12 New Uses for Old Furniture

Check out these easy ways to repurpose old home furnishings before you decide to toss them out. From a ladder display shelf to cabinet mantel decor, you will find a way to repurpose many forgotten household items.

Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these affiliate links.

November 25, 2014

By: Farima Alavi

Related To:

Shop This Look

Photo By: Marian Parsons

Oversized, Vintage Message Board

Don't turn your back on an old mattress. Hang a mattress spring on the wall for a one-of-a-kind, oversized message board. Donna of Funky Junk Interiors cleaned the rust from the spring with a wire brush and treated it with a clear overcoat for a vintage look. Simple clothes pins hold up messages, and hangers keep other everyday items at hand.

Cottage-Style Display Shelf

When you think an item has no functionality, think again. Melissa Michaels of The Inspired Room placed a small, brightly colored stepladder on the wall to function as a display shelf and eye-pleaser. The weathered finish on the ladder paired with crisp white frames on the adjacent wall gives the room a classic cottage look.

Playful Kid's Dresser

If you don't like the look of an old dresser, update it with a bright color. Janell Beals of Isabella & Max Rooms painted a forgotten dresser with bright pinkish-red chalkboard paint for a playful look that works perfectly in a kid's room. The dresser allows kids to use their imaginations by drawing or writing anything they want on it, keeping the walls safe from any unexpected drawings.

Salvaged Home Office

This home office is filled with items from the junkyard. Sawhorses make up the legs of the desk, a wood pallet works as the desktop and an old ladder provides the framework. Donna used a garage storage unit and wood pallets as back support to create an industrial-style shelving unit to maximize storage space. Fill the shelves with vintage-inspired objects to finish the rustic look.

Cabinet Door Mantel Decor

When you remodel a room, you oftentimes are left with extra material. After remodeling her kitchen, Melissa Michaels placed her leftover cabinet doors on the fireplace mantel as decor. "I was able to reuse the cabinet door to cover up a hole from the TV," she says. Painting the door to match the room's color scheme and leaning it against the mantel gave it an entirely new purpose and look. Top off the look with a decorative plate and candles.

Chalkboard Storage Container

Take an ordinary tea tin and transform it into a stylish storage container using chalkboard paint. Marian Parsons of Mustard Seed Interiors created this look by applying one coat of primer and two coats of chalkboard paint to the surface. "Fill the tin with office supplies, kitchen dry goods or bathroom toiletries," she says. Write on it with chalk for an easy, creative way to label the contents inside.

Practical Antique

A piece of old, unused furniture can become functional again with a little creativity. This Hoosier cupboard, popular in the early 20th century, was sitting in a woodshop for years. With some refinishing and paint, Janell Beals turned it into a practical home office desk. The crisp white cupboard against the black walls makes it the focal point of the room. The cupboard drawers allow for an abundance of storage space, and the size of the cupboard provides plenty of room for office equipment. "The piece not only adds to the design of the room but holds great memories as well," she says. Hang framed memorabilia to add to the timeworn look.

No Damage Here

Damaged furniture doesn't have to be thrown away. Marian Parsons suggests hiding imperfections on furniture with decoupage. She used aged sheets of music to hide imperfections on this neglected dresser, while also giving the all-white bedroom a shabby chic look. Other items great for decoupaging furniture are maps, book pages, letters and postcards. "The treatment will hide gouges, water marks, missing veneer and other signs of abuse on furniture," she says. Decoupaging furniture will also add dimension and distinct style to a room.

Headboard Rack

A vintage headboard is given new life as a hanging rack. Donna painted the headboard white and attached a rack with hooks, transforming the headboard into a towel or coat rack for guests. "Random house numbers are fun additions that add some graphic interest," she says. The rack is also a great place to hang keys and other everyday items.

Bright, Bold Focal Point

Sometimes a fresh coat of paint is all a piece of furniture needs to breathe new life into a space. Melissa Michaels painted this once-dull coffee table into an eye-catching royal blue color. "The unexpected pop of color is a fun contrast to its otherwise traditional lines," she says. The bold color makes the table the focal point in this mostly neutral living room.

From Tired to Stylish

Even the smallest, most outdated items can be repurposed with a little love. Marian Parsons updated a tired wood frame with decoupage using aluminum foil, antiquing glaze and polyurethane spray. The gold finish gives the framed chalkboard a contemporary, stylish look that works great resting on a dresser or hanging on the wall.

Wallpaper Table

Turn to unexpected materials to freshen up old furniture. Will Taylor of Bright Bazaar used scraps of old wallpaper samples and some paint to transform this dining table into a work of art. The different patterns and colors make the table a versatile piece of furniture that fits any room and style.

12 New Uses for Old Furniture

Related To:

Shop This Look

Oversized, Vintage Message Board

Cottage-Style Display Shelf

Playful Kid's Dresser

Salvaged Home Office

Cabinet Door Mantel Decor

Chalkboard Storage Container

Practical Antique

No Damage Here

Headboard Rack

Bright, Bold Focal Point

From Tired to Stylish

Wallpaper Table

12 Clever Uses for Old Furniture 3 Videos

Creating New Uses for Old Junk 2 Videos

Score Big With 14 Ways to Reuse Old Tennis Balls 14 Photos

30 New Ways to Use Your Old Stuff 30 Photos

Repurpose Old Lamp Parts and Found Objects Into New Light Fixtures 12 Photos

Make a New Basket Look Old for Vintage-Style Storage

Related Pages