painted Bookshelf With Woven Baskets for Bathroom Storage

Photo: Photography by Philip Friedman/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Flip: Cheery Bathroom Storage

We sanded the bookcase, painted the inside of the shelves a high-energy red (we used Fall Harvest by Benjamin Moore) and the outside blue (ours is Jet Stream, also by Benjamin Moore). Then we popped in some wicker baskets full of bathroom goodies to create a cute bathroom storage piece.

Brass Candlesticks

Photo: Photography by Alison Gootee/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Find: Old Brass Candlesticks

These outdated candlesticks can be given a colorful new look.

Multicolored Candles and Candlesticks

Photo: Photography by Philip Friedman/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Flip: A Snazzy Centerpiece

We cleaned, primed and painted the candlesticks, then spray-painted them bright colors to create a vibrant centerpiece. For a cool, cohesive look, try matching candles to the candlestick colors.

White Metal File Cabinet

Photo: Photography by Alison Gootee/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Find: A Dingy Filing Cabinet

This file cabinet may be functional, but it's certainly lacking in the style department.

Yellow File Cabinet

Photo: Photography by Philip Friedman/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Flip: A Jazzed-Up Office Organizer

We created a chic storage space by painting the file cabinet a sunny yellow (we used Bee's Wax by HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams) and then covering the drawer fronts with Gold Leaf Damask shelf paper from chicselfpaper.com.

Wooden Coat Rack

Photo: Photography by Alison Gootee/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Find: An Out-of-Date Coat Rack

This old coat rack can be taught a new trick.

Blue Coat Rack

Photo: Photography by Philip Friedman/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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The Flip: A Bright Entryway Piece

A paint job and new hardware — including more hooks and an accordion-arm mirror — will ensure you never forget anything at home.

Before: Round Side Table

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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Before: Boring Side Table

The trick to shopping at a yard sale is knowing what to buy and what to leave behind. Minus a few nicks and scratches, the $22 side table was in good shape, with sturdy maple legs. All that was needed to reinvent the piece was satin latex paint, a yard of fabric and a clear water-based protective top coat.

Blue Side Table

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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After: A Colorful Accent

The legs and sides were painted with the color Leisure Blue by Sherwin-Williams. The fabric, in Waverly’s Lovely Lattice in lapis, was $16 per yard at fabric.com. A generous amount of Mod Podge was applied to both the tabletop and the underside of the fabric. The fabric was placed on the table, smoothed to eliminate bubbles, and finished with another layer of Mod Podge and a top coat to seal.

Before: Table Lamp

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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Before: Past-Its-Prime Lamp

A torn shade couldn't detract from the lamp's sculptural base. Even better, the cord wasn't frayed or damaged, which meant only a new bulb was needed to get the fixture glowing again. It was a steal for just $12. It only took paint, ribbon and an inexpensive shade to dramatically transform the outdated lamp.

Yellow Table Lamp

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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After: Pretty Bright

The base was painted with Krylon's Sun Yellow after it was sanded and primed. The lampshade had to be tossed. A 5/8-inch grosgrain ribbon was glued along the bottom and top seam of the new shade. To find the right size shade for your lamp, be sure it's not wider than the height from the bottom of the base to the socket. The shade should be about three-quarters of the height of the lamp base.

Before: Picture Frame

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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Before: Lackluster Frame

While the $6 frame was missing its back and glass, it had a timeless beveled profile. The crafty team turned it into a tray with thick cardboard, wrapping paper, spray mount, drawer handles and satin latex paint.

DIY Picture Frame Tray

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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After: Tray Transformation

The frame was painted with the color Peppery by Sherwin-Williams. Medium-thick cardboard was cut the same size as the glass and covered in Arboreal Villa Goldenrod wrapping paper ($4 per sheet on etsy.com). Handles from Stanley's, galvanized storm and screen door pulls, $2 each, were screwed into place.

Before: Wooden Dresser

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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Before: Old Dresser

The dresser's elegant woodwork caught their eye; its mahogany frame and working drawers earned it a spot in their pile of loot. It was picked up for $40 and given a fresh look with water-based primer, satin latex paint and new knobs.

Wood Dresser With White Trim

Photo: Lara Robby/Studio D. From: HGTV Magazine

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After: Jazzed-Up Furniture

The dresser frame was given a good sanding until it was smooth and the shine from the varnish was dull. It was primed and painted with three coats of Blond Wood by Benjamin Moore. The hardware was replaced with ceramic knobs in ivory, $11 each from restorationhardware.com.

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