That wobbly yard sale dresser or curbside armoire could be the best piece in your house with a little paint and imagination. These 17 upcycled furniture projects take tired, outdated or downright broken finds and turn them into something you’ll actually love using. You’ll see a dresser turned kitchen island, an old door cut into a corner shelf, a drawer that becomes a dog bed and a desk sawed in half to make matching nightstands. Many need nothing fancier than primer, paint and a drill, and most start with yard sale or thrift store finds. Grab a screwdriver and start looking at your furniture a little differently!
Upcycled DIY Furniture Projects
1. DIY Door Shelf Tutorial
A DIY door shelf turns an old door into a statement corner piece. Cut the door in half across the middle with a circular saw, measuring twice first. Clamp the two halves at a 90 degree angle with a helper and screw metal L brackets down the back to join them. More brackets support the shelves cut to fit the corner. Sand, then paint it a bold color like turquoise and swap in a vintage style doorknob. Milk glass and bright flowers look great on top.
Get the full tutorial at Craftaholics Anonymous.
2. Upcycled Drawer Planter
An upcycled drawer planter stacks two old drawers on an A frame for a tall, roomy garden stand. Paint the drawers, then cut four legs with a 15 degree angle on one end, testing the angle on a scrap board first. Line the angled boards up, mark 8 inches up each one and screw the bottom drawer to the legs from the inside. Add the second drawer above it, matching the widths so there’s no gap. Fill both with flowers or herbs on a patio or porch.
Get the full tutorial at Beyond The Picket Fence.
3. Drawer Ottoman DIY
This drawer ottoman starts with a single drawer pulled out of a heavy chest. Cover any dated carved motif with an embossing creme for a textured, chippy finish, then layer on paint and distress it here and there. A top with foam and burlap printed in a typography style, plus a little tufting, makes the seat. Add legs to raise it off the floor. The best part is that the top lifts off, so the drawer below becomes hidden storage for blankets or magazines.
Get the full tutorial at Southern Revivals.
4. How to Make a DIY Upcycled Accent Chair
A plain plastic patio chair can become a curvy upholstered accent chair. Trim the legs to the height you want and screw an MDF board under the seat. Screw a hula hoop on a slant from the seat edge to the top of the back, brace it with boards and wrap the outside in cardboard with hot glue. Glue foam inside and out, cover it all in fabric with glue and staples, then add new furniture legs and a round foam cushion. It’s a budget dream.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
5. Upcycled Mid Century Armoire
This upcycled mid century armoire was a $30 Goodwill find with a damaged top. Clean and vacuum every inch first. Unscrew the old top from inside and replace it with a piece of MDF cut to size, which costs under $12. Pull the drawers and doors, then paint the whole piece white with a paint sprayer for a smooth, fast finish that brightens a beige room. Swap the hardware and it becomes perfect storage for a craft room or office.
Get the full tutorial at Mountain Modern Life.
6. Antique Trunk Bookcase
An old steamer trunk with plenty of character becomes a charming bookshelf in this clever makeover. Clean and wax the outside so the worn finish still shows its well traveled history, then empty the inside and add a fresh liner of fabric or wallpaper. Cut shelves to fit both halves, paint them and screw on new legs, which cost about $3 each. Stand it open on end and fill it with books and treasures. It’s perfect for a guest room or a cozy reading corner!
Get the full tutorial at Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss.
7. DIY Vintage Dresser Island Tutorial
This DIY vintage dresser island cost nothing because it’s built from things already on hand. The old dresser’s drawers were falling apart, so knock out the lower drawer supports with a hammer and cut a few pieces with a jigsaw. Keep two drawers on top and reposition the side supports to hold an open shelf of scrap boards below. Heavy iron shelf brackets on the back hold a little counter overhang. It makes a great work island for a craft room or kitchen.
Get the full tutorial at Creating A Life Studio.
8. DIY Dresser Dog Bed
A DIY dresser dog bed turns one old drawer into a cozy spot for a small pup. Scrub the drawer, sand the front if needed and pull off the handles. Drill pilot holes in the bottom front and back boards and screw on four furniture feet, or use table leg plates for a sturdier hold. Paint the inside a darker shade and tape off a bright color for the outside. Add a cushion, and clamp a little parasol to one corner for shade on the patio.
Get the full tutorial at DIY Show Off.
9. How to Make a Coffee Table From Old Pallets
Old pallet boards can become a sturdy coffee table with a fun surprise on top. Pry the pallets apart and run the boards through a planer and sander until they’re smooth. Glue the boards into a solid top, then trace a leg shape, cut it out and glue the legs in place. Colorful rocks set into the surface under round glass give it a playful look, and a cellulose varnish seals the wood. It’s a great fit for a patio, den or garage hangout.
Get the full tutorial at DIY JOY.
10. Upcycled China Hutch
This upcycled china hutch shows how much paint can do for a hand me down piece. It was nearly all laminate, so start with an oil based primer that grips slick surfaces without sanding. Remove the hardware with a screwdriver, then roll on a gallon of eggshell or satin paint with a small foam roller for the smoothest finish. Paint the inside back a soft gray so dishes stand out. Knock down drips with a sanding block between coats and reattach the hardware.
Get the full tutorial at Addison Meadows Lane.
11. Buffet From A Dresser
A buffet from a dresser makes a handy bar or serving station for parties. Sand the top down to bare wood with a belt sander and 80 grit paper, then remove all the hardware. Wipe everything with a degreasing cleaner so the primer sticks. Prime the drawers and base with an oil based primer, stain the top a deep Jacobean shade and paint the rest a moody gray. Seal the top with water based polyurethane to protect it from spills, then put the hardware back.
Get the full tutorial at Addison Meadows Lane.
12. Ikea Hack Map Table
This IKEA hack map table turns a plain side table into a travel lover’s dream. Paint the table with gray chalk paint, which needs almost no prep or sanding. Measure the top, then cut a section from world map gift wrap or print a map to size. Brush Mod Podge over the tabletop, wait a minute or two until it’s tacky, then lay the map down and smooth out bubbles with a credit card. Seal it with more Mod Podge and a waterproof varnish against drink rings.
Get the full tutorial at Pillar Box Blue.
13. Refinished Furniture Piece
This refinished furniture piece was a $20 buffet listed with a bad description, so check those odd listings and misspellings when you shop online. Skip the sanding by using a high grip primer made for glossy surfaces, then spray it on along with the paint for an even coat. Set the piece on bricks over a drop cloth outdoors. A creamy white gloss or semi-gloss paint looks clean and wipes up easily. Read the recoat times on your cans, then swap in inexpensive glass knobs.
Get the full tutorial at CampClem.
14. Refinished Laminate Furniture
Refinished laminate furniture takes no sanding with the right primer. This old TV stand was a $19 Goodwill find. Remove all the hardware, shelves, doors and hinges, then wipe every piece clean and fill any cable holes. Prime every surface you plan to paint with a bonding primer and let it cure. Paint the frame a fun color and add a chevron pattern to the back panel for a bold accent. About $20 in primer and paint gives a whole new look.
Get the full tutorial at Pinterest and the Pauper.
15. DIY Bar Cart
This DIY bar cart started as a rusty $2 garage sale find. Scrub off the rust and debris with a wire brush attachment on a drill, leaving the cart assembled for that step, and wear a mask. Then take it apart, spraying stuck nuts with lubricant and holding the bolt heads so they don’t strip. Clean every piece with a degreaser, prime with gray spray primer and spray paint the cart in your color. Put it back together and stock it for parties.
Get the full tutorial at Addison Meadows Lane.
16. Sandwich Station From A Recycled Drawer
A sandwich station from a recycled drawer makes packing lunches so much faster. Nail curtain rod holders to both sides of an old drawer, then cut a wooden dowel into three parts to hold rolls of foil, plastic wrap and parchment. Drill three holes in a piece of thin plywood with a hole saw, nail it into the drawer to make a compartment and paint the whole thing. Store baggies and bands inside, and add cork board if you like. It hangs or sits on a counter.
Get the full tutorial at Curbly.
17. Nightstands From A Desk
Nightstands from a desk give you a matching pair for the price of one cheap piece. Find a solid wood desk with a stack of drawers on each side, like a $10 marketplace find. Cut each drawer stack free from the middle section, then router the cut edges to match the factory edge and sand them smooth. Prime and paint both pieces in a bright color for a pop beside the bed, and add new knobs. The curves and drawer space make them look custom.
Get the full tutorial at Sugar Bee Crafts.
