Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Repurpose Old Furniture

Take an old wooden three step ladder. You can paint and distress or use antiquing paint for a vintage look. Hang on the wall as a display piece or use on the floor for small plants.

Take any old end table or cocktail table and paint it a bold color. This can really perk up an old piece and make it stand out in the room.

Find an old wooden coffee table at a flea market or garage sale. Sand and paint with a high gloss exterior paint. Use a bold color or white, depending on your color scheme. It will make a great addition to a front porch or deck.

Use an old steamer trunk for a coffee table. It has great visual appeal as well as awesome storage. If your room design is more contemporary, paint in a bold color. Keep natural for a more vintage look.

An old door can make a rustic coffee table for a family room. Attach short, thick legs.  Keep the old finish for a rustic patina.

Repaint old three shelf bookcases. Use for kids’ rooms for books and toy storage. Use antiquing paint or decoupage for a vintage-y knick knack shelf.

Chalkboard paint can be used again and again to cover old dressers for the kid’s room. You can also repurpose old tins to hold anything from office supplies to crayons to craft supplies or utensils. Have the kids decorate their own for their room. The paint comes in many colors, so get creative!

Try decoupage on old dressers or frames. Make it a project with the kids to find pictures that interest them, like of their favorite sports or hobbies. They can make a dresser or table for their room that really appeals to them.

An old mattress spring makes a great hanging board. If it’s rusty, clean with a wire brush. Paint how you wish, bright shiny black, clear, or use bright colors for kid’s rooms. Use clothes pins to hang papers. Find different hanging clips from office supply or hardware store to hang anything from keys to jewelry.

An old wooden headboard makes a great hanging rack. Paint and attach hooks of varying sizes. This is great for coats or towels. Larger hooks can hold sporting goods.

So, you are being environmentally aware and saving money by repurposing old items easily and creatively.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO